Car Rentals in South Carolina — Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Greenville
South Carolina car rentals serve Charleston CHS (most-awarded US city) + Myrtle Beach MYR + Hilton Head HHH + Greenville GSP. PickRV's SC car catalogue spans Charleston historic-district convertibles, Myrtle Beach family SUVs, Hilton Head golf-resort luxury, and Greenville Blue Ridge mountain-foothill SUVs.
Rental classes South Carolina leans on
The body types this state's market is built around — each opens its PickRV hub.
Primary South Carolina car-rental markets
Charleston (CHS)
Largest SC visitor destination; historic-district + plantation + Folly Beach + Sullivan's Island rentals.
Myrtle Beach (MYR)
Grand Strand + 60 mi of beaches + boardwalk + Broadway at the Beach family rentals.
Hilton Head (HHH)
Sea Pines + golf resorts + Daufuskie Island gateway luxury rentals.
Greenville (GSP Greenville-Spartanburg)
Upstate SC + Blue Ridge foothills + BMW + Michelin plant area rentals.
Columbia (CAE)
State capital + USC campus rentals; SEC football weekends.
South Carolina state rental rules
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles- 1
Out-of-state US licenses honored without restriction for tourist rentals.
- 2
International tourists from countries with US driving reciprocity may rent with home-country license + IDP.
- 3
Minimum rental age typically 21; renters 21-24 face Young Driver Surcharge ($15-35/day).
- 4
South Carolina minimum liability 25/50/25 — verify your insurance/credit card meets requirements.
South Carolina rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
What the South Carolina DMV doesn't tell you
First-hand context the official .gov pages skip.
- The rental class
Charleston historic-district streets are tight cobblestone — convertibles + smaller cars + EVs favored over SUVs in city center; SUVs better for plantation day trips.
- What it costs
Myrtle Beach Bike Week (May) + Atlantic Beach Bikefest (late May) tighten Grand Strand rentals; surge pricing peaks holiday weekends.
- Lakes and rivers
Hilton Head ferry to Daufuskie Island (Calibogue Sound, 45 min) is car-free — leave rental at terminal lot.
- Coastal driving
Hurricane season (June-November) cancellation policy: PickRV honors NHC tropical-storm watch issuance for full-refund cancellation; SC coast is hurricane-prone.
- Time and distance
BMW Spartanburg plant tours (Tuesday-Thursday by reservation) make a popular Greenville-area day trip; tour vehicles only, but rentals park on-site.
Best season in South Carolina
March-November. Peak: April-October (Charleston + beaches). Summer June-September hot + humid + hurricane-prone.
Where PickRV is active in South Carolina
SC coverage is concentrated in Charleston + Myrtle Beach. Hilton Head + Greenville smaller cohorts. Summer beach cohort dominant.
South Carolina car rental FAQ
Is Charleston walkable from rental car parking?
Largely yes — historic district is 4-5 sq miles, walkable. Park at downtown garage (under $15/day) and use rental for plantation + beach day trips.
Can I drive a rental to Hilton Head Daufuskie ferry?
Yes — drive to Hilton Head, park at Haig Point or Calibogue Sound terminal, take ferry. Daufuskie is car-free (golf carts only).