FAQ ~ Frequently Asked Questions ~ FAQ

Hawaii Car Rental Questions Updated February 05, 2013

After Hours Returns:

1. Can I drop off my rental after closing time?
   ...Returning a vehicle after hours is possible at some locations but not others. This has to be prearranged at each location when you pick up your automobile. For full details, information and locations where this is possible, please refer to our "After Hours Rental Car Returns in Hawaii" page.

Age:

1. 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 using Hawaii Car Rentals website is 21 with a major credit card. If you are age 18 to 20, please see our Age 21-24 page for your options.

2. What is the maximum age to rent a car in Hawaii?
   ... At this time (2012), there is no law or restrictions in place regarding a maximum age to rent a car in Hawaii.

3. I'm a senior citizen. Is there a surcharge for elderly drivers?
   ... No.

4. I'm less than 25 years old? Are the rates the same? Is there an underage surcharge?
   ...Each car rental company we represent charges an "underage" or "young driver" fee. The rate varies with each company from between $10 and $27 per day. While you may be an excellent driver, statistically, this age group is involved in a much higher incident rate. These companies will not rent you a car if you are under 21. If you are age 18 to 21, contact me and I can tell you of a place in Honolulu who will rent you a car. For more information on the underage driver surcharge fees, please visit our Hawaii Age 21-24 Underage Driver Surcharge Fees page.

5. 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. For more information on the underage driver surcharge fees, please visit our Hawaii Age 21-24 Underage Driver Surcharge Fees page.

6. I'm 21, 22, 23 or 24. I have no credit card or debit card. I want to pay cash. Can I still rent a car?
   ...No, not through our website. See our Age 21-24 page for your options if you are 21, 22, 23, or 24 years old, have no credit card, and want to pay cash.

7. I'm 18, 19 or 20. I have no credit card or debit card. I want to pay cash. Can I still rent a car?
   ...No, not through our website. See our Age 21-24 page for your options if you are 18, 19 or 20 years old, have no credit card, and want to pay cash.

Cars:

1. What car year are your rentals? Are they all new cars?
   ...The rental Car Models are replaced annually, generally during or after the first quarter so they are all newer cars. 

2. Can I be put on a waiting list if the car I want is not available?
   ...We're sorry but there is no a process in place for this with us or even the car rental agency.

3. Can I request and be guaranteed to get a car type that I specify?
   ...None of the rental agencies will guarantee a particular make or model. However, they frequently only have one type of make and model available in a category and that is probably what you will get.

4. Will my reservation guarantee me getting a specific vehicle? It must be a 4-wheel drive!
   ...Same as #3 above, no guarantees are made. Please note that the car rental companies do NOT allow any of their cars to be taken off-road or off the pavement, even if they are 4-wheel drive. See Taking Rental Cars Off-Road for more details.

Cash:

1. Do you accept cash for car rentals?
   ...Unfortunately, you can no longer rent a car directly through us and pay cash at the counter. However, Dollar Car Rentals has a program in place where you can rent a car and pay cash, but no longer at the counter. It has to be arranged in advance through a travel agent. And the travel agent must arrange it through a special tour company that has an agreement with Dollar. Please refer to our Dollar cash pay options.

Contact:

1. Can you call me? Can I call you? What's your phone number?
   ...We cannot be contacted by phone. To keep our overhead low, we would rather handle everything through email. HawaiiCarRentals.net is a discount, low budget, self-service website and we do not have the staff to call you on the phone or take phone calls. If you have questions, please email us via the contact form. We will email you back promptly.

2. Is there a number I could call to talk to someone before I make this reservation?
   ...See #1 above 

3. Do you have a non-toll free number with which I could call you from overseas?
   ...See #1 above 

Coupons & Discounts:

1. How can I get an upgrade coupon?
   ...See the car rental Coupons and Specials Page for details and free coupons. Some years coupons are available and some years they are not. At this time (2012), because of our already discounted rates, no upgrade coupons are offered, but any car company might allow a free upgrade, especially Enterprise, if you ask at the counter.

2. Would you be willing to donate a rental car reservation to us?
   ...We are unable to do this. We have no program in place for this. It's actually impossible to arrange this because of how we are set up with the car rental companies we represent. However, I personally make substantial donations throughout the year to special causes.

3. 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. See the car rental Coupons and Specials Page for details and free coupons

4. Do you offer a Kama'aina discount?
   ...Not at this time. Our rates are already discounted. But keep checking in at our Kama'aina Hawaii Car Rentals page because we have links to Free Coupons, Discounts and Upgrades.

Credit-Debit Cards:

1. 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 some companies but not others. Please call them directly.

2. 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.

3. My companion is over 25, 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 if the foreign license is in a language other than English. HOWEVER, some 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." A driver's license from the country of origin is also required.

Cruise Ships:

1. 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.

2. Is there somewhere to park overnight at or near the ship terminal?
   ...There is parking near the piers. Usually, there is also a fee for it. Please see the Hawaii Cruise Ship Car Rentals & Dockside Ports of Call Shuttle Pickup Information page for parking details. Also see Overnight Parking for Rental Cars while in Waikiki and Honolulu.

3. Do any of the agencies you represent offer pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship ports?
   ...The car rental companies usually provide a free shuttle from the dock to your rental car pickup location. Please see the Hawaii Cruise Ship Car Rentals & Dockside Ports of Call Shuttle Pickup Information page.

Drivers:

1. What is your additional driver's policy?
   ...They differ with each agency every year. Currently in 2012, the 5 companies we represent allow an additional driver at no surcharge (restrictions apply). Please see our Hawaii Additional Driver Fees Waived page. 

2. Will my 24 year old son be able to drive the vehicle also? Is there an extra charge since he is under 25?
   ...Yes, he can drive the vehicle but there will be an under age 25 surcharge applied. it's usually between $10/day and $27/day additional, depending on company. For more information on the underage driver surcharge fees, please visit our Hawaii Age 21-24 Underage Driver Surcharge Fees page.

Drivers License:

1. 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 recognized for anything other than identification. Some 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." A driver's license from the country of origin is required. For more detailed information, please see our Hawaii Driver's License Requirements - International, Foreign and Domestic page.

2. 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 recognized for anything other than identification. 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." A driver's license from the country of origin is required. For more detailed information, please see our Hawaii Driver's License Requirements - International, Foreign and Domestic page.

3. Do you accept driver's licenses from other countries?
   ...Yes, from most countries, but not all. A driver's license from the country of origin is required. For more detailed information, please see our Hawaii Driver's License Requirements - International, Foreign and Domestic page.

Early Returns:

1. What if I want to return my rental a day or two early? Do I still have to pay the original full amount?
   ...Of course you may return your vehicle a day or more earlier than you had originally planned. You won't have to pay the full amount, but some companies are assessing an "Early Return" fee or penalty. For more details, see our "Extending Your Car Rental, Returning it Early, Late Fees" page.

Extensions:

1. I want to keep my rental car a few days longer.  How do I arrange for that. Is there any sort of penalty?
   ...This is called an extension or an overstay. You can usually extend your rental period except during holiday or peak demand seasons. To arrange for this it is necessary to contact the location where you picked up the automobile. Some companies charge an additional fee if you want to extend the time. Doing this may also put you into a different rate category. For more details, see our "Extending Your Car Rental, Returning it Early, Late Fees" page.

Fees: (Optional & Mandatory)

1. What is the total cost with taxes and fees?
   ...On all car rentals in Hawaii, there are additional mandatory Hawaii taxes and fees over and above the base rates. These taxes and fees go to the State of Hawaii, not the car rental companies or Hawaii Car Rentals. Please refer to our "Fees, Surcharges and Taxes on Hawaii Car Rentals" page for more detailed information.

2. Are there any other charges other than what is stated in #1 above?
   ...Not in the base rental package cost. However, other charges can come from add-ons such as GPS Navigation, child safety seats, insurance coverage and protection plans, SiriusXM Satellite Radio rental, etc. You have to decide if you want to fill the car up with gas before returning or let the agency charge you a set fee. At this time the car rental companies will install hand controls for the disabled at no additional charge.

3. How much is insurance?
   ...Rates vary by agency and are subject to change. Please refer to our Insurance Coverage, Protection Plans and Rates page.

4. Are taxes and fees included in a rental?
   ...Rates you see on the web site are only the base rates of a car rental. It does not include taxes and fees. See #1 above.

Find, Review, Change or Cancel a Reservation

1. What is the cancellation policy?
   ...There is no charge to cancel your reservation. You can cancel at any time. There is no penalty. If you want to find, review, cancel or change your car rental reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

2. How do I cancel my reservation?
   ...If you want to cancel or change your reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

3. How do I know that my reservation is actually cancelled?
   ...The car rental company will send an email confirming the cancellation. You will also see it online when you cancel it.

4. 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 reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

5. 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 should no longer be the case with our new system. But if you get this message anyway, just email us with your name, reservation confirmation number, the email address you used when you made your reservation, the company you rented from and will be happy to cancel your reservation for you.

6. I made and received 2 reservations for the same thing. Do I just cancel one?
   ...Yes. If you want to cancel your rental reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

Insurance:

1. 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. Please refer to our Insurance Coverage, Protection Plans and Rates page.

2. May I decline the insurance and use my insurance instead?
   ...Yes, but please refer to our Insurance Coverage, Protection Plans and Rates page to read about what you need to know about car rental insurance and whether your insurance fully covers all scenarios.

3. If I use my insurance, what proof do I need to show?
   ...At the pickup desk, 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 bring your proof of your insurance card that you get annually from your insurance company. Please refer to our Insurance Coverage, Protection Plans and Rates page to read about what you need to know about car rental insurance and whether your insurance fully covers all scenarios.

4. 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. It probably does not or you may need special insurance. Please refer to our Insurance Coverage, Protection Plans and Rates page to read about what you need to know about car rental insurance and whether your insurance fully covers all scenarios.

Late Returns:

1. I can't drop of my car on time and I'm going to be a couple hours late. Is there a late return fee?
   ...Sometimes it's not always possible to be on time. Some companies have a grace period but only for a number of minutes and then a late return fee is assessed. Some companies have very expensive overstay fees. Three hours late and the penalty is as much as one more day of rental. For more details on late return as the penalties, see our "Extending Your Car Rental, Returning it Early, Late Fees" page.

Locations:

1. Where are you located?
   ...Hawaii Car Rentals does not have an actual "brick and mortar" location where you pick up your rental vehicle. Just like Orbitz, Expedia or Priceline do not have "brick and mortar" locations. When you reserve an automobile, you are reserving "through us" but not "from us." Reserving through us using our corporate discount links, allows you to get our discount rates and bonuses because we have a corporate account and we pass our rates on to you. You are actually reserving with Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise. You will pick up your vehicle at their Hawaii car rental locations.

2. Where do we go to pick up the vehicle?
   ...When you reserve online through us with Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise, you will see on your screen where their location is where you pick up your car. They will also email you. Usually, if the rental company you rented from (Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise) has a booth right at the airport, you first go to the agency booth or kiosk near baggage claim to sign the contract and get your keys. From there you will then take their shuttle bus to their car lot for pick up, unless their lot is right there. If they do not have a booth at or in the airport, pick up your luggage and then step outside and follow the signs to where you can get on the various courtesy shuttles. Please see our Car Rental Locations page for more details.

3. Can I pick up the car at Kapalua, Lahaina Maui (JHM) airport?
   ...Yes, but check with the car rental company from which you are renting to see if they service that location. Currently, Avis, Budget, Dollar and Enterprise service the JHM location. Thrifty does not. See our Maui Rental Car Locations page for more details.

4. 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 service center to pick up your rental.

Loyalty Programs:

1. Can I use my frequent renter loyalty program numbers when renting a car??
   ...Yes, you can, but it will not get you additional benefits such as a better rate. The car rental companies don't allow double benefits. It may rack up your renting credits though. There is more information on our "Frequent Car Renter Customer Loyalty Programs" page.

Mobile Website:

1. Do you have a Mobile Website?
   ... Yes, we do have a mobile website. It's www.HawaiiCarRentals.mobi. We currently feature Avis, Budget and Enterprise on our mobile website. The rates are the same as on our regular rates page.

Multi-Island:

1. Do you offer Multi-Island rates?
   ... We do not offer Multi-Island rates. Multi-Island rates are not possible with the system the rental companies have set up for us. You have to make a reservation for each island location you travel to.

2. Does Multi-Island mean I can drive any Hawaii Island?
   ... Multi-Island simply means that we rent vehicles on separate islands.

3. Do I have to make separate reservations for each island?
   ...Yes.

4. 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. There are no multi-island rates. You have to make a reservation for each island location you travel to.

5. 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 rental on each island is considered a separate transaction. There are no multi-island rates. You have to make a reservation for each island location you travel to.

6. Are there ferries between the islands.
   ...Between Maui and Molokai is the Maui-Molokai Ferry. It is NOT an automobile ferry. 

Off-Road:

1. Which of your vehicles are 4-wheel drive?
   ...Usually the Jeep Wrangler and some SUVs. Please note that the car rental companies do NOT allow any of their vehicles to be taken off-road or off the pavement, even if they are 4-wheel drive. See Taking Rental Cars Off-Road for more details.

2. Do we need to have a 4-wheel drive on any of the roads of Hawaii?
   ...No. Please be advised that the agencies we represent all have a strict policy which does not allow any of their vehicles to be driven off-road.

3. Are any of your rentals allowed off road? What about taking an SUV off road?
   ...The companies we represent do NOT allow any of their vehicles to be taken off-road or off the pavement, even if they are 4-wheel drive. See Taking Rental Cars Off-Road for more details.

One Way:

1. Are there drop charges or one-way fees in Hawaii?
   ...Yes, there is an extra cost called a drop charge to pick up a car at one location in Hawaii and drop it off at another. The costs vary depending on the company you're renting from, which airports are involved, and which direction you're going. Only a certain number of locations allow this and it varies by company.

2. Can I drop a car off at any Hawaii location?
   ...No, only a certain number of locations allow this. It varies by company.

3. May we rent a Jeep Wrangler from the Lahaina in-town location and return it at the Kapalua Airport location?
   ...No. Not for any vehicle. None of the companies allow dropping between these two locations.

Options and Accessories:

1. Do you provide child safety seats?
   ...Avis, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty: You can book child seats on line. They will be shown on your confirmation. 
   Enterprise: 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.

2. Do you have non-smoking vehicle?
   ...All rental cars in Hawaii are smoke free. 

3. Do all vehicles have Air Conditioning?
   ...Yes

4. Do all vehicles have automatic transmissions?
   ...Yes

5. Do you have any handicap/wheelchair vans or vehicles?
   ... If requested, the car rental companies only provide vehicles where they have installed hand controls. The rental agencies request 24 to 48 hour advance notice before confirmation of a rental with hand controls. Wheelchair lift vans are not available to rent in Hawaii

6. Does the Jeep Wrangler rear seat fold down or is it removable?
   ...The rear seat folds down, but it is not removable.

7. Do Hawaii Car Rentals have Roof Racks for Surfboards?
   ...Please see the Do Hawaii Car Rentals have Roof Racks for Surfboards page.

Parking in Honolulu and Waikiki

1. Where can I park in Honolulu and Waikiki? Where is the free parking?
   ...There are lots of places, some free, most are not free. See "Daytime and Overnight Parking for Rental Cars in Honolulu and Waikiki"

2. What overnight parking options are there in Honolulu and Waikiki?
   ...There are lots of places, some free, most are not free. See "Daytime and Overnight Parking for Rental Cars in Honolulu and Waikiki"

Rates:

1. Can I get just a quote, but NOT make an actual reservation?
   ...Yes. From our Rates Page, go to the Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise web site using our discount links and fill in the form. It will show you all the charges before you confirm that you want the vehicle.

2. What is the cost difference between a 5 day rental and a 7 day rental?
   ...Generally speaking, after 4 days, it becomes more cost effective to get a weekly rate. 5 and 6 days is the same base rate 7 days. So after the 4th day, the 5, 6 and 7 day rentals are quoted as a weekly base rate. However, the taxes and fees will vary depending on how many days you actually have the car.

3. Is there a grace period before I will be charged for another day?
   ...Some companies have a 59 minute grace period, others 30 minutes, others have no grace period at all. Some car rental companies start charging an hourly rate or penalty if you return the car after the designated time, even if you call and ask to extend the rental.

4. 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. The company will also email you the same thing. If you don't get it, look in your spam or junk email folder.

Reservations:

1. Do you have rates for a month or longer?
   ...Yes, check out our Hawaii Monthly Car Rental Rates page.. 

2. How do I correct a mistake in my reservation?
   ...If you want to view, cancel or change your reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

3. I lost my rental info. Do I have a reservation with you?
   ...If you want to view, cancel or change your reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

4. Why haven’t I received my reservation confirmation?
   ...If you didn't get an email confirmation, it's usually in your spam or junk email filter. To pull up your reservation online, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation page for easy step by step instructions for each company.

5. Can you confirm that you do have a reservation for me?
   ...If you want to view, cancel or change your reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation

6. How can I correct a reservation with the wrong information.
   ...If you want to view, cancel or change your reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation

7. I filled out the form and accidentally submitted a reservation! What do I do now?
   ...If you want to view, cancel or change your reservation, please go to our Find, Review, Change or Cancel Your Hawaii Car Rental Reservation

8. If I choose a rental from Avis, will I get a reservation number that corresponds with Avis?
   ...Yes. And the same goes for all the other major national brand rental companies I represent.

Shuttles:

1. Are there regular airport shuttles from the airport to the rental car pick up location?
   ...Yes. They run frequently. The rental agencies have their own shuttles. However, the company you renter from may have a booth or kiosk right at or in the airport.

2. Is it possible to arrange a pick up or drop off at my hotel?
   ...There are a few isolated hotels where this can be arranged. It's mostly Enterprise who will "Pick You Up" because they have more -non-airport locations than any of the other companies operating in Hawaii.

3. Where do we go to pick up a shuttle?
   ...Usually, if the company you rented from (Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty or Enterprise) has a booth right at the airport, you first go to the agency booth or kiosk near baggage claim to sign the contract and get your rental keys. From there you will then take their shuttle bus to their vehicle lot for pick up, unless their lot is right there. If they do not have a booth at or in the airport, pick up your luggage and then step outside and follow the signs to where you can get on the various rental company courtesy shuttles. Please see our Car Rental Locations page for more details.

Have a great time in Hawaii!

Steve Parquet, owner

www.HawaiiCarRentals.net 

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