Rental Car Recommendations

A quick note: we’ve included a few affiliate links below. Booking through them costs you nothing extra and sends a small commission our way, which helps us keep writing free Hawaii guides. We only ever link to things we’d recommend to a friend. Mahalo! Read about our affiliate policies here.

Discount Hawaii Car Rental 

Discount Hawaii Car Rental (DHCR) is where we rent a car or start our price shopping when we visit Hawaii. This is a comparison car rental website specializing in Hawaii, so we get the best deals on rental cars.

It is similar to Kayak, Hipmunk, Orbitz, and other travel comparison sites, but for reasons unknown to us, they are much cheaper.

When we visited the Big Island over the New Year’s holiday, we saved $300 compared to the other comparison rental car sites.

You can shop for the car you want with all the major national car rental brands.

They know what visitors want after over 25 years in business in Hawaii. They offer no prepayment or cancellation charge and guarantee reservations.

They have a one-click “Get the Best Wrangler Rate” option. I know you want to drive around Hawaii Jurassic Park style.

If you decide to rent a car, Discount Hawaii Car Rental will get you the lowest price.

Click here to compare rental car prices on Discount Hawaii Car Rental (DHCR).

Pro Tips for Renting a Car in Hawaii:
– DHCR is excellent because of its low prices and no prepayment. Once we book our lodging, we book a car and check for price reductions as our departure date approaches.
– DHCR provides guidance when booking if a company has long or short lines. Some companies are notorious for long lines upon arrival.
– ACE Rental on Maui is known for stringent damage checks. Protect yourself by documenting scratches and dents.

Local Rental Car Companies

Renting from a local rental car company is a great way to support local businesses or to rent something unique, like a lifted Jeep full of beach gear (Big Island Jeep Rental). Here are some popular rental car companies on each island. Most offer airport pickup and drop-off, or they can leave the car at the airport for you. Explore their websites for more information, and call them if you have any questions. They are eager to help you get into a rental car for your Hawaii vacation. We are not partners with the listed local rental car companies.

You can also rent from a local family or small business using Turo. Turo is the Airbnb for rental cars (rent from a local host sharing their car). We rented from Izzi on the Big Island when we needed a minivan and saved about $150 for a 10-day rental compared to a national car rental brand. The van was in great shape.

Oahu Local Rental Cars

• Lucky Owl Car Rental
• Little Hawaii Rent a Car
• Hui Car Share: hourly to daily car rental in Waikiki
• 808 Smart Cars: small cars, rented in Waikiki. We haven’t used them, but a newsletter reader uses them often.

Maui Local Rental Cars

• Kihei Rent a Car is an excellent choice for price from a local family, and they offer shuttle service to and from the airport. We have used them frequently without issues. We like to rent Jeeps with them!
• Makoa Rental Car Maui We haven’t used them, but they have great reviews, and readers have used their service. They leave the car at Kahului Airport so you can pick up and go.

Island of Hawaii (Big Island) Local Rental Cars

• Big Island Jeep Rental: We like that they include beach gear and have custom Jeeps. Let Joe provide the right Jeep for your trip. This is a mom-and-pop business, so feel free to call Joe to make your reservation. Tell him that The Hawaii Vacation Guide (Jordan & Erica) sent you, and he will give you a souvenir rubber ducky ($10 value). Fun, right?!

Kauai Local Rental Cars

Note: We have not had a chance to rent with the Kauai rental car companies below. We can not vouch for their customer service, cars, or experience.

• Rent a Car Kauai
• Island Rental Cars (808) 822-7772

Uber & Lyft

Ride-sharing is available on Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Lanai and Molokai are too small to support ridesharing (have cash and call a taxi). Lanai does have Uber Don, so you can look for him on the app or find him and other shuttle companies at Manele Small Boat Harbor, where the ferry drops off.

More and more people prefer renting cars to using Uber or Lyft when visiting the islands. If you don’t plan on doing a lot of activities far from your hotel, then not renting a car will most likely be cheaper, especially when you factor in parking fees and high gas prices at your hotel.

Airport Transfer Shuttles

Hotels in Hawaii rarely offer airport transfers. If you find one that does, that is a gem! There are plenty of small and large airport rental companies on the islands.

Oahu is well known for Roberts Hawaii. You will find them advertising aggressively at baggage claim in HNL. They offer a low-cost option to get into Waikiki. You will board a large charter bus for the 20-minute ride to Waikiki, making stops at hotels along the way to drop off passengers. I used to do this all the time when I first started visiting Oahu. It is still a great option today.

A reader of our newsletter recommends Hawaii23 on Oahu. Unlike Roberts Hawaii, they run a small point-to-point shuttle between HNL and your hotel. So, much less travel time. Run by one guy, Mark. The reader has been using Mark for years.

On the neighbor islands (Maui, Kauai, and Big Island), you can find local shuttle companies or go with Roberts Hawaii or Speedi Shuttle.

Moped Rentals

Renting a moped isn’t as crazy as it sounds. If you are looking for a well-priced way to get around your local area, then try a scooter. A 50cc scooter doesn’t require a motorcycle license. Stay on the shoulder, wear the provided helmet, and enjoy the warm wind on your face.

For example, around Kihei, Wailea, and Ka’anapali on Maui, a scooter is a great way to tour the coast for beaches, hiking, and snorkeling spots. We like Tiki Scooter and 808 Mopeds in Lahaina and Maui Scooter Shack in Kihei.

Airlines to the Islands

All major airlines service the Hawaiian Islands. You can find the most direct flight options to Honolulu (HNL). Maui (Kahului Airport (OGG) has the second most direct flight options from the mainland.

Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Hawaiian Airlines are the best-value airlines that fly to Hawaii. Southwest made a big splash when they started flying to Hawaii a few years ago. They offered some fantastic deals, but now they are all comparable in price, so shop around.

If you want to feel like you arrived in Hawaii when you board your flight, then go with Hawaiian Airlines. The Hawaiian mele (music), service, and refreshments will make you feel like you are in paradise.

Check out this oldie but goodie video from us on finding cheap flights to Hawaii: How to Get A Cheap Ticket to Hawaii in 5 Steps

Inter-Island Airlines

Are you planning island-hopping during your Hawaii vacation? There are no ferries between the major islands, so you must fly or charter an outrigger canoe (just kidding).

Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest are the best airlines for island-hopping. They have the best fares and most frequent flights and travel to all the islands.

Check out this article on advice for island-hopping around Hawaii.

Should You Rent a Car for Your Hawaii Vacation?

If you are uncertain about renting a car or have questions, then watch our video below. This video is about renting a car on Maui but if you are visiting Oahu, Kauai, or the Big Island then don’t sweat it as the same advice applies.

Oahu is the easiest island to get around without a car, see our Oahu No Rental Car Challenge video and then explore our free 7-Day Oahu Itinerary Without a Rental Car for details.