

Extraordinary selection
From standard cars to supercars, find the perfect car for any occasion or budget

Liability insurance included
Third-party liability insurance comes standard, and choose from a range of vehicle protection plans

Easy airport pickup
You can skip the rental counter at 100+ airports across the US and Canada
Average daily prices for a 3-day trip

Kia K4
2025
•5.0
(22)

Kia Forte
2022
•5.0
(64)

Nissan Altima
2025
•5.0
(34)

Nissan Sentra
2025
•5.0
(4)

Kia K4
2025
•4.98
(55)

Nissan Altima
2023
•4.96
(52)

Toyota Corolla
2021
•4.8
(5)

Kia Optima
2019
•5.0
(7)

Hyundai Elantra
2026
•5.0
(16)

Columbia makes a strong first impression with tree-lined boulevards and a food scene that punches above its weight. Securing a car rental at Columbia Metropolitan Airport on Turo means you skip the counter, head straight for your car, and jump on the interstate sooner. Whether you’re chasing car rental deals for a quick work trip or planning a weekend lap of the Midlands, car rental at Columbia Metropolitan Airport means fewer lines, more cruising, and zero drama between baggage claim and barbecue.
On Turo, renting a car at CAE is easy. Browse cars online, confirm your pickup location, book your car, and get on the road sooner. With pickup locations at airports across the US, you'll be able to find the perfect car for whatever you have planned.

Enter a date and airport location in Columbia, SC (or beyond), filter to find the best car for you, and read reviews from previous renters.

Rent a car for pickup at the airport, or opt for delivery to various destinations, including airports, train stations, and hotels.

Your host sends you pickup details, and you’re all set to hit the roads of Columbia, SC! If you have questions, you can easily chat with your host or contact support.

Car was great! Very smooth , good on gas, price was affordable will rent again! Host was great, needed several extensions on rental everything was accommodated without any issues ! Check in and out was easy without any hassle!

I really enjoyed my vacation trip! The car was awesome drove smooth, plus good on gas will rent again…

I recommend you to book your trip with James the best service car nice and clean sure will be booking with him again thanks 😊 James 🤝

The car ran great; I was able to really enjoyed my trip. The owner was very attentive to my needs as far as the car I needed. There was no waiting time. Everything moved smooth.. I will be renting from him again. Very pleased 😀
No issues with the car other than the gas gauge not reading when refilling. Would rent again.

Hey the car was amazing I’m sorry I tried to check out fast and early but my phone had died but the only thing I say was wrong was the rear break was squeaky I have a Moblie mechanic if interested for cheap repair 8034581959


The car was wonderful had no issues drives smooth and doesn’t use a lot of gas if your staying in the area would definitely rent again.!!

Great car! The host responds swiftly and is very helpful. Awesome experience!
Great choice pick up and drop was a piece of cake highly recommended vipmotors will be my go to for any road trip
Will definitely book again!! Car was perfect no problem at all host was very nice as well
Was the car was beautiful and amazing. It gets great miles to the gallon.

Host is Amazing response in a quickly manner and car always clean and drive great will contain to book.
Very clean, host was very responsive. Car was in great shape and obviously well maintained. I will definitely be booking again!
Wonderful host! Hope to get Mr. Wayne again when I need a rental. Awesome!
The car was perfect. I will definitely use again. Thank you for the quick extension and quick responses.
Pickups and returns are allowed only in the Parking Garage and Surface Lot or in person at the curbside lane in front of the Park & Fly Premier lot. Check the Turo app for exact pickup details and any parking instructions.
Book your car, then confirm the finer points in the app. Arriving from baggage claim? Head to the permitted airport locations listed above, collect your car and go. On return, jump into the Turo app to share the parking stall/section, and follow the app prompts so your rental is secured and your host can retrieve the vehicle rented without any issue.
CAE requires Turo to collect and remit to the airport a fee that allows your host to deliver a vehicle there. Turo doesn't set this fee, mark it up, or retain any portion of it. If your host requires you to cover the cost of a parking fee to enter or exit at an airport parking location, Turo requires them to disclose that information in their vehicle listing.

Contactless check-in and checkout
Many hosts offer contactless check-in and checkout, if their car has remote access technology, allowing you to find the car, unlock it, and be on your way without meeting them in person. Message your host for specific instructions.

Convenient airport car rental pickup and return
Rather than hustling at the busy terminal curbside, take your time picking up the rental car at approved parking lots or garages. Check in, load up your luggage, and get comfortable with the car without a big rush.

Relax with support & damage protection
24/7 support and roadside assistance mean help is just a call away, plus you can choose from a range of protection plans.
This city dishes up plenty of reasons for a Columbia airport car rental — game days, river days, and everything in between. If you’re weighing a rideshare tab against the freedom of a rental vehicle, these are the moments when having keys in your pocket just makes more sense.
Chasing sunshine at Lake Murray, strolling Riverfront Park, or ducking into Congaree for that boardwalk glow? A rental vehicle keeps the schedule yours. Reserve compact cars for easy downtown parking, or level up to an SUV rental or extended luxury SUV if you’re hauling coolers and crew. Pair smart car rental deals with a quick pickup at Columbia Metropolitan to maximize time on the fun stuff.
In town for a few weeks of campus collaborations or client visits? Lock in a car rental at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for multiple days or even weeks. Many Turo hosts offer discounts for longer-term bookings of one month or more, and making long term bookings is the perfect way to save and score the best car rental deals in Columbia.
When the dress code leans “camera-ready,” so should the car. Opt for a premium sedan, a midsize sportscar, or a spacious SUV with room for suits, bouquets, and backup shoes. An electric sedan is a sleek downtown flex, too. Simply collect your car and glide out of West Columbia in under five minutes.
Turo
App-based experience
No waiting in line
Get the exact car you choose
Delivery options & thousands of pickup locations
Contactless pickup and dropoff available
Traditional car rental
Standard rental counter experience
Waiting in line
Get one type of car “or similar”
Pickup at retail locations
Requires in-person handoff
Skip the car rental counter at Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Compact, creative, and famously hot, Columbia blends college-town energy with easy access to the outdoors. Start in the heart of the city, where galleries, cafes, and Gamecock pride set the tone, then make your way toward the rivers to slow down, cool off, and enjoy the scenic paths that locals love.
Rent the perfect car
A true Southeastern standout, Riverbanks pairs 2,000+ animals with miles of lush botanical trails. It’s roughly 6 miles from CAE, easy to reach in a luxury sedan or even compact cars if you’re parking tight. Go early for cooler temps, then reward yourself with something cold in the Vista.
Neoclassical columns, sweeping lawns, and shaded paths make the State House grounds an easy, history-rich stop—just a short walk from galleries, shops, and dinner in the Vista. Garage parking is straightforward, especially outside event surges. Budget an hour on the grounds, then drift down Main Street. It's the perfect shakedown drive after you pick up a rental car.
Discover boardwalk loops, cathedral-tall hardwoods, and quiet sloughs about 20 miles from downtown. Pack bug spray and a sense of wonder. If you booked an SUV rental or extended luxury SUV, you’ll appreciate the cargo space for day-hike gear; just remember, the roads are paved and civilized — this is not an off-road invitation.
Whether you’re rolling out of Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) or grabbing keys downtown, a little local know-how makes car rental in Columbia downright easy. Consider this your no-stress cheat sheet — how to find your car, glide through rental car return, and keep traffic, tickets, and timing on your side.
After leaving the baggage claim area, follow airport signage toward the parking garage rather than the airport rental car area. The Turo app will point you to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport CAE pickup location permitted for Turo: either the Parking Garage/Surface Lot (where remote check-in is fine) or the curbside lane in front of Park & Fly Premier (in-person handoff only, under five minutes).
Return to the Garage or Surface Lot no earlier than four hours before your trip ends (or within posted limits). Pull a ticket, park legally (no accessible/reserved stalls), leave the ticket in the vehicle, take checkout photos, and message the stall/section. Curbside returns must be in person and completed in under five minutes.
Short and sweet: CAE sits in West Columbia, about 7 miles from downtown Columbia — typically a 15–20 minute drive depending on traffic, weather, and whether the Gamecocks just kicked off. It’s a quick hop on local roads or interstates, which is why a rental car at Columbia Metropolitan makes so much sense.
City streets trend 25–35 mph; interstates move faster but tighten around merge zones. South Carolina expects hands-free phone use, so mount your device and keep your eyes up. School zones mean what they say. Summer storms can be dramatic, so leave a little extra space.
Downtown garages near the State House, Main Street, and the Vista are your best friend, especially on event nights. Street parking is doable with compact cars and midsize sedans; larger cars, like a spacious luxury SUV, prefer garages. Read signs and mind time limits. One street off the main drag often hides spots that are easier to locate.
No major tolls in the Columbia metro, so you won’t need to overthink transponders for most city miles. Planning a bigger loop across state lines? Check navigation for any tolled segments and review your trip settings in the app before you go.
Fuel is plentiful along I-26, I-20, and I-77, and near downtown corridors. Charging for an electric luxury sedan is typically clustered around shopping centers and newer garages; plan a top off the night before you return the vehicle so you’re not hunting kilowatts on the clock.
If you’re hovering between the State House, Riverfront Park, and the Vista, rideshare can work in a pinch. But Columbia sprawls just enough that a car keeps your timeline yours — especially if you’re splitting time between campus, Congaree, and family in the suburbs. When you rent a car, you set the soundtrack and the schedule.
In Columbia, you'll find a wide range of rental car types available to book on Turo, from SUVs to electric cars to compact cars and beyond. Popular models include Honda Accord, Kia Forte, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Chevrolet Corvette. Choose based on where you’ll park (downtown garages vs trailheads), cargo needs, and driving preferences.
The cost of car rental in Columbia can vary depending on car type, booking length, extras, and delivery. For cheap car rentals in Columbia, look out for discounts on longer-duration bookings and early bookings.
To rent a car on Turo, you must create a Turo account, have a valid driver’s license, get approved to drive on Turo, and be 18 years old or older in the US, 21 years old or older in Australia, or 23 years old or older in Canada.
In the UK, you must be 21 years old or older and have held a UK or EU license for at least one year, or another driver’s license for at least two years. In France you must be 18 years old or older and have held a driver’s license for at least 2 years, longer for certain makes and models of vehicles.
When you’re booking your first trip, you’ll go through a quick approval process by entering your driver’s license and some other information. In most cases, you’ll get approved immediately, and you’ll be set for all future road trips, day trips, and business trips!
Turo accepts valid licenses (not expired, suspended, or revoked) that allow for full driving privileges; this includes driver’s licenses issued outside of the US. Licenses that Turo doesn’t accept in the US include any that have expired, have been altered, are conditional, probational, provisional, or restricted. Learner’s permit/instruction permits are not accepted.
To rent a car on Turo in the US, you must be 18 years old or older.
You don’t need personal insurance coverage to rent a car on Turo.
In the US, any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your Turo protection plan. When booking a car in the US, you’ll choose between three protection plans — Premier (eligibility requirements apply), Standard, or Minimum — to get the level of protection that’s right for you. On each trip, you’re covered with third-party automobile liability insurance provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company.*
In New York state, you’ll also choose between Premier (if available), Standard, or Minimum. With each plan, you’re covered with liability insurance of $1,250,000.* Protection plans for New York trips also include access to roadside assistance, priority phone support, and 24/7 customer assistance.
You can get discounts and low cost car rental on Turo.
On your Account page, make sure you’ve checked the box to receive email notifications, and enable push notifications from the Turo app in your phone settings — we’ll send you occasional promo codes, discounts, and deals.
Additionally, frequent travelers on Turo can get rewarded with the loyalty bonus — earn a promo code for one bonus day when you take trips totaling 10 days in a 90-day period.
Learn how the loyalty bonus worksYes there is — whether you want to rent a car for three days, three months, or even longer, you can on Turo. You’ll find discounted prices on bookings lasting 3+, 7+, or 30+ days, so you can get the best deals and lowest rates possible by booking longer trips.
See more about promotions & discountsSome hosts offer unlimited distance for a trip; others set a daily distance limit — you’ll need to check on each rental car individually to see if this service is provided. On the vehicle pages, you’ll see the total miles or kilometres you’re allowed to drive under the heading “Distance included.” You can find cars offering unlimited mileage with every trip by using the “Unlimited distance” filter.
Yes, multiple guests can drive the car you rent on Turo, as long as they are all approved to drive. The primary driver (whoever rented the car) can add additional drivers with no fees or additional charges. Only the primary driver can request to add drivers; Turo hosts cannot do it for you. We encourage you to request to add additional drivers before your trip starts, though guests can request to add a driver while a trip is in progress.
To speed up the process, have your additional driver create a Turo account and get approved to drive before you request to add them. All drivers must have a valid driver’s license and meet the age requirements for the car you’ve booked. You can request to add drivers via the “Trips” tab in the Turo app without additional driver charges or extra costs.
Turo has agreements and pilot programs in place with a number of airports across the United States, and we’re always working hard to secure arrangements at even more airports to make your transition between air travel and car travel as smooth as possible, no matter what city.
Currently, Turo has agreements with some regional and international airports in at least 24 US states. The group of airports where Turo has airport pickup permits for guests may change, so refer to the link below for an up-to-date list.
List of airport locations