Cheap Car Rental in Honolulu

Car Rental in Honolulu: get mobile and drive the capital of Hawaii

Two-thirds of Hawaii’s residents live in Honolulu, the capital city and major port of entry. Honolulu’s culture and sights are very dynamic. This is a great city to visit to experience the activity of Hawaii’s current and past residents, from former palaces and naval bases to art museums to the outdoor activity at the famous Waikiki Beach. Make the most of your visit by getting mobile via rental car. Book your car today!

Honolulu’s temperature ranges between 19 and 32 degrees Celsius (65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit), making the city comfortable to visit year round. Winter months are rainier, typically receiving around 3 inches of rain.

While the de facto national language of the United States is English, the state of Hawaii has two official languages, Hawaiian and English. Pidgin, also called Hawaiian Pidgin English or Hawaiian Creole English, is the primary language spoken by most residents of the islands today.

Hawaii is in the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone, UTC-10.

The currency throughout the United States is the dollar. Credit cards are accepted at the vast majority of businesses and ATMs are also quite frequent.

Automobile hire is available in over 15 locations throughout Honolulu, including the Honolulu Airport (HNL), downtown, at the Hale Koa Resort, and on Kahala Avenue.

If you want to get away from the crowds and party scene of Waikiki Beach, Lanikai Beach is a great alternative! The beach is located just outside of Kailua, about 30 minutes east of Honolulu along a beautiful mountain highway. If you prefer a coastal scenic drive, you can also circumnavigate the southeastern point of Oahu to Kailua by driving through Waimanalo.

Visa Regulations

38 nationalities can enter the United States as tourists without applying for a visa, though if you are among these nationalities, you are still required to fill out the ESTA in advance. Visit esta.us for more information. Visitors to the United States will be fingerprinted and biometrically photographed upon entry. If your nationality is not included in the visa-waiver program, you will be required to apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa in advance of your arrival.

Driving in Honolulu

Roads are narrower in Hawaii compared to other American states, and the interstate highways across the island of Oahu are pretty packed. To make the most of your visit, plan to explore the island at a slow pace by getting off the highways and doing a good deal of sightseeing between your destinations!

Right-Hand Driving

• Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road in Hawaii.

Speed Limits

• In the city: 25 mph (40 km/h)
• On highways: 55-60 mph (88-96 km/h)
• Rush hour on Oahu has been ranked the worst in the United States, so plan your road travel around morning (5 am to 8 am) and evening (3 pm to 6:30 pm) rush hour to make the most of your time in the car.

Other Regulations

1. Planning where you’re going to park is the best way to avoid stress and save money while driving to and through Honolulu. You may even be able to find free parking near the sights you plan to visit by taking advantage of numerous tourist guides online.
2. If your driver’s license has been issued in English, an international driver’s permit is not necessary for your travels in Hawaii, and you are permitted to drive for 28 days.
3. At the time of writing, there were no toll roads in Hawaii
4. While Hawaiians are permitted to drive as young as 17, you will have to be at least 21 to rent a car in Hawaii. Drivers under the age of 25 are likely to be charged extra.

Other Tips

• Especially at popular tourist destinations, be sure not to leave any important belongings in your car and put everything out of sight!
• Hyundai Accent or similar (economy class) – $28/day
• Nissan Versa or similar (compact class) - $29/day
• Jeep Cherokee or similar (intermediate class) - $34/day
• Chevrolet Cruze or similar (standard class) - $35/day
• Chrysler 200 or similar (fullsize class) - $37/day

Cheap Car Rental in Honolulu

Automobile hire in Honolulu typically starts at around $28 a day. Here are some of the best deals in Honolulu:

Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.

Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in Honolulu

Rental prices increase by around $4 to $7 in the popular summer months in Honolulu, sinking to as low as $40 a day in October. Book at least 3 months in advance to get the best deals on your rental car.

Automobile hire is cheapest in locations that feature the Dollar rental agency, such as at the airport, downtown, and at the Hale Koa Resort. Sometimes different Dollar locations will be able to beat their own prices elsewhere, so be sure to shop around to get the best deal.

You can also often save around $20 a day, if you extend your rental period to over a week!