Why is car rental in Hawaii so expensive?

Low Supply of Vehicles Due to Sell-Off Hawai?i's remote location makes the problem even more challenging here. This sell-off is one reason why rental cars from Hertz, Enterprise, and other big companies are so expensive in Hawai?i and throughout the US right now.



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Low Supply of Vehicles Due to Sell-Off Hawai?i's remote location makes the problem even more challenging here. This sell-off is one reason why rental cars from Hertz, Enterprise, and other big companies are so expensive in Hawai?i and throughout the US right now.

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Renting a car is an important part of the budget for a trip to Hawaii. The Covid-19 crisis has caused prices to rise dramatically in 2021 and 2022, although there has been a significant drop in prices since the summer of 2022, which is expected to continue in 2023 to reach pre-Covid prices again.

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The average cost to rent a car in Hawaii is $157 per day.

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Tourism officials have said Hawaii's shortage is worst on Maui. Recently on Maui, the lowest-priced cars at the airport from major rental firms were higher than they've ever been. The supply has improved slightly for 2023. We have been fortunate to have an ample supply for most travel dates.

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If you do want to sightsee, it will be much easier with a car. One major benefit is you'll be able to do things at your own pace. Oahu isn't big; without stops, you can drive around the island in about two hours. That said, there are things you might want to see and do that aren't accessible by public transportation.

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Unless you want to just relax at your hotel, the answer is yes. Driving is the best way to get around and will provide you with the most flexibility. Hawaii Island is known as “The Big Island” for good reason — spanning 10,931 square miles, it has a lot of ground to cover.

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Transportation options vary from island to island. Many visitors enjoy taking bus tours to conveniently explore the Islands. For most islands you can also get around by shuttle, taxi, ride-sharing app such as Uber or Lyft, or public transportation.

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It's actually quite easy to drive in Hawaii. There are no big, ten-lane highways on the Islands. The highways are more like two lane country roads, like the Pacific Coast Highway north of Ventura. So if you're from Los Angeles, it might feel like you're driving around in the country, or the mountains.

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On average a rental car in Hawaii costs $350 per week ($50 per day).

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The nation's largest car rental corporations sold too many cars in 2020 to cushion the financial blows amid widespread COVID-19 travel restrictions. Now they can't buy enough replacements principally due to car production delays.

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Renting a car can be expensive, but there are various ways to save money on your next rental. You can significantly reduce your expenses by using corporate, AAA, or university codes, renting during off-peak times and avoiding additional fees for gas and tolls.

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The Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) said they haven't seen shortages on Oahu or Maui, which they say actually does more rentals than Honolulu. The DOT added that the beginning of the pandemic caused many rental car companies to sell their fleet or leave them parked at Aloha Stadium.

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Food Costs The average cost of food per person per day is about $61, but it can fluctuate depending on where you eat and how many people you go with. Fortunately, there are also some ways to save money on food costs during your vacation.

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You can request a ride on any day and at any time with Uber in Honolulu.

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Car rentals cost more than they did a few years ago due to many different factors, but primarily because of supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As demand for rental cars fell, rental car companies sold segments of their fleets to stay in business during the lean times.

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Are Taxis Cheaper Than Uber in Honolulu? Generally, taxis can be more expensive than Uber, since a Uber ride costs around $25 while taxis charge $40 to $45. Of course, prices may vary based on demand and time of day.

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Oahu is the only island with a comprehensive bus system, simply known as TheBusOpens external link to page that may not meet accessibility guidelines.

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I have found Discover Cars has the cheapest Hawaii Car rentals, as well as the cheapest Hawaii driving insurance at less than $11 per day. The key is to book at least 2-3 weeks in advance for their super low rates. If you book the day before it will be much more expensive.

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Since Waikiki is so small and walkable, you can easily enjoy it without a car. You can hit the beach, go shopping, eat at some delicious restaurants and find so many things to do in Waikiki without a car.

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