Do you need a rental car in Hawaii? Maybe, maybe not. Several factors should play into your decision whether or not to rent a car in Hawaii, so stick around as we explore them! It’s also important to note that all of our neighbor-island all-inclusive Hawaii vacation packages, and our all-inclusive Hawaii island hopper packages have a rental car included.

Before we dive into whether you need a rental car in Hawaii, let’s make sure you can rent a car in Hawaii. 

Rental Car Requirements

• Must be at least 21 to rent a car in Hawaii.
• If you are under 25 years old, there will be a daily underage driver fee.
• Must have a major credit card (if using a debit card, a significant monetary hold will be placed on card).
• No smoking or vaping of any kind permitted in most Hawaii rental cars.

Should I Rent a Car in Hawaii?

In our opinion, you will need a rental car if you are visiting these islands:

Maui

Kauai

Big Island of Hawaii

Molokai

The beauty of Hawaii is unparalleled. Undoubtedly, the area in the immediate vicinity of your resort will be gorgeous, especially if you’re in a vacation district,  but you don’t won’t to miss everything else the island has to offer. For instance, most Maui visitors stay in Kaanapali or Wailea, but you certainly shouldn’t miss out on driving the storied “Road to Hana”, or the upcountry region. The distance from your resort would make the cost of a taxi or ride share prohibitive for most people.

Although some people do visit these islands and forego a rental car, we don’t recommend it. Unlike Oahu, which we will explore further in a moment, the “neighbor” or “outer” islands are not as pedestrian-friendly. In addition, you won’t have access to the same level of public transportation as you will on Oahu.

Furthermore, not only do you need a car to explore, but fewer activity and tour companies offer transportation, compared with…you guessed it, Oahu.

Keep in mind you will have to pay for parking at most resorts – and it isn’t cheap. Parking fees average between $25 to $45, per day.

What About Oahu?

As always, Oahu is in a league of its own. The vast majority of Oahu visitors stay in Waikiki, and for good reason, although *Ko’olina and the North Shore are popular as well. Unlike the neighbor islands, we do not recommend renting a car on Oahu.

We want to focus on Waikiki, since that’s where most Oahu visitors stay. In contrast to the other Hawaiian Islands, Oahu’s Waikiki does not require you to rent a car. In fact, renting one for the duration of your vacation is an easy way to throw away money. The resort parking fees in Waikiki are some of the highest in Hawaii, due to Waikiki’s relatively small area.

Additionally, you will be able to comfortably and safely walk to almost anything; and public transit, taxis and ride shares are also readily available. Besides, almost all the tour and activity companies offer transportation options. It’s either built in or available to add-on for a small cost. At most, you may want to rent a car on Oahu for one day, if you want to drive the island on your own.

We hope this helps you decide if you need to rent a car in Hawaii. Neighbor islands: probably yes, Oahu: probably not. To make it as simple as possible for you, we include a rental car in our All-Inclusive Packages that need one, and it’s not included if you don’t. Contact us today to start planning your Hawaiian adventure!

*You may or may not want to rental a car if you are not staying in Waikiki. There are some shuttle services and tour companies that service resorts in these areas, but they are limited. Resorts in these areas are geared more towards visitors spending all of their time at the hotel instead of exploring Hawaii. Our all-inclusive Oahu vacation packages are based in Waikiki.