You can’t do without your own car in Hawaii. The only exception is the city of Honolulu, where public transport works just fine. For cheap car rental in Hawaii, use the rental agencies on the individual islands – Hawaii Island, Kauai Island, Maui Island, Oahu Island and Molokai Island.
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Tricks for Getting the Best Price for Car Rental in Hawaii
There are several factors that affect the price of a car rental in Hawaii, it’s not just about the number of days and the specific rental company.
🗓️ When Is the Best Time to Make a Car Reservation
I have compared several options, and according to my findings, it works out best to make your reservation 1-2 months before you pick up the car.
You can also use the trick of cancelling your booking for free if you find a better deal. For example, RentalCars offers free cancellation.
⏳ Current Demand Affects the Price
During peak tourist season and around public holidays, demand for cars is higher, resulting in higher rental fees.
All car rental companies set prices in 24-hour windows, so always choose the same pick-up and return time. If you picked up your car at 9:00 am and returned it at 10:00 am, you would be paying all day for just an hour’s rental.
🗺️ Prices Vary in Different Locations
I looked at rental rates on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Molokoi. With the exception of the last one, I got identical prices everywhere. On Molokai Island, car rental was a bit more expensive, and there was less choice of cars available.
When choosing a car rental location, think about how to get to the branch from the airport. Overall, it may be more cost-effective to choose a slightly more expensive airport rental, but this eliminates the cost of traveling into town.
🏎️ Class of Rental Car
The cheapest cars on offer from car rental companies fall into the economy class, usually have only basic amenities and provide passengers with only basic comfort. About 10% more expensive are cars in the Intermediate and Large classes, which already offer more comfort.
In Hawaii, I recommend choosing an SUV, which tend to be about a quarter more expensive than the cheapest economy class. Not many rental companies offer convertibles in Hawaii, so you need to expect about double the price of the cheapest cars.
The table below shows the cheapest car rentals in Hawaii, the price is per 24 hours. The listed prices vary, for example, depending on the current stock availability of cars, for a better estimate I recommend using a non-binding calculation.
Economy Large SUV Convertible 
from $42 from $38 from $49 from $64 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔞 Driver’s Age
Drivers aged 21 to 24 years inclusive are subject to a surcharge per day of car rental. The amount varies from company to company, usually between $16.00 and $37. This is to compensate for the higher risk of a young driver causing an accident.
Drivers aged 18 to 21 are either not accommodated at all by the car rental company or are made to pay an even higher fee.
☂️ Car Insurance
Car rental companies in Hawaii already include compulsory liability insurance (known as SLP) and collision damage insurance (CDW) in the rental price. The driver’s deductible is usually zero, which means there will be no extra cost if the vehicle is damaged.
When booking a car, always read the terms of the contract carefully and the insurances included. If the insurance does not cover theft of the vehicle or damage to glass and tyres, for example, I recommend adding these risks.
🛰️ Accessories at Extra Cost
You can order additional services for your car for an additional fee. The most useful is an additional driver with whom you can take turns driving the car. If the driver is not named in the contract and an accident occurs, the insurance is not valid. The price for an additional driver varies from one car rental company to another in Hawaii, expect to pay approximately $13.00 to $15.00 for each day of rental. For example, Avis has set the fee cap at $65 for the entire rental period.
If you’re travelling with small or larger children, you can pay extra for a child seat or booster seat. The price depends on the size of the seat.
From my point of view, a completely unnecessary addition is GPS navigation and mobile internet, which you can easily and cheaply replace with Airalo.
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Non-binding Car Rental Price Calculator for Hawaii
Even if you decide to rent a car on the spot, I don’t recommend choosing the first car rental company you come across in Hawaii. It would be quite a coincidence if it ends up being the cheapest one. It’s better to compare rental prices from several rental companies, for example, RentalCars.com compares 200 rental companies at the same time. Moreover, it guarantees customers the lowest rental price.
Use the form below to get a no-obligation quote for car rental. You don’t have to complete the booking there, but the form compares prices at all major car rental companies in Hawaii.
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Cheap Car Rental Brands in Hawaii
◻️ Car Rentals in Honolulu
Car rental on Oahu is available at the airport and in the city centre, the choice of car rental companies is wide. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty and Sixt have branches right at Honolulu Airport.
The rental car counters are located in a separate five-story CONRAC building, accessed through Terminal 2 near baggage claim areas 26 and 31.
◻️ Maui Island Car Rentals
Rental car establishments can be found throughout Maui. There is a very wide selection at Kahului Airport, where Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt and Thrifty have counters. Rental outlets can be found just behind the building you exit after you pick up your luggage.
◻️ Kauai Car Rentals
All major car rental companies have a branch at Lihue Airport, namely Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. To pick up your car, simply walk through the baggage claim area and cross the street in front of the terminal.
◻️ Car Rentals on the Hawaii Island
The largest selection of car rental agencies is right at Hilo Airport, with counters located on the ground floor in front of the terminal. Just cross the street and you’ll find Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
◻️ Molokai Island Car Rentals
The choice of car rental companies on Molokai Island is limited, the best option is the local airport where Alamo has a counter.
Car rental 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 the Best Road Trips in Hawaii
1️⃣ Road Trip on the Hana Highway
They say that the journey is the destination – and for 64 mi the long Hana Highway on Maui, this is doubly true, although the word “highway” is a bit of an exaggeration in this case. In some places, the very narrow road winds along a winding coastline inside the rainforest. At several points, you can pull over and take a photo by the waterfalls surrounded by greenery.
2️⃣ Mauna Kea Observatories
The Maunakea Observatories complex is one of the most important astronomical observatories in the world, located atop the volcano of the same name on the island of Hawaii. Take the narrow access road to the summit and enjoy views of the surrounding hills as you drive. Maunakea transforms into an ideal spot for stargazing after dark, and the observatory’s visitor center offers several stargazing programs.
3️⃣ Haleakala National Park
“Haleakala” translates to House of the Sun. And sunrise is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have at Haleakala National Park on Maui. There are several hiking trails you can follow during the day in the park, probably the most popular being the Sliding Sands Trail, which leads all the way to the inside of the crater.
4️⃣ Pearl Harbor National Monument
Pearl Harbor on Oahu is one of the most important sites in Hawaii’s history. It was here that the Japanese attack on American soil occurred during World War II on December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor National Memorial includes the former battleship USS Arizona and USS Missouri. Located in Honolulu near the airport, the memorial is easily accessible by car.
5️⃣ Hanauma Bay
The protected marine bay of Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu is one of the best snorkeling spots in Hawaii. Rich coral reefs and colorful fish illustrate the colorful underwater life. Nature created the bay in the crater of an extinct volcano, and its calm waters are ideal for viewing the underwater world.
Car Rental in USA
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