Traveling Around Hawaii Without a Car Can Be Challenging. The only exception is the city of Honolulu, where public transportation is available to some extent. For cheap car rentals in Hawaii, use rental agencies on individual islands: Hawaii Island, Kauai Island, Maui Island, Oahu Island, and Molokai Island. Keep reading to learn how you can save money and what to watch out for.
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Cost of Renting a Car in Hawaii
Even if you decide to rent a car once you arrive, I don’t recommend going with the first car rental agency in Hawaii you come across. It’s unlikely to be the cheapest option. It’s better to compare rental prices from several providers. Websites like RentalCars.com compare offers from 200 rental companies and guarantee the lowest rental price.
To get a quote for car rental without any obligation, use the form below. You don’t need to complete the reservation, but the form compares prices across all major car rental agencies in Hawaii.
How Much Will You Pay for a Car Rental in Hawaii?
- No Hidden Fees
The prices stated at the time of reservation are always final, providing a clear overview of your expenses. - Lowest Price Guarantee
If you find the same deal at a lower price elsewhere, RentalCars will refund the difference. - Cancellation Is Free of Charge
Most bookings can be cancelled or altered free of charge up to 48 hours before collection.
- No Hidden Fees
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How to Save on Car Rentals in Hawaii
The cost of renting a car in Hawaii depends on several factors—not just the number of days and the rental company.
📅 Timing of Your Reservation
I compared several scenarios and found that booking 1-2 months before your pick-up date is usually the most cost-effective.
You can also use the trick of free cancellation if you find a better deal later. RentalCars, for example, offers free reservation cancellation.
⏳ Timing of Your Rental
During peak tourist season and around national holidays, demand for rental cars is higher, resulting in higher rental costs.
Rental companies set prices in 24-hour intervals, so always pick the same pick-up and drop-off times. If you pick up a car at 9:00 AM and return it at 10:00 AM the next day, you’ll pay for a full extra day for just an hour.
🗺️ Rental Location
I compared rental prices on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and Molokai. Except for Molokai, rental prices were generally the same across all islands. Rentals on Molokai Island were slightly more expensive, with fewer available options.
When choosing the rental location, consider how you’ll get from the airport to the rental agency. Sometimes, paying a bit more for an airport rental can save on travel costs into town.
🏎️ Car Class
The cheapest rental cars are usually in the Economy class, offering only basic equipment and minimal passenger comfort. Cars in the Intermediate and Large classes are about 10% more expensive but provide more comfort.
On Hawaii, I recommend renting an SUV, which costs about 25% more than the Economy class. Convertibles are available at select rental agencies, and their cost is roughly double that of the cheapest cars.
The table below shows the cheapest car rentals in Hawaii, with prices per 24 hours. Prices may vary based on car availability, so I recommend using the non-binding price calculator for a better estimate.
Economy Class Intermediate Class SUV Convertible 
from $42 from $38 from $49 from $64 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔞 Driver’s Age
Drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 will need to pay a daily surcharge, which varies by company and typically ranges from $16.00 to $37. Rental companies charge this to offset the higher risk of accidents among young drivers.
For drivers aged 18 to 21, most rental companies either won’t provide a car or will impose an even higher fee.
☂️ Insurance Included in the Rental Price
Car rental companies in Hawaii generally include liability insurance (labeled as SLP) and collision damage waiver (CDW) in the rental price. The deductible is typically zero, meaning you won’t have to pay anything extra in case of damage to the vehicle.
Always read the rental agreement carefully and review the included coverage. If the policy doesn’t cover events like theft or damage to windows and tires, consider getting additional coverage.
🚐 Extra Accessories for an Additional Fee
You can order extra services for an additional fee. The most useful add-on is an additional driver, allowing you to take turns driving the car. If the additional driver is not listed in the contract and an accident occurs, the insurance won’t cover it. The daily rate for an extra driver varies by company and is usually around $13.00 to $15.00. For example, Avis caps this fee at $65 for the entire rental period.
If you’re traveling with kids, you can also pay for a child seat or booster. The price depends on the size of the seat.
One optional extra that you probably don’t need is a GPS or mobile internet device. You can easily and affordably replace it with a service like Airalo.
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Cheap Car Rental Companies in Hawaii
◻️ Car Rentals in Honolulu
Car rentals on Oahu are available at the airport and in the city center, with a wide range of options. Car rental companies such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty, and Sixt have locations directly at Honolulu Airport.
The rental desks are located in a five-story CONRAC building, accessible via Terminal 2 near baggage claims 26 and 31.
◻️ Car Rentals on Maui Island
You’ll find rental companies at several locations on Maui. The largest selection is at Kahului Airport, where companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, and Thrifty operate desks. The rental offices are right outside the terminal after baggage claim.
◻️ Car Rentals on Kauai
All major car rental companies, including Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National, have desks at Lihue Airport. To pick up your car, just walk through the baggage claim area and cross the street in front of the terminal.
◻️ Car Rentals on the Island of Hawaii
The largest selection of rental companies is at Hilo Airport, with desks located on the ground floor near the terminal. Just cross the street, and you’ll find companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
◻️ Car Rentals on Molokai Island
Molokai has fewer rental options, but the best choice is at the local airport, where Alamo operates a desk.
Car Rental Company Rating 
Alamo Rent a Car 8.7/10 
Avis Car Rental 8.2/10 
Budget Car Rental 8.1/10 
Dollar Car Rental 8.3/10 
Enterprise Rent-A-Car 8.6/10 
Hertz Rent a Car 8.3/10 
National Car Rental 8.6/10 
SIXT Rent A Car 8.3/10 
Thrifty Car Rental 8.3/10 -
Tips for Road Trips in Hawaii
1️⃣ Road Trip Along the Hana Highway
They say the journey is the destination—and that’s especially true for the 64 mi-mile-long Hana Highway on the island of Maui. Despite being called a highway, parts of this route are narrow and winding, taking you along a scenic coastline through lush rainforest. Along the way, you can pull over at various points to take photos of waterfalls surrounded by greenery.
2️⃣ Mauna Kea Observatories
The Maunakea Observatories are among the world’s most significant astronomical observation sites, located atop the namesake volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can drive up the narrow access road to the summit and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding hills along the way.
To reach the summit, you’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle. After sunset, Maunakea transforms into the perfect spot for stargazing, with the observatory’s visitor center offering various astronomy programs.
3️⃣ Haleakala National Park
“Haleakala” translates to “House of the Sun,” and one of the most breathtaking experiences you can have in Haleakala National Park on Maui is watching the sunrise. During the day, you can explore several hiking trails, the most popular being the Sliding Sands Trail, which leads you into the heart of the crater.
4️⃣ Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu is a key historical site in Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, during World War II, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on American soil here. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial includes the USS Arizona battleship and nearby access to the USS Missouri.
The memorial is located in Honolulu near the airport, and you can easily drive there.
5️⃣ Hanauma Bay
The protected marine bay Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu is one of Hawaii’s top snorkeling destinations. The bay features vibrant coral reefs and colorful fish, all within the natural crater of an extinct volcano. Its calm waters are ideal for observing the underwater world.
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