Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport Photos










Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport Introduce
For travelers arriving in South Carolina via the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), or for locals in the Midlands needing reliable temporary transportation, **Dollar Car Rental** offers a conveniently located car rental agency. Situated right near the airport, this location ensures that your transition from air travel to ground travel is as efficient as possible, providing an essential service for anyone looking to explore Columbia, West Columbia, and the greater South Carolina region.
As a well-known name in the rental industry, Dollar provides a broad range of vehicle classes to suit different travel needs—from fuel-efficient compact cars perfect for city cruising, to SUVs ideal for family trips or excursions to destinations like Congaree National Park. Beyond the brand recognition and diverse fleet, this specific location adds a unique point of pride: it is a **woman-owned business**, demonstrating a commitment to local entrepreneurship and diversity within the industry.
While car rental services can sometimes face operational challenges, this Dollar Car Rental location provides key features to enhance the customer experience, including specialized **active military discounts** and a variety of modern payment options. They aim to deliver a straightforward, practical solution for temporary mobility, whether you are in town for business, leisure, or replacing your personal vehicle.
The primary advantage of this car rental location is its position immediately serving the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) area. This makes it an ideal pick-up and drop-off point for flights, eliminating the need for long trips into the city center just to secure a rental vehicle.
- Address: 3018 Aviation Way, West Columbia, SC 29170, USA
The location on Aviation Way places it directly within the operational zone of the airport. While often referred to as being "at" the airport, the services are provided as **Onsite services** which means the rental counter and vehicle staging area are highly accessible for arriving and departing customers. Always check specific pickup instructions, as the physical rental office may be a short, dedicated shuttle ride from the terminal, a standard procedure for many major airport rental facilities.
Furthermore, accessibility is a priority at this location to ensure a smooth experience for all customers:
- Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: The facility provides an entrance designed to accommodate individuals using wheelchairs.
- Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Dedicated parking spaces are available to ensure convenience and compliance with accessibility standards.
Dollar Car Rental at CAE is a full-service car rental agency, providing all the necessary components for securing a vehicle and completing a rental contract. Their services are designed to meet both the immediate travel needs of flight arrivals and the logistical requirements of local renters.
- Full Car Rental Agency Operations: Providing temporary rental of a wide range of vehicles, including economy cars, sedans, SUVs, minivans, and specialty vehicles, depending on current fleet availability.
- Onsite Airport Services: As a key provider at CAE, the entire rental transaction—from counter check-in to vehicle pickup and return—is managed onsite or with a very short transit, ensuring convenience for air travelers.
- Flexible Payment Methods: Customers can pay for their rentals using traditional **Credit cards** or **Debit cards**, offering flexibility for those who prefer not to use credit. Additionally, the location accepts **NFC mobile payments** for a quick and modern transaction experience at the counter.
- Insurance and Documentation Processing: The agency manages all required rental agreement steps, including verifying driver’s licenses, processing required insurance information (note: renters should always be prepared to provide proof of insurance as policies may change), and handling deposits.
Beyond the standard offerings, this specific Dollar Car Rental location in West Columbia is distinguished by its corporate identity and special programs that benefit the South Carolina community and its visitors.
- Woman-Owned Business: This designation highlights a commitment to diverse business ownership in the Midlands. Choosing this location means directly supporting a business that is locally managed and operated by a woman owner.
- Active Military Discounts: The location offers special discounts for **active military** personnel. These discounts often include preferential rates, and sometimes include fee waivers for items like additional drivers or reduced age surcharges, providing significant value and recognition for service members and their families in South Carolina.
- Wide Range of Vehicle Classes: As part of a major international brand, the local fleet generally includes vehicles in categories from compact and intermediate sedans up to full-size SUVs, allowing customers to choose the perfect car for their journey across South Carolina.
- Modern Payment Convenience: The acceptance of **Debit cards** and **NFC mobile payments** caters to modern consumer preferences, ensuring a fast and versatile checkout experience.
It is important to note that, as with any high-volume airport location, customers have occasionally reported wait times, particularly for vehicles that require cleaning. It is always recommended to have a clear reservation time and allow flexibility in your schedule, especially during peak travel periods, to account for any necessary preparations before the vehicle is ready for inspection.
For making a reservation, confirming vehicle availability, or addressing any questions regarding rental policies such as required insurance documentation, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport location can be reached using the following details:
- Phone (Primary): (803) 822-2300
- Mobile Phone: +1 803-822-2300
- Address: 3018 Aviation Way, West Columbia, SC 29170, USA
Due to the dynamic nature of airport travel, securing a confirmed reservation ahead of time is always the best practice to ensure your chosen vehicle class is ready when you arrive.
For South Carolinians and incoming travelers, what makes the **Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport** location particularly worth choosing is the powerful combination of airport-convenience and value-added features.
The top reasons to choose this location center on its immediate access to CAE—meaning no time wasted commuting far from the terminal—and its commitment to special services. The provision of **Active military discounts** is a significant financial benefit and a gesture of respect highly valued by service members in the region. Furthermore, the flexibility offered by accepting **Debit cards** and modern digital payment methods ensures that renting a vehicle is accessible to a wider pool of local customers, not just those with major credit cards.
While previous customers have noted that it is essential to confirm the cleanliness of the vehicle upon inspection and to be prepared with all necessary documentation, the core value proposition remains strong: a well-known, reliable car rental brand at the most convenient location for air travel, backed by a **woman-owned** local operation that recognizes and rewards the service of our military community. By choosing this location, you are opting for convenience, financial flexibility, and a business that values both community and accessibility.
Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport Details
From the business
- Identifies as women-owned
Service options
- Onsite services
Highlights
- Active military discounts
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport Location
Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport
3018 Aviation Way, West Columbia, SC 29170, USA
Dollar Car Rental - Columbia Metropolitan Airport Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1We were not happy with having to wait nearly two hours to get a rental that we had a reservation for. The whole point of making a reservation is that a rental will be ready promptly at that time. We were assured that the car was being cleaned. Other than evidence that someone may have wiped a few places in the car, it most definitely was not thoroughly cleaned. There were finger prints on the touch screens and crumbs left on the seats. The car, itself, was in good order and drove safely. I would not recommend Thrifty.
Sep 09, 2025 · Angela Li-TowerI'm not really sure it is their fault, but I've been renting cars since 2008 at the Columbia Airport, and then all of the sudden I have to show them proof of insurance, rather than just telling them what company I am with. Total BS. If something like that has changed recently it would have made sense to send out something to all previous customers to alert them. Overall, the car was fine. But, jacking around to get a copy of my insurance had me there for more than 30 minutes.
Aug 18, 2025 · Steven HooverI rented a small SUV a 2025 Volkswagen something In Columbia, South Carolina . We I had Car problems and was very disappointed that the car had issues. However it had just at 2800 miles on it and of course it’s not thrifty’s problem when it comes to the rental. It was a manufacturer issue..I called and the lady at the desk was very nice. She asked me to bring the car back then They would exchange my vehicle. My only issues were I was short on time and thrifty was short on mental vehicles. I was in South Carolina for a family friend wedding in which the rental car mechanical issues did cause some problems for me to be on time for a few of the appointments for the wedding.When I went to get the exchange vehicle There were no Vehicles available for rent. I had to wait about an hour and a half for another vehicle to be returned.. This did put a damper on the extra time of running around and taking care of business for the wedding. I was able to get that second rental car and make the rest of my time enjoyable …I was mainly frustrated that I I wasn’t sure whether or not the vehicle was going to get me back-and-forth to the rental place are going to break down totally in the heat and left for who knows how long before I would have someone come and help. I had to go back to the rental company and wait for another vehicle and then exchange all of the items I had in my first rental to the second rental, which caused me time that I could have used at the church for decorating And spending time with friends.The front desk lady was very nice and kind!
Jul 19, 2025 · Michelle BerkenI have been renting from Thrifty/Dollar for years and it has gotten worse each time I go. It shouldn't be an anxious experience renting a car and despite that I've been sticking with them because rates are usually lower than others. But I will not be returning and neither will anyone in my family. Its either an issue with customer service, they dont accept the credit cards, the cars are not available or the wait is too long. This is ridiculous, people have trips planned and business trips to attend to and there is no consistency with Thrifty/Dollar. The last straw was them having updated policies but its not listed on the website or listed anywhere you can see with no apologies to the customers.
Oct 10, 2025 · Carla FranklinMake sure that you tell them that you don’t want or need Roadside Assistance if you don’t want this because they will automatically bill you without asking! Kind of shady if you ask me!! I had to call to get them to refund the fee. You may want to ask for an itemized invoice up front. I would have given a 5 Star rating if it wasn’t for this issue.Also, there are 2 separate “Airport Fees” that will be charged that the Rental Car companies have to charge, but again, they don’t tell you up front, in fact, the employee that I spoke with couldn’t even tell me what the CRF fee and CFC fee were, I had to google it myself.
Aug 25, 2025 · T Peeples
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