Trying to figure out if it’s worth renting a car in Hawaii? Then you’ve come to the right place! Here are some things you need to know about rental cars in Hawaii and whether or not this is the best option for you as you embark on your island getaway!
This guide to renting a car in Hawaii was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Quick Answer:
You need a car on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. You probably don’t need one if you’re staying in Waikiki the whole time. Expect to pay $80-120/day after all the fees (yes, really). Book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental to save money and get two free extra drivers.
Still reading? Good. Because the car rental decision can make or break your Hawaii trip.
The $400 Mistake I See All the Time
Last month, a couple emailed me after their Oahu trip. They’d spent $560 on a week-long rental and used the car exactly twice—once to drive to the North Shore, once to go to a Costco run.
The rest of the week? Their car sat in hotel parking while they paid $45/night to keep it there.
That’s $875 down the drain.
On the flip side, I’ve talked to people who went to Maui without a car because they thought they’d “just Uber everywhere.”
They never made it to Hana.
Never saw Upcountry.
Spent most of their trip within walking distance of their resort because ride-shares either wouldn’t come or quoted them $150 for a 20-minute drive.
So which is worse? Wasting money on a rental you don’t use, or missing half of Hawaii because you don’t have one?
Neither. You just need to know which situation you’re actually in.
When You Actually Need a Car (Don’t Skip This)
Maui
Not negotiable. Maui doesn’t work without a car. The Road to Hana alone makes the rental worth it, but beyond that, Upcountry Maui, the beaches on the south and west coasts, and literally everything worth seeing is spread out.
I’ve tried to make Maui work without a car. It doesn’t.
Public transportation? Basically nonexistent. Uber? Good luck getting one in Paia or Hana. Tours? Sure, but you’ll spend more on tours than you would have on the rental, plus you’re stuck to their schedule.
Kauai
Same story. Waimea Canyon is on one side of the island, the North Shore beaches are on another, and Poipu is somewhere in between. There’s no way to see Kauai properly without your own vehicle.
Fun fact: I once watched someone try to Uber from Princeville to Waimea Canyon. The app quoted them $180 one way. They rented a car.
Big Island
This one’s huge. Like, actually huge. It takes nearly 3 hours to drive from Kona to Hilo. You’re not Ubering that. You’re not taking a bus. You need a car.
Even if you’re only staying on one side of the island, the distances between beaches, restaurants, and attractions are too far for ride-shares to make sense.
Oahu (But Only If You’re Leaving Waikiki)
Here’s where it gets interesting. Oahu is the one island where you might not need a car for your entire trip, but you’ll probably want one for part of it.
Staying in Waikiki and only doing Waikiki things? Skip the car. Everything’s walkable, parking is $40-60/night at hotels, and Ubers are cheap and plentiful.
Want to see the North Shore? Lanikai Beach? A hike that isn’t Diamond Head? Get the car.
My usual move: Stay in Waikiki for a few days without a car, then rent one when I’m ready to explore the rest of the island. Saves me $200-300 every trip.
When You Can 100% Skip the Rental
You’re Doing a Waikiki-Only Trip
I spent 5 days in Waikiki last February with my husband. Didn’t rent a car once. We walked everywhere, took TheBus to Ala Moana for $2.75, and Ubered to dinner in Chinatown for $12.
If we’d rented a car, we would have paid $400 for the week plus another $225 for parking. To do what? Sit in Waikiki traffic and stress about finding parking?
Your Hotel Offers Shuttles or You’ve Booked All-Inclusive Tours
Some resorts (especially on the Big Island and Maui) run shuttles to beaches, restaurants, and shopping areas. If your resort has good shuttle service and you’ve booked tours that include hotel pickup, you might not need wheels.
Check before you arrive. Don’t assume.
Your Budget Can’t Handle $700-900 for the Week
After you add up the daily rate, taxes, fees, gas, and parking, you’re looking at $700-900 for a week-long rental. If that number makes you sweat, there are cheaper ways to get around.
Ride-shares for specific trips cost less than a full week rental. So do organized tours. You’ll see less of the island, but you won’t blow your entire vacation budget on transportation.
What Car Rentals Actually Cost in Hawaii Right Now
People always ask me, “How much should I budget for a rental car?”
The answer in 2026: More than you think.
Base Rates (Before the Surprise Fees)
As of January 2026, daily rates look like this:
- Economy car: $50-75
- Standard car: $65-90
- SUV: $75-110
- Jeep: $90-130
That’s just the starting point.
The Fees That Make You Want to Cry
Hawaii rental cars come with more add-ons than a spirit airlines ticket:
- General Excise Tax: up to 4.71%
- State motor vehicle surcharge: $5/day
- Vehicle registration fee: $1.45/day
- Customer facility charge: $4.50/day
- Airport concession fee: 11.1%
So that $60/day economy car? You’re actually paying $80-85/day once they’re done with you.
For a week, you’re looking at $560-600. And that’s before gas ($5-6/gallon in Hawaii) and parking.
The Real-Life Example
Last week, I checked prices for a February rental on Maui. A compact car from Budget showed $67/day. Sounds reasonable.
At checkout, the total came to $587 for 7 days. That’s $84/day after all the fees.
Peak Season Gets Ridiculous
Christmas week on Maui last year? Economy cars were going for $200+/day. I saw one quote for a minivan at $1,900 for the week.
Spring break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer all see price spikes. If you’re traveling during those windows, book the second you know your dates.
Want more details on Hawaii transportation? I covered all this on my podcast Hawaii Travel Made Easy in Episode 11: Do You Need to Rent a Car?
How I Save Money on Every Hawaii Car Rental
After 40+ trips, I’ve figured out what actually works.
Always Book Through Discount Hawaii Car Rental First
I use Discount Hawaii Car Rental for every trip. They pull rates from all the major companies and usually beat what you’d pay booking directly.
But here’s the real value: two extra drivers free (saves $20-30/day), reduced young driver fees ($8/day instead of $25), and no prepayment required so you can cancel anytime.
I’ve saved hundreds of dollars using them instead of booking on the rental company sites.
Book Now, Keep Checking, Rebook if Prices Drop
Prices fluctuate constantly. I book my rental the same day I book my flight, then check back every few weeks. If the price drops, I cancel the old reservation and rebook.
This takes 5 minutes and has saved me $100+ on single rentals.
Pay Ahead If Prices Look Good
Once I’m within a few weeks of my trip and prices seem stable (or going up), I switch to a prepaid reservation. You can usually save another 20-25% by paying upfront.
Just make sure you’re okay with the cancellation terms.
Skip the Insurance If Your Credit Card Covers It
Most travel credit cards include rental car insurance. Mine does, so I always decline the collision damage waiver at the counter. That saves me $15-30/day.
Call your card issuer before your trip to confirm what’s covered. Then when the rental agent tries to sell you insurance (and they will), you can confidently say no.
Consider Off-Airport Locations
Waikiki has rental agencies that don’t charge the airport concession fees. If you’re staying in Waikiki first and don’t need the car immediately, picking it up in town can save $30-50 on a week-long rental.
You’ll need to get from the airport to Waikiki first (Uber is $30-35), but the math can still work out.
Rent for Multiple Days, Not Single Days
The daily rate drops significantly when you book 3+ days. If you only need a car for two day trips from Waikiki, you might actually save money renting for 3-4 consecutive days instead of two separate single-day rentals.
Weird, but true.
Where to Actually Pick Up Your Rental Car
Every island is different. Here’s what you need to know for 2026.
Oahu: Honolulu Airport (HNL)
Most people fly into Honolulu, so this is where you’ll find the best selection and usually the best prices. All the major companies are at the consolidated rental car facility: Advantage, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National.
Others like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, and Payless run shuttles from the airport.
Pickup is straightforward. Follow signs for “rental cars,” take the Wiki Wiki shuttle to the rental car facility, get your car.
Current wait times have been reasonable (20-30 minutes during peak travel times).
Check rates: Discount Hawaii Car Rental for Oahu
Maui: Kahului Airport (OGG)
Kahului is Maui’s main airport and the only one with on-site rentals. All the major companies are here.
Fair warning: Maui had a severe shortage in December 2024 where cars were going for $2,000+/week and companies were canceling confirmed reservations to rebook at higher rates.
Availability has improved since then, but Maui remains the most unpredictable island for rentals.
Book early for Maui. Like, really early.
Big Island: Two Airports, Very Different Vibes
Kona Airport (KOA) serves the sunny west side. This is where most tourists fly in. All the major rental companies are here, but prices run 20-30% higher than Oahu.
Hilo Airport (ITO) serves the rainy east side. Fewer tourists, cheaper rentals, but you’re starting 2.5 hours from Kona if that’s where you’re staying.
Pick the airport closest to your hotel. You don’t want to start your vacation with a 3-hour drive.
Kauai: Lihue Airport (LIH)
Lihue is Kauai’s only commercial airport. Eight companies operate here: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National.
There’s also a local company called Island Cars that gets great reviews and sometimes has better availability than the big guys. Worth checking if the major companies are sold out.
Lanai: Good Luck
Lanai City Service is your only option. Book directly with them as far in advance as possible. This isn’t an island where you can just show up and figure it out.
What If You Can’t Get a Rental? (Your Backup Plan)
Sometimes rentals sell out or prices get stupid expensive. Here are your alternatives.
Uber and Lyft (With Realistic Expectations)
Oahu: Works great in Waikiki and Honolulu. Expect a car in 5-10 minutes. Going to the North Shore or Windward side? Still possible but prices add up fast ($80-120 round trip).
Big Island: Decent in Kona and Hilo. Anywhere else? Don’t count on it. I’ve waited 45 minutes for an Uber in Volcano Village only to have it cancel on me.
Maui and Kauai: Hit or miss. Resort areas usually work fine. Remote beaches or Upcountry? Forget it.
Holoholo (The Local Alternative)
Holoholo is a Hawaii-based ride-share that doesn’t do surge pricing. During peak times when Uber is charging 2x, Holoholo keeps rates steady. Available on Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai.
I started using them last year and honestly prefer them to Uber now.
TheBus (Oahu Only)
Oahu’s public bus system actually works. It’s slow and you need patience, but for $2.75 a ride, you can get from Waikiki to Ala Moana, the North Shore, Kailua, or most major attractions.
Not practical for other islands. Don’t even try.
Tours That Include Transportation
Circle island tours, waterfall tours, Road to Hana tours, volcano tours—they all include hotel pickup. If you book 3-4 of these during your trip, you might not need a rental at all.
You lose flexibility, but you also don’t deal with parking or navigation.
My Actual Recommendation (After 40+ Trips)
Rent a car if you’re visiting:
Maui, Kauai, Big Island, or any part of Oahu beyond Waikiki.
Skip the rental if you’re:
Staying in Waikiki only, doing mostly organized tours, or genuinely can’t afford $700-900 for the week.
Consider the hybrid approach:
This is what I do most often. Spend a few days in Waikiki carless, then rent for your exploration days. Or rent only on the specific days you’re doing Road to Hana or driving to the North Shore.
You don’t have to make an all-or-nothing decision.
The Bottom Line
The freedom of having a car in Hawaii is hard to beat. Stopping at a random beach because it looks pretty, grabbing lunch at a food truck you spotted from the highway, hiking without worrying about tour schedules, etc.
That’s the Hawaii experience I love.
But if the rental is going to stress you out financially or you’re genuinely planning to stay in one area, skip it. Use that money for a helicopter tour or a really nice dinner instead.
Just be honest with yourself about what kind of trip you’re actually taking.
Ready to Book Your Hawaii Trip?
Need help figuring out your whole itinerary, not just the car situation? I’ve got detailed guides for every island:
- Oahu Travel Guide
- Maui Travel Guide
- Kauai Travel Guide
- Big Island Travel Guide
- Hawaii Island Hopping Guide
Or book a Hawaii Travel Consultation and I’ll help you plan the whole thing, including whether you actually need that rental car.
Looking for more Hawaii travel resources? Get my top Hawaii budget tips, how to visit Hawaii for the first time, tips for Hawaii first time travelers, and how to plan a Hawaii babymoon.
