Maui, Hawaii Car Rentals – FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hawaiian discount car rentals offer?

Who are you guys and how can you offer such low rates?

What locations does Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals serve?

What is the cancellation policy?

How do I cancel?

What is a “drop charge” and will I incur this upcharge?

Why can’t I make changes to my reservation?

What is the minimum age to rent a car?

I’m over 21 but under 25, how can I avoid the underage up-charge?

I’m under 25, why does the confirmation say I will still receive the up-charge even though I reserved through hawaiidrive-o.com?

How many days earns the weekly rate?

Can I depend on an upgrade being available?

Can I upgrade from a full size to a convertible?

Do I make separate reservations for each island visited?

If I rent a car for 3 days on one island and 4 days on another, can I get the weekly rate?

Do all vehicles have air conditioning?

Can I ensure I’ll get an automatic?

Can I get a child safety seat?

Which child safety seat should I reserve?

Are the child seats installed in the car at pickup?

Are your rental vehicles allowed off-road?

How do I pick up my rental?

Is insurance included with the rental price as quoted?

Why can’t I rent a Jeep Wrangler or Minivan on Molokai?

What’s happening on Molokai in 2009, I can’t seem to rent anything?

Can I choose the color of my car?

Do you offer additional discounts for AAA, AARP, Military or Kamaaina?

How do I add my quick service number (bluechip, etc.) into my reservation?

Can I use a debit card to pay for my car rental instead of a credit card?

How are extra hours handled?

What if I do not have a valid driver’s license but my partner does not have a credit card?

Can I pay using cash?

What type of driver’s license do I need to present?

Can I get a no smoking permitted vehicle?

Can I pick up the car at one airport and leave it at another?

Since you do not take credit card information, will my rate remain the same?

When do I pay for the rental?

Are there any hidden charges?

Why do the final rates vary by airport?

If we are both going to drive while vacationing in Hawaii, do we both need to sign the contract or can one go get the luggage while the other picks up the car?

Do you offer car rentals at other locations besides Hawaii?

What does Hawaiian discount car rentals offer?
We specialize in Hawaii & Maui car rentals. Renting a car in Hawaii is usually a necessity as the public transportation system is not adequate for vacation travel. We offer discounted rates on rental cars for your vacation on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and Molokai.

Who are you guys and how can you offer such low rates?
We are simply a wholesaler specializing in travel to Hawaii. The various rental agencies give us corporate contracts which we can then offer to the public.

What locations does Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals serve?
We specialize in rental cars and serve Hawaii ( Hilo and Kona on the Big Island), Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu. We service all major airport locations on those islands and a few locations outside the major airports as well. Please contact a representative of Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals for more information.

What is the cancellation policy?
There is no penalty for cancellation. We do not request credit card information to make the reservation.

The only exception to this is with Brand B on specialty cars (convertibles and SUVs). When their inventory gets low, they do request a credit card number with expiration date and if the car is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, they do charge you one days rental.

How do I cancel?
Send a request through our contact line.

What is a “drop charge” and will I incur this upcharge?
A drop charge applies only when you pick up a vehicle at one location and leave it, or drop it off, at another location. This is not uncommon in Hawaii. Drop charges happen on the Big Island when people pick up in Kona (KOA) and drop it off in Hilo (ITO), or vice versa. It happens on Maui when travelers pick up in Lahaina (JHM) and drop the vehicle off in Kahului (OGG). It also happens on Oahu when people pick up in Waikiki and drop off at the Honolulu Airport (HNL).

At the start of the year, fleet allotment is very carefully planned based on rental frequency and size of the airport. Drop charges occur because when you pick up a car at one airport and leave it at another the rental agency incurs costs to return the car to its point of origin.

Drop charges vary based on the distance between the two sites. The farthest distance is between Kona and Hilo so this fee is in the $65 to $75 range. Waikiki is right next to Honolulu so the fee is in the $20 to $25 range.

Why can’t I make changes to my reservation?
You can. I use the same phone number for all reservations: (800)591-8605. Input that phone number along with your last name and reservation number and you can gain access to your reservation.

What is the minimum age to rent a car?
Minimum rental age is 21 years for renters presenting a major credit card in their own name along with a valid driver’s license. I’m sorry, but I have not found any company which rents to drivers under 21 years of age in Hawaii. Also, as a rule, Brand A will not rent to drivers under the age of 25.

I’m over 21 but under 25, how can I avoid the underage up-charge??
For 2009, Thrifty will waive the charge for driver under 25 IF you reserve under our corporate contract numbers.

I’m under 25, why does the confirmation say I will still receive the up-charge even though I reserved through hawaiidrive-o.com?
It’s true, the confirmation will mention an additional charge for driver under 25. This is the boiler plate confirmation which Thrifty sends to all renters nationwide. Since Hawaii is a small niche in their system, Thrifty does not create a special confirmation for people renting through other contracts. Please disregard this as it is intended for the general public and not those reserving under our corporate contract, you will not be charged.

How many days earns the weekly rate?
Weekly rate is based on 5-7 consecutive days. The weekly rate is 5 days at the single day rate with the 6th and 7th day at no charge.

Can I depend on an upgrade being available?
Not 100% of the time. Brand A is the only company with the free upgrade program. The upgrade is based on availability at time of pick up. During our busier seasons, there may not be any upgrades available. The annual average rate of successly upgrading is approximately 80%.

Can I upgrade from a full size to a convertible?
Unfortunately, no. Brand A offers the upgrades from the compact to a midsize and also from a midsize to a full size only.

Do I make separate reservations for each island visited?
Yes. Each location needs to manage it’s fleet and also needs to know when you will be arriving and leaving.

If I rent a car for 3 days on one island and 4 days on another, can I get the weekly rate?
No. Each agency acts as an independent operation. This makes sense when you consider that they still have all of the normal expenses per rental such as cleaning, parking, safety checks, etc.

Do all vehicles have air conditioning?
Yes, even Jeep Wranglers come with a/c.

Can I ensure I’ll get an automatic?
All of our rental vehicles come with an automatic transmission.

Can I get a child safety seat?
Yes. Child seats are reserved in advance at a cost. Enterprise is the lone exception as they do not offer child safety seats in Hawaii.

For 2009, Dollar and Thrifty charge $12 per day plus tax for the entire period of the rental. Brand A and Brand B charge $12 per day and put a ceiling on it at $60 per rental.

Which child safety seat should I reserve?
Guidelines in Hawaii are as follows:
Infant Safety Seat for children 2-20 lbs. or 2.27-9.07 kilos
Toddler Safety Seat for children 20-40 lbs. or 9.07-18.16 kilos
Booster Safety Seat for children 40-80 lbs. or 18.16-36.32 kilos

Are the child seats installed in the car at pickup?
No. The driver has to install the child seat for liability purposes.

Are your rental vehicles allowed off-road?
It is the policy of the rental agencies not to allow their rental cars, even those with 4-wheel drive, to be driven off road. Too much wear and tear.

How do I pick up my rental?
The rental booth or kiosk will be positioned near baggage claim. Print out and sign your agreement here. Then, you will be provided with a shuttle bus to take you to the actual car lot. You can find maps and directions for each airport under our “resources” tab.

Is insurance included with the rental price as quoted?
No. Insurance comes at an extra cost and is only included if you request it. Most drivers find that they are covered either by their current insurance or their credit card company while traveling. You should check with both prior to departure.

If it is needed, insurance can be added at time of check-in at the rental agency. Supplemental Liability Insurance runs around $13.99 per day while full coverage LDW insurance runs $26.99 per day in 2009.

Why can’t I rent a Jeep Wrangler or Minivan on Molokai?
Contractually, we are only allowed to offer economy, compact, midsize and full size class cars on Molokai. I believe it is because the small number of visitors to Molokai mandate they keep fleet costs low there. Most rental agencies do not have a branch on Molokai. This is also why there is an up charge for rentals on Molokai only, just trying to keep their doors open.

What’s happening on Molokai in 2009, I can’t seem to rent anything?
Due to our poor economy, both Brand B and are closing their rental operations on Molokai. The official date of closing is May 28th, 2009. They will service existing reservation for pick up between now and May 15th as long as returns are scheduled on or before May 28th.

Brand X has won a bid to open a rental operation on Molokai. Nothing is completely set yet but they are hoping to open sometime in June of 2009.

Can I choose the color of my car?
You can request a color, but I cannot guarantee you’ll receive it. For those of you who care, there are very few yellow rental cars in the islands.

Do you offer additional discounts for AAA, AARP, Military or Kamaaina?
As a wholesaler, we are working off of the price list that each company has provided us. We do not have the contractual authority or ability to offer additional discounts on top of our already discounted rates.

How do I add my quick service number (bluechip, etc.) into my reservation?
Unfortunately, when reserving through a wholesaler such as ourselves, the rental companies do not offer the traveler their quick check in check out services.

Can I use a debit card to pay for my car rental instead of a credit card?
A Debit or Check Card is accepted at time of pickup under the following conditions:

• A debit card must carry the logo of a major credit card company on it such as Visa or Mastercard.
• Most rental agencies will require you present a round trip airline/cruise ticket, e-ticket, or travel itinerary to or from the airport rental disclosing a return date and showing the renter’s name. If no round trip ticket can be presented then the Debit or Check card will only be accepted as payment upon return of the vehicle.
• Since you are leaving the lot with an expensive car, the rental agencies reserve the right to perform a debit card check and credit inquiry to qualify you to rent. Most have contracted through Equifax Credit Information Services to perform this check and the credit bureau makes the final call as to whether or not you qualify, not the rental car agency. There is not a known score at which you qualify or get rejected. Please note that the credit inquiry is posted on your credit report and may effect your credit evaluation.

How are extra hours handled?
In general, a rental agency will take a full days rental, let’s say it’s $30 per day. They will then divide that by 3 and in this case get $10. Then, for each hour over 24, they add the $10 until you have reached a full days rental. Using this logic, a traveler wanting to rent a car for 7 days and 4 hours is basically renting the car for 8 days.

What if I do not have a valid driver’s license but my partner does not have a credit card?
The driver of the vehicle (the person with the credit card) has to be the person fiscally responsible for the rental. As such, the driver with the license either needs a credit card, debit car or needs to arrange to pay in cash. We cannot rent to a driver using a second person’s credit card.

Can I pay using cash?
Of the companies that we represent, only Dollar allows for cash payment. Renters must meet the minimum age requirements, present a round trip airline ticket and leave a security cash deposit (varies, but in the neighborhood of $100). Campers do not qualify for cash rentals. If the renter is not a U.S., Canadian or Mexican citizen, they must also have a valid passport to go along with their valid driver’s license.

What type of driver’s license do I need to present?
A driver’s license from the United States or any foreign country is adequate. An International Driver’s license is not enough by itself. They are mostly used as a form of I.D.

Can I get a no smoking permitted vehicle?
Absolutely. This is actually the default for Brand A, Brand B, Dollar and Thrifty.

Can I pick up the car at one airport and leave it at another?
Yes, but this does create additional expenses for the rental agencies and they do charge for the ability. To pick up a car in Waikiki and leave it in Honolulu costs in the neighborhood of $20. Kona to Hilo or vice versa incurs a $65 drop charge.

Since you do not take credit card information, will my rate remain the same?
Prices do not change from those quoted and reserved at. Prices can change if you do not use the car as reserved, i.e., if you keep the car an extra day, you will be charged for the extra day.

When do I pay for the rental?
At the end of your trip when you return the car. The reason for this is that you may have damaged the car or used it for a longer or shorter time than reserved, all of which would change the amount charged.

Are there any hidden charges?
No. In this age of TripAdvisor, etc., word gets around quickly if you do not offer good service or act honestly. We quote you at the appropriate base rate and then the final rate after all taxes and surcharges (4.166% state tax, ~.45 per day license fees, a concession fee of up to 8%, and the $3 per day highway surcharge) are added. You are responsible for the cost of fuel on top of this and insurance is optional and thus not included in the quote. We rely on repeat customers and word of mouth for continued success.

Why do the final rates vary by airport?
This is mostly due to concession fees. A concession fee is the rate an airport charges a business for doing business on their property. The nearer you are to the terminal, the higher this rate tends to be. It can also be a bit higher if the airport features a high level of traffic. Concession fees can be upwards of 8%. This is why you can find cheaper rates, after all add ons, for companies located further away from the airport’s main terminal.

If we are both going to drive while vacationing in Hawaii, do we both need to sign the contract or can one go get the luggage while the other picks up the car?
You both have to sign the rental agreement to be valid drivers.

Do you offer car rentals at other locations besides Hawaii?
Yes, we now offer discounted rates on Thrifty and Dollar in Florida. We also represent Brand X, Enterprise, and National throughout Florida. Visit our Florida car rentals page.