Tips for Saving Money on Hawaii Car Rentals

Wiack
6 min readAug 18, 2023

Hawaii’s islands offer stunning scenery, world-class beaches, and unique attractions. But visiting this paradise comes at a price — including potentially high car rental costs. Renting a vehicle provides flexibility to explore at your own pace. Luckily, there are ways to find discounted Hawaii car rentals to avoid breaking your vacation budget.

Overview of Car Rental Costs in Hawaii

Renting a car in Hawaii costs more compared to most other US destinations. Limited competition, high demand, and taxes all contribute to elevated rental rates. Expect to pay $50–100 per day or more for a standard rental car like a Toyota Corolla or Jeep Wrangler. Larger SUVs and minivans can easily exceed $150–200 per day. Additional drivers, GPS rentals, car seats, and insurance pack the bill even higher.

Without smart strategies, renting a car for a week in Hawaii can cost $500 or more. But there are ways to secure significant savings off rack rates through discounted providers, membership programs, and advanced planning.

Clever Strategies to Save on Hawaii Car Rentals

Paying full price for a Hawaiian Islands car rental really hurts the vacation budget. Here are insider tricks to unlock deals, discounts, and lower rates:

Local Brokers Like Discount Hawaii Car Rental

Booking through local Hawaiian rental brokers can translate to big savings versus directly renting from major agencies. These providers offer discounted fleet rates and pass the savings along to customers.

Discount Hawaii Car Rental is a top choice for deals, with prices 25–40% below normal costs. They reserve cars from brands like Avis, Budget, Hertz and Enterprise at steep discounts. Phone support and shuttle service add convenience.

Costco Travel Rentals

Costco members can often find major markdowns on Hawaiian car rentals through the Costco Travel website or phone agents. Costco leverages its bulk buying power to secure discounted rental fleet rates. Savings of 30% or more are common.

Direct Rental Company Websites

Sometimes substantial deals can be found by reserving directly through rental brand sites like Hertz, Avis, or Alamo. Useful tips include:

  • Joining rental car rewards programs for access to member-only promotions and coupon codes.
  • Looking for special offers and coupons on direct sites that broker sites may miss. Check the coupons page and watch for sales banners.

Comparison Sites Like Expedia and Kayak

Large booking sites like Expedia, Kayak, and Priceline allow comparing major company rates in one place. While not always the cheapest, these sites can help identify price trends. Also check Hotwire’s “Hot Rates” for big discounts.

Smart Strategies for Booking Affordable Hawaii Rentals

In addition to using discount providers, travelers can employ other tricks to keep rental costs low in Hawaii:

Book Early to Lock in Lower Rates

Like airfare, rental rates tend to rise closer to the pickup date as demand increases. Booking 4–8 weeks early locks in the lowest prices before they escalate. Last-minute deals sometimes appear but aren’t reliable.

Avoid Airport Locations and Extra Fees

Picking up a car at the airport adds taxes and facility fees. OPT for an off-airport rental location to save 10–25%. Also decline extra items like GPS and car seats if you already own them.

Consider Car Size and Fuel Efficiency

A smaller economy car or sedan costs much less to rent and fuel than a large SUV or minivan. But also keep luggage space and passenger needs in mind. Hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius have excellent gas mileage to save at the pump.

Check for Deals on Weekly and Monthly Rentals

Most Hawaii visitors rent cars for 5–7 days. But better rates can sometimes be found for weekly or monthly rentals. Just be sure the long-term savings outweigh extra daily costs.

Be Flexible on Pickup Dates/Times if Possible

Car rental prices fluctuate based on demand. If your schedule allows, consider starting/ending the rental a day early or late. Even switching from a weekend to weekday pickup can help. The key is booking at a lower-demand time.

Utilizing these rental car booking best practices makes it possible to keep Hawaii car rental costs under control.

What to Know About Discount Hawaii Car Rental

Among Hawaii rental brokers, Discount Hawaii Car Rental stands out for consistently low rates. Here are key facts about this affordable rental provider:

Offers Discounted Rates from Major Companies

Discount Hawaii Car Rental partners with Hawaii’s major car rental brands to provide discounted fleet pricing to customers. Vehicles come from reputable companies like Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, and Alamo.

Good Customer Service Reputation

Many happy renters report excellent customer service from Discount Hawaii’s agents. They offer personalized help tailoring rentals to traveler needs and budgets.

Stricter Change and Cancellation Policies

Discount Hawaii Car Rental does impose stricter change and cancellation policies than renting directly. But the major savings often outweigh this trade-off.

No Extra Booking Fees

Unlike third-party sites, Discount Hawaii does not tack on any booking or reservation fees. The rate you see is the final rate.

Compare Rates With Other Discount Providers

While Discount Hawaii is a top choice for deals, it pays to compare quotes from other brokers like Hawaii Discount Car Rental or Costco Travel to make sure you snag the absolute lowest price.

Overall, Discount Hawaii Car Rental makes it easy to enjoy major rental car savings in Hawaii without sacrificing quality or service. Just be aware of their stricter policies before booking.

Key Cost Considerations When Renting a Car in Hawaii

When calculating total trip costs, the base rental rate is only one piece of your Hawaii car rental spending. Be sure to factor in taxes, fees, insurance, mileage, gas, and tolls:

Base Rental Rate

The daily or weekly base rate varies drastically based on location, dates, vehicle type and provider. Prepaid discount rates of $20–40 per day are achievable.

Taxes and Fees

Hawaii charges 4.166% state excise tax, up to $3/day vehicle license recovery fee, airport concession fees, and 4.712% general excise tax on rentals. These can add $10–15 extra per day.

Insurance Needs

Basic liability insurance is legally required. But collision and comprehensive coverage are smart additions for protection. This can cost $10–20 per day depending on policy limits. Consider your existing car insurance coverage before purchasing policies.

Mileage Costs

Most rental rates allow unlimited mileage. But some impose fees beyond a certain mileage, often around 150 miles per day. This is rare, but be sure to verify mileage policies.

Gas Spending

Having to fill up the tank before returning the car requires budgeting for Hawaii’s higher gas prices. Fuel spending varies greatly based on vehicle efficiency and mileage during your trip.

Toll Road Charges

Parts of Hawaii have toll roads like Highway 130 and the H3 tunnel. Some rental cars come with prepaid passes, but fees may apply if not.

Factoring in these extra items is crucial when budgeting for a Hawaii trip. Even after scoring a discounted rental rate, taxes, insurance, gas and tolls add hundreds more to the final car rental cost.

To summarize, renting a car in the Hawaiian Islands often carries a high price tag, especially during peak seasons. But following these insider tips can help travelers unlock major deals, discounts and savings. Booking early, using brokers like Discount Hawaii Car Rental, avoiding the airport, and researching insurance needs pays dividends in lowering overall rental costs. A little effort goes a long way towards making car rentals in Hawaii more affordable!

FAQs

Where can I find the cheapest Hawaii car rentals?

Major rental companies, local brokers like Discount Hawaii Car Rental, Costco Travel, and comparison sites like Kayak offer discounted Hawaii rentals.

Is it better to book Hawaii car rentals in advance?

Yes, booking at least a few weeks early can help lock in lower rates before prices potentially increase.

What are the average Hawaii car rental costs?

Average daily rental costs range from $30–60 per day depending on the island, car size, demand, and season.

Does Discount Hawaii Car Rental offer Jeep rentals?

Yes, Discount Hawaii Car Rental provides discounted Jeep Wrangler rentals on islands like Maui, Kauai, and Oahu.

Are there hidden fees with Discount Hawaii Car Rental?

No, Discount Hawaii Car Rental does not charge extra booking fees beyond the base rental rate. However, taxes, insurance, etc still apply.

https://wiack.com/discount-hawaii-car-rental/?feed_id=15761&_unique_id=64dfd703ec4d5 #Wiack #Car #CarInsurance #CarRental #CarPrice #AutoLoans

--

--

Wiack

Wiack.com, a leading brand since 1955, offers in-depth automotive reviews, analysis, features, and advice for car owners and buyers worldwide.