Discount Hawaii Car Rentals

FAQ ~ Frequently Asked Questions ~ FAQ
Q&A ~ Questions and Answers ~ Q&A

Hawaii Car Rental Questions

Age: (Click any title to go to each answer group)

What is the minimum age to be able to rent or drive a rental car?
Are the rates the same if I'm less than 25 years old?
What if I'm 25 or older, but my second driver is less than 25?
I'm 21 to 24 and I have no credit card or debit card. Can I still rent a car?

Amenities and Options:

Do you provide child seats?
Do you have non-smoking vehicle?
Do all vehicles have Air Conditioning?
Do all cars have automatic transmissions?
Do you have any handicap/wheelchair vans or vehicles?
Does the Jeep Wrangler rear seat fold down or is it removable?
Do Hawaii Car Rentals have Roof Racks for Surfboards?

Cancellation:

What is the cancellation policy?
How do I cancel my car reservation?
How do I know that my reservation is actually cancelled?
Do I cancel my reservation through you or do I need to go directly to the car rental agency web sites?
I tried to change or cancel my reservation at the car rental agency web site but they tell me I have to go back to you.
I made and received 2 reservations for the same thing. Do I just cancel one?

Cars:

What car year are your rentals? Are they all new cars?
Can I be put on a waiting list if the car I want is not available?
Can I request and be guaranteed to get a car type that I specify?
Will my reservation guarantee me getting a specific vehicle? It must be a 4-wheel drive!

Contact:

Can you call me?
Is there a number I could call to talk to someone before I make this reservation?
Do you have a non-toll free number with which I could call you from overseas?

Coupons & Discounts:

How can I get an upgrade coupon?
Would you be willing to donate a rental car reservation to us?
What other discounts do you offer?
Do you offer a Kama'aina discount? Do you offer a Kamaaina discount?

Credit-Debit Cards:

I have a debit card with the Visa (or MasterCard) logo on it. Do I qualify to rent a car at the listed rates?
I only have a debit card but with no Visa (or MasterCard) logo on it. Can I still rent a car?
I have no credit card or debit card and I'm 21 to 24. Can I still rent a car?
My companion is over 25 and he has a credit card but only an international driving license. How do we make a reservation?

Cruise Ships:

How do I get a car at a port of call, instead of the city or airport?
Is there somewhere to park my rental car over night at or near the ship terminal?
Do any of the agencies you represent offer pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship ports?

Drivers:

What is your additional driver's policy?
I see on the reservation form it asks who the driver will be. Will my 24 year old son be able to drive the vehicle also? Is there an extra charge since he is under 25?

Drivers License:

What are the driver's license requirements in order to rent and drive a car in Hawaii?
Do you accept International driver's licenses as my only license?
Do you accept driver's licenses from other countries?

Fees: (Optional & Mandatory)

What is the total cost with taxes and fees?
Are there any other charges other than what is stated in #1 above?
How much is insurance on the vehicles listed on your site?
Are taxes and fees included? How much per day for Insurance and Damage Waiver?

Insurance:

Do the rates you show include insurance? If not, what can I expect to pay?
May I decline the car rental agency insurance and use my insurance instead?
If I use my insurance, what proof do I need to show?
Do you accept insurance from other countries or am I required to purchase insurance from the car rental agency?

Multi-Island:

Are there ferries between the islands?
Does Multi-Island mean I can drive any Hawaii Island?
Do I have to make separate reservations for each island?
Will the weekly rate still apply if I travel to more than one island? Is the rate for 3 days on one island plus 4 days on another island the same as a weekly rate?
Do you have a weekly rate where the 7 days can be split between several islands? Can I get a multi island weekly rate or do the trips have to be booked separately?

Off-Road:

Which of your vehicles are 4-wheel drive?
Do we need to have a 4-wheel drive on any of the roads of Hawaii?
Are any of your rentals allowed off road? What about taking an SUV off road?

Pick-up, Drop-off:

Where do we go to pick up the vehicle?
Are there regular airport shuttles from the airport to the rental car place?
What does this actually mean? - Waikiki Service Center (Hotel Pick up)
Is it possible to arrange a car pick up or drop off at my hotel?
Can I pick up the car in Hilo and drop it off in Kona? Is there an extra cost?
Can I pick up the car at Kapalua, Maui (JHM) airport?
May we rent a Jeep Wrangler from the Kaanapali beach location and return it at the airport location?

Rates:

There wasnt a rate listed on the confirmation that I got.
How can I get just a quote, but NOT make an actual reservation?
What is the cost difference between a 3 or 5 day rental and a 7 day rental.
Is there a grace period for dropping off the car before I will be charged for another day?
Who sends me the confirmation number, you or Dollar, Thrifty or Avis? Do I just get the number or do I get a whole printout in an email stating all the details of my itinerary?

Reservations:

Do you have rates for a month or longer?
How do I correct a mistake in my reservation.
I lost my rental info. Do I have a reservation with you?
Why havent I received my car reservation confirmation?
Can someone confirm that you do have a reservation for me?
How can I correct a reservation with the wrong information.
I filled out the form and accidentally submitted a reservation! What do I do now?
If I choose a rental car from Avis, will I get a reservation number that corresponds with Avis?

What to Bring:

What do I need to bring - drivers license? my personal car insurance policy number?

Miscellaneous:

ANSWERS

Age:

What is the minimum age to be able to rent or drive a rental car?
...The minimum age to be able to rent or drive a rental car is 21 with a major credit card. However, with Enterprise, age 18-21 may rent a car if they are traveling on military orders.
Are the rates the same if I'm less than 25 years old?
...With Thrifty, age 21-24 is charged $10/day additional (instead of the usual $27/day). With Avis, Budget, Dollar and Enterprise charges differ but generally there is a $25 to $30 per day charge for renters under 25 years of age. While you may be an excellent driver, statistically, this age group is involved in a much higher incident rate.
What if I'm 25 or older, but my second driver is less than 25?
...You will receive the daily up charge for renters less than 25 years of age.
I'm 21 to 24 and I have no credit card or debit card. Can I still rent a car?
...No, you cannot rent a car if you have no credit card and are 21 to 24.

Amenities and Options:

Do you provide child seats?
...AVIS, BUDGET & THRIFTY: You can book child seats on line. They will be shown on your confirmation.
DOLLAR: You cannot book a child safety seat online. Please call our Hawaii Car Rental Locations directly to inquire.
ENTERPRISE: Child seats are available at some locations, but cannot be reserved online at this time. Please contact the Enterprise office in the city you are renting from to discuss the availability of child seats. The location phone number will show up when you simply inquire about rates on the Enterprise reservation web site.
Do you have non-smoking vehicle?
...All vehicles in Hawaii are supposed to be smoke free. However, Avis is the only company that will guarantee this if specifically requested.
Do all vehicles have Air Conditioning?
...Yes
Do all vehicles have automatic transmissions?
...Yes
Do you have any handicap/wheelchair vans or vehicles?
...Yes. If requested, most categories have vehicles available with hand controls. The rental agencies request 24 to 48 hour advance notice before confirmation of a rental with hand controls.
Does the Jeep Wrangler rear seat fold down or is it removable?
...The rear seat folds down, but it is not removable.
Do Hawaii Car Rentals have Roof Racks for Surfboards?
...Please see the Do Hawaii Car Rentals have Roof Racks for Surfboards page.

Cancellations:

What is the cancellation policy?
...There is no charge for a cancellation. If you want to cancel or change your car rental reservation, please return to the car rental company web site where you made your reservation to change or cancel your reservation.
How do I cancel my car reservation?
...If you want to cancel or change your car rental reservation, please return to the car rental company web site where you made your reservation to change or cancel your reservation.
How do I know that my reservation is actually cancelled?
...The rental agency will send an email confirming the cancellation. You will also see it online when you cancel it.
Do I cancel my reservation through you or do I need to go directly to the car rental company web site where I made my reservations?
...If you want to cancel or change your car rental reservation, please return to the car rental company web site where you made your reservation to change or cancel your reservation.
I tried to change or cancel my reservation but they tell me I have to go back to you. What do I do now?
...This is correct. You cannot cancel or change a reservation through the usual car rental web sites; you need to do it through our special corporate discount links that the car rental companies provided to us. If you want to cancel or change your car rental reservation, please return to the car rental agency web site where you originally made your reservation to change or cancel your reservation.
I made and received 2 reservations for the same thing. Do I just cancel one?
...Yes. If you want to cancel your car rental reservation, please return to the car rental company web sites where you made your reservation originally.

Cars:

What car year are your rentals? Are they all new cars?
...The rental cars are replaced annually, generally after the first quarter so they are all newer cars.
Can I be put on a waiting list if the car I want is not available?
...No, there is not a process in place for this.
Can I request and be guaranteed to get a car type that I specify?
...None of the rental agencies will guarantee a make or model. However, they frequently only have one type of make and model available in a category.
Will my reservation guarantee me getting a specific vehicle? It must be a 4-wheel drive!
...Same as #3 above, no guarantees are made.

Contact:

Can you call me?
...Unfortunately not. To keep our discounted rates so low, we would rather handle everything through email. If you have questions, please email us via the contact form. We will email you back promptly.
Is there a number I could call to talk to someone before I make this reservation?
...Unfortunately not. To keep our discounted rates so low, we would rather handle everything through email. If you have questions, please email us via the contact form. We will email you back promptly.
Do you have a non-toll free number with which I could call you from overseas?
...Unfortunately not. To keep our discounted rates so low, we would rather handle everything through email. If you have questions, please email us via the contact form. We will email you back promptly.

Coupons & Discounts:

How can I get an upgrade coupon?
...See the car rental Coupons and Specials Page for details and coupons
Would you be willing to donate a rental car reservation to us?
...We do not currently have a program in place for this.
What other discounts do you offer?
...We have pre-negotiated wholesale pricing with the rental agencies which we pass along to our customers. But we do not have any additional discounts available to offer.
Do you offer a Kama'aina discount? Do you offer a Kamaaina discount?
...Not at this time. Our rates are already discounted. Thrifty has a "I live in the same area" checkbox option. DO NOT check this box even if you do live in the same area or it will actually give you a HIGHER RATE.

Credit-Debit Cards:

I have a debit card with the Visa (or MasterCard) logo on it. Do I qualify to rent a car at the listed rates?
...A debit card with the Visa or MasterCard logo on it works with Dollar and Thrifty (but NOT with Avis or Enterprise).
I only have a debit card but with no Visa (or MasterCard) logo on it. Can I still rent a car?
...No, debit cards without the Visa or MasterCard logos on them are not accepted at the rental agencies.
I have no credit card or debit card and I'm 21 to 24. Can I still rent a car?
...No
My companion is over 25 and he has a credit card but only an international driving license. How do we make a reservation?
...In order to rent a car, you need to have a credit card and a drivers license from the United States or most foreign countries. International driver's licenses are not usually recognized for anything other than identification. HOWEVER, some car rental companies state the following: "An International Driver's Permit is required with all non-English foreign licenses. All drivers must have a major credit card in their own name and be at least 21 years of age or older."

Cruise Ships:

How do I get a car at a port of call, instead of the city or airport?
...Please see the Hawaii Cruise Ship Car Rentals & Dockside Ports of Call Shuttle Pickup Information page.
Is there somewhere to park my rental car over night at or near the ship terminal?
...There is parking near the piers. Usually, there is also a fee for it.
Do any of the agencies you represent offer pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship ports?
...Please see the Hawaii Cruise Ship Car Rentals & Dockside Ports of Call Shuttle Pickup Information page.

Drivers:

What is your additional driver's policy?
...They differ with each agency.
I see on the reservation form it asks who the driver will be. Will my 24 year old son be able to drive the vehicle also? Is there an extra charge since he is under 25?
...He can drive the vehicle and yes there will be the daily renter under 25 charge applied.

Drivers License:

What are the driver's license requirements in order to rent and drive a car in Hawaii?
...In order to rent a car, you need to have a credit card and a drivers license from the United States or most foreign countries. International driver's licenses are not usually recognized for anything other than identification. HOWEVER, some car rental companies state the following: "An International Driver's Permit is required with all non-English foreign licenses. All drivers must have a major credit card in their own name and be at least 21 years of age or older."
Do you accept International driver's licenses as my only license?
...No, ...In order to rent a car, you need to have a credit card and a drivers license from the United States or most foreign countries. International driver's licenses are not usually recognized for anything other than identification. HOWEVER, some car rental companies state the following: "An International Driver's Permit is required with all non-English foreign licenses. All drivers must have a major credit card in their own name and be at least 21 years of age or older."
Do you accept driver's licenses from other countries?
...Yes, from most countries.

Fees: (Optional & Mandatory)

What is the total cost with taxes and fees?
...On all car rentals in Hawaii, there are additional mandatory Hawaii fees over and above the base rate. Below is an example. (Click here to see a Sample Thrifty Reservation Confirmation)

SAMPLE ESTIMATED FEES (in US Dollars)

SAMPLE VEHICLE TYPE - Economy 2/4 Door

1 week @ $155.00/week with Unlimited Miles

SAMPLE Estimated Mandatory Charges
RENTAL TIME CHARGE	$155.00
CONCESSION RECOVERY FEE (5%)	$7.75
STATE SURCHARGE ($3.00 PER DAY)	$21.00
VEHICLE LICENSING FEE ($0.41 PER DAY)	$2.87
SALES TAX (4.17% of above items)	$7.78
Total Estimated Charges including rental time	$194.40
Sample Estimated Grand Total	$194.40

Are there any other charges other than what is stated in #1 above?
...Not in the base rental package. However, other charges can come from add-ons such as child seats or extra insurance. You have to decide if you want to fill the car up with gas before returning or let the agency charge you for gas as well.
How much is insurance on the vehicles listed on your site?
...Rates vary by agency and are subject to change. Currently, LDW runs around $18 per day.
Are taxes and fees included? How much per day for Insurance and Damage Waiver?
...Rates you see on the web site are the base rates. When rates are quoted and confirmations sent, both the base and the total cost are given. Please see #1 above for a sample total. See below for a Sample Thrifty Reservation Confirmation.

Insurance:

Do the rates you show include insurance? If not, what can I expect to pay?
...Insurance is an extra charge, so unless specified in your online request, the rates will not include insurance. There are a variety of different coverages available.
May I decline the car rental agency insurance and use my insurance instead?
...Yes
If I use my insurance, what proof do I need to show?
...At the agency, you will simply initial that you are waiving the insurance. You do not need to provide proof of any insurance (in Hawaii). If you get in an accident, you will need to provide the insurance company name and policy number for the police. However, this may change without notice in the future, so you should always at least bring along the name of your insurance company and your policy number.
Do you accept insurance from other countries or am I required to purchase insurance from the car rental agency?
...You should check to see if your insurance covers car rentals in the USA

Multi-Island:

Are there ferries between the islands.
...Between Maui and Molokai is the Maui-Molokai Ferry. It is not a car ferry.
Does Multi-Island mean I can drive any Hawaii Island?
... Multi-Island simply means that we rent cars separate islands.
Do I have to make separate reservations for each island?
...Yes.
Will the weekly rate still apply if I travel to more than one island? Is the rate for 3 days on one island plus 4 days on another island the same as a weekly rate?
...No. The weekly rates generally apply to 5-7 days on the same island only. There are no multi-island rates.
Do you have a weekly rate where the 7 days can be split between several islands? Can I get a multi island weekly rate or do the trips have to be booked separately?
...The weekly rate cannot be split between islands. Each car rental on each island is considered a separate transaction. There are no multi-island rates.

Off-Road:

Which of your vehicles are 4-wheel drive?
...Usually the Jeep Wrangler and some SUVs. However the agencies we represent all have a strict policy which does not allow any of their cars to be driven off-road.
Do we need to have a 4-wheel drive on any of the roads of Hawaii?
...No, however the agencies we represent all have a strict policy which does not allow any of their cars to be driven off-road.
Are any of your rentals allowed off road? What about taking an SUV off road?
...The agencies we represent all have a strict policy which does not allow any of their cars to be driven off-road.

Pick-up, Drop-off:

Where do we go to pick up the vehicle?
...You first go to the agency booth or kiosk near baggage claim to sign the contract. You will then take their shuttle bus to their car lot for pick up.
What does this actually mean? - Waikiki Service Center (Hotel Pick up)
...Thrifty has a rental agency in downtown Waikiki. If you call them up, they will pick you up at your hotel and take you back to the agency (service center) to pick up your rental car.
Are there regular airport shuttles from the airport to the rental car place?
...The rental car agencies have their own shuttles. see # 1 above too
Is it possible to arrange a car pick up or drop off at my hotel?
...There are a few isolated hotels where this can be arranged with Thrifty and Enterprise.
Can I pick up the car in Hilo and drop it off in Kona? Is there an extra cost?
...You can drop the car off at a different airport. There is an extra cost called a drop charge. The costs vary depending on which airports are involved.
Can I pick up the car at Kapalua, Maui (JHM) airport?
...Possibly, but check with the car rental company where you are renting your car.
May we rent a Jeep Wrangler from the Kaanapali beach location and return it at the airport location?
...Yes and there is an extra charge.

Rates:

There wasnt a rate listed on the confirmation that I got.
...The formal confirmation you will receive from the rental agency will be itemized.
How can I get just a quote, but NOT make an actual reservation?
...Go to the car rental company web site and fill in the form. it will show you all the charges before you confirm that you want the car.
What is the cost difference between a 3 or 5 day rental and a 7 day rental?
...Generally speaking, after 5 days, it becomes more cost effective to get a weekly rate.
Is there a grace period for dropping off the car before I will be charged for another day?
...Currently (as of January 2007and for only 2007) only Thrifty and Enterprise have grace periods of 59 minutes and 1 hour respectively.
Who sends me the confirmation number, you or the car company? Do I just get the number or do I get a whole printout in an email stating all the details of my itinerary?
...When you make your reservation, all details will show up on your computer screen, which you can print out. They will also email you the same thing..

Reservations:

Do you have rates for a month or longer?
...Yes, check out our Hawaii Monthly Car Rental Rates page.. Avis does have a mini-lease program for rentals 60 days and longer.
How do I correct a mistake in my reservation?
...If you want to change your car rental reservation, please return to one of the car rental company web sites.
I lost my rental info. Do I have a reservation with you?
...Your reservation will always be made with Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise. When you make a reservation through this website, it directs you to the Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise reservations page. By doing it that way you get our discounts and waivers, but they are the ones who always send you a reservation/confirmation number. To find, change, modify or cancel your reservation, you should return to one of the car rental company web site reservations page where you made your reservation (www.avis.com, etc). Find where it says something like Reservations, View, Modify, Cancel. To bring up your reservation, you will need your Last Name and your Confirmation Number. Without a confirmation number, it is impossible to find your reservation. At that point, you can do one of two things. #1. The easiest thing to do is to simply make a new reservation from www.HawaiiCarRentals.net/rates.html. You will not be charged for the first reservation since you didn't give your credit card information. If the rate for the second reservation is higher and you don't want it, then resort to option #2. #2. Email us and let us know the car rental company you reserved with, your Last Name, Email Address, Travel Dates and Island Destination. We will then check with our Honolulu reps and either they or we will email your reservation details usually within 24 to 48 hours..
Why havent I received my car reservation confirmation?
...Usually, it is filtered out by your spam filter. To pull up your reservation, you can return to the car rental company web sites where you made your reservation originally. See #3 above for instructions.
Can someone confirm that you do have a reservation for me?
...See #3 above for instructions.
How can I correct a reservation with the wrong information.
...See #3 above for instructions.
I filled out the form and accidentally submitted a reservation! What do I do now?
...See #3 above for instructions.
If I choose a rental car from Avis, will I get a reservation number that corresponds with Avis?
...Yes. And the same goes for Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty and Enterprise.

What to Bring:

What do I need to bring - drivers license? my personal car insurance policy number?
...To rent the car, you need to bring a drivers license, you name, a credit card and possibly your confirmation number.

Miscellaneous:

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Discount Hawaii Car Rentals

FAQ ~ Frequently Asked Questions ~ FAQ Q&A ~ Questions and Answers ~ Q&A

FAQ ~ Frequently Asked Questions ~ FAQ
Q&A ~ Questions and Answers ~ Q&A