How much do you expect to pay for car rental in Hawaii?

[Ken555]

I guess we got lucky. Walked directly from the shuttle to cars to pick one out at both HNL and OGG, just as the app said we could. Lots of others doing the same, but lots also waiting at counters, just to get harassed about insurance and gas, to then go to cars and pick theirs out like we did probably a half hour before. Only glanced at the long lines as I passed by.

Will do the same in a few months at HNL. I guess we are the chosen few who haven't waited in a rental car line in years.

Dollar told me that if I book via Autoslash I can't bypass the counter; I must wait in line to talk with them. I also tried adding my Dollar # to my reservation days before pickup, and it didn't do anything. I know some of the other providers do permit this.

 

[davidvel]

You did this today? Recently? What company?

8/18 AT HNL and 8/22 at OGG.

 

[davidvel]

Dollar told me that if I book via Autoslash I can't bypass the counter; I must wait in line to talk with them. I also tried adding my Dollar # to my reservation days before pickup, and it didn't do anything. I know some of the other providers do permit this.

We booked Alamo which was the lowest price through Costco for both rentals. I have always used skip the line with my Costco rentals from all the major companies, never had a problem adding the confirmation number to my online account. If Costco is a few bucks more than autoslash it is well worth it to us to not wait in those horrendous lines.

 

[Ken555]

We booked Alamo which was the lowest price through Costco for both rentals. I have always used skip the line with my Costco rentals from all the major companies, never had a problem adding the confirmation number to my online account. If Costco is a few bucks more than autoslash it is well worth it to us to not wait in those horrendous lines.

Yes, it works with Alamo, Avis, and Budget, but not Thrifty or Dollar.

 

[mountainboy]

8/18 AT HNL and 8/22 at OGG.

We booked Alamo which was the lowest price through Costco for both rentals. I have always used skip the line with my Costco rentals

We just did Alamo (via Costco) at KOA; NO skip the counter here unfortunately... Luckily 2 (out of 3) kiosks were functional & we were done in 2-3 minutes... Wish they added skip the counter at KOA also.. (Glad they have it at OGG & HNL)..

 

[iftravel]

I picked up the car from Dollar on Maui with only a five minute wait. I was told Dollar/Thrifty only have four (4!!) employees for check in while they have 12 check in desks (partial pic of their office below). Anyway, I was pleased with the check-in process this time and got my car quickly (and even had a choice of six). $28 per day all-in (other than the extra $18 I pay AMEX for their premium coverage), reserved 11 days prior to pickup, via Autoslash.

View attachment 115316

I usually don’t pay any on insurance. Think the owned auto insurance from like GEICO should cover rental in Hawaii. No?

 

[Ken555]

I usually don’t pay any on insurance. Think the owned auto insurance from like GEICO should cover rental in Hawaii. No?

I pay the $18 since AMEX then is first to pay out, and I don’t need to worry about using my own insurance. Easier, simpler, minor cost.

 

[iftravel]

I pay the $18 since AMEX then is first to pay out, and I don’t need to worry about using my own insurance. Easier, simpler, minor cost.

Yeah don’t know how useful it is when actually claiming it. But just checked it’s $20 for the whole rental, not per day, so yeah why not.

 

[ScoopKona]

I usually don’t pay any on insurance. Think the owned auto insurance from like GEICO should cover rental in Hawaii. No?

Depends. I've totaled a rental car. (More accurately, a hit-and-run driver totaled my rental car while it was parked.)

Since I paid for Enterprise's insurance, they picked me up, I signed a couple papers, and had a new car in a matter of minutes. "So sorry this happened to you on vacation." The police report took much, much longer.

 

[Ken555]

Yeah don’t know how useful it is when actually claiming it. But just checked it’s $20 for the whole rental, not per day, so yeah why not.

I used it once long, long ago and it was as simple as calling and Amex telling me to just pay for the damage on the card and that was it. Doesn’t get much easier. Of course, I don’t know how it goes these days but I still pay for it.

It’s $18 for those of us in California.

 

[iftravel]

Depends. I've totaled a rental car. (More accurately, a hit-and-run driver totaled my rental car while it was parked.)

Since I paid for Enterprise's insurance, they picked me up, I signed a couple papers, and had a new car in a matter of minutes. "So sorry this happened to you on vacation." The police report took much, much longer.

I’m glad the rental company’s insurance worked like a charm. Though if I paid the rental company each time such insurance, I could afford two cars totaled for cash so far. Was this your only total?

 

[ScoopKona]

I’m glad the rental company’s insurance worked like a charm. Though if I paid the rental company each time such insurance, I could afford two cars totaled for cash so far. Was this your only total?

Yes. I also don't rent cars very often. Only domestically. And typically only in the state of California. (Almost always renting in either Burbank or Oakland and driving in the direction of wineries. The last two cars I rented were in Burbank and Vallejo.)

I want my own insurance provider to be so far down the list they never know about any rental issues. That's worth $20/day.

 

[mountainboy]

I pay the $18 since AMEX then is first to pay out, and I don’t need to worry about using my own insurance. Easier, simpler, minor cost.

Many Visa Infinite CCs (like CSR, C1VX) include primary car rental insurance at no extra cost; Amex's modest cost is also excellent.
TY!

 

[Ken555]

Many Visa Infinite CCs (like CSR, C1VX) include primary car rental insurance at no extra cost; Amex's modest cost is also excellent.
TY!

Yup, it’s definitely not the only one. We should consider keeping a list of those that do in a faq somewhere…

 

[mountainboy]

Yup, it’s definitely not the only one. We should consider keeping a list of those that do in a faq somewhere…

As above, Cap 1 Venture X & CSR provide it.
BoA Premium Rewards Elite also provides it & so does US Bank Altitude Reserve (USBAR) although USB has been nerfing their benefits recently so who knows...
Mahalo!

 

[Rjbeach2003]

I reserved a car for two weeks in February two weeks ago. Through Costco. I check back periodically and did again today. For two rental the prices went up about 25-30%.

 

[mountainboy]

I reserved a car for two weeks in February two weeks ago. Through Costco. I check back periodically and did again today. For two rental the prices went up about 25-30%.

May come down significantly (or not), as we get closer...
There is often a barbell pricing: good pricing far out or fairly close in, although with their anticipated demand/supply & overall macro & micro-economics, they tweak these prices all the time..
My rate for an upcoming SLC rental went from 300 to 110 to 250 (& will likely go down further as we get closer, but who knows)...
TY!

 

[rickandcindy23]

May come down significantly (or not), as we get closer...
There is often a barbell pricing: good pricing far out or fairly close in, although with their anticipated demand/supply & overall macro & micro-economics, they tweak these prices all the time..
My rate for an upcoming SLC rental went from 300 to 110 to 250 (& will likely go down further as we get closer, but who knows)...
TY!

I have noticed this, specifically with Maui. Some rentals booked at 10 months out, once we have airfare purchased, are not too bad. I keep checking, and sometimes the price goes up significantly, then it comes back down closer to check-in.

I get paranoid with my rental cars after reading many comments about Hertz using scans of the car's underneath to determine any new damage done to the car.

We had a car rental at NU in Orlando, and I have been okay with NU in the past, but our last car rental came with a big red letter warning on the paperwork to bring the car back clean. Rick took the car to the car wash and cleaned it, and he used the vacuum. $12 well spent. He told the person who was checking the cars back in to write on Rick's receipt that the car was returnd clean. It seemed like a random new way for these smaller companies to get more money from customers. We won't rent again from NU. Fox has never treated us like that.

The rental car prices at MCO have gotten extreme through Alamo, our former favorite car rental company. I would say MCO is making a lot of money because on-site fees have to be the reason for the high cost.

 

[Quilter]

Checking in here again. I appreciate all the data points being offered.

I looked again at Costco and rebooked. One of the possible cars was electric (possible Tesla). We're currently booked at Westin Ka'anapali North. Would a Tesla be inconvenient because of charging?

The pickup location for Budget is:
101 Mayor Elmer F Cravalho Way
Kahului (Maui Island), HI 96732, US

Is this at the airport?

Still on the fence about renting a car for our 6 nights at Ko 'Olina. Can a HI expert talk me through this?

 

[jtp1947]

Yes, that is the airport.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Speaking of Maui car rentals, Costco had a deal yesterday from 2/7-3/7, $1,058 for a full-sized car, Budget on Maui. We have FastBreak, so that should save time. That is the best deal I have found so far. I continue to check often.

I am working on ATL (Atlanta airport) from 10/12-10/26. The cost is outrageous, even through Capital One. I am disappointed at what I am seeing for even an intermediate car, and I would rather have a larger car because we drive to Hilton Head from ATL.

 

[Luanne]

Our 3 week rental for an SUV in Feb/March 2026 went down through AutoSlash to $1009. It's with Hertz. When I check Costco the prices have gone up from what I had booked earlier with them.

 

[jabberwocky]

WKORV-N does have some parking stalls with EV chargers (the South phase also has some IIRC). Shouldn’t be a problem for charging - assuming they are working.

 

[Luanne]

Just an update. I have a rental on Maui for an SUV for 3 weeks in Feb/March. Started the search with Costco. Right now I have a rental with Hertz, found with AutoSlash for $1009 all in. Costco is currently at $1500. Lowest I had with Costco was with Enterprise at $1200.

 

[Tamaradarann]

~30-40/d depending on where you want to go Kauai and Oahu both have great bus transportation, car rental not needed, you can be selective about the days you rent; Maui and BI you should get a car as both have poor public transit

We love the public transportation on Oahu and we live without a car in Honolulu. However, using the bus on Kauai has some concerns. First of all we have been staying in Kapaa and the bus schedule is once an hour. That is a long time to wait for a bus so going grocery shopping where you will be bringing home frozen or refrigerated food may not work. Also Kauai is a rainy island and certain areas get frequent rain. Walking and waiting for the bus in the rain is not really what we want to do. Finally, I don't want to be a Debbie Downer but many times we stay on the first floor in Kauai so we would need to evaculate(and we have had to do so) during a Tsunami warning and stay away for a number of hours. That may be a challenge without a car. We are currently at the Hilton Ocean Tower on Hawaii Island without a car but we are on the 8th Floor and we live in Honolulu on the 14th floor so during a Tsunami warning we can just stay put and be safe.