The Big Island

Cheap Car Rentals in The Big Island from $32

Mon 9/14
Mon 9/21
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Best car rental deals found in The Big Island

Hyundai Tucson$32/day
Hyundai Tucson
Honda Accord$34/day
Honda Accord
Toyota RAV4$35/day
Toyota RAV4

Cheapflights insights for The Big Island car rentals

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you rent a car in The Big Island, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I rent a car in The Big Island?

To get the best deal on a rental car in The Big Island, book about 52 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around $58, which is about 22% cheaper than the typical rate.

What is the best car rental company in The Big Island?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest rated car rental company in The Big Island is Hertz (rated 7.3/10 with 56 reviews). Budget (rated 6.9/10 with 75 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in The Big Island?

At The Big Island, the best time to rent a car is in May, with an average daily rate of just $56. Conversely, December is the priciest month, averaging $105 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.|1#In The Big Island, the best time to rent a car is in May, with an average daily rate of just $56. Conversely, December is the priciest month, averaging $105 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

$84

February

$91

March

$75

April

$68

May

$56

June

$75

July

$84

August

$64

September

$62

October

$67

November

$62

December

$105

What car do most people rent in The Big Island?

SUV rentals (Chevrolet Equinox or similar) are the most popular option for those visiting The Big Island. Intermediate rentals (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) are also a popular choice, followed by Compact rentals (Kia K4 or similar).

Tips for renting a car in The Big Island

  • If you are getting a Big Island car rental and you’re traveling with kids, it’s important to be aware of the child seat laws in this area before setting out. Children under 2 years old should be in a rear-facing child seat. Kids between the ages of 2 and 4 need to be in a forward-facing child seat with a harness. Kids between 4 and 10 years old, except for those over the height of 4’9”, must be in a safety or booster seat. If you need a child car seat, be sure to request one from your rental agency in advance.
  • Those driving Big Island car rentals will also need to be aware of the level of gas in their tanks at all times. This is because gas is more expensive in Hawaii than in other states in the US. In addition, there are some areas on Big Island where gas stations are scarce, and it’s not unheard of to run out of gas with no gas station in sight. As a result, fill up whenever you can, and it’s not a bad idea to keep some extra gas with you in the car in case of emergency.
  • One major road to be aware of while driving car rentals on Big Island is Saddle Road, or Hawaii State Highway 200. This road is 54 miles long and reaches high elevations at times. Although it is one of the most scenic drives on the island, you need to be aware of hazards on this road. The island experiences unpredictable weather that can be difficult to navigate on the rough terrain of this road, and some stretches don’t have any cell phone service. Drive cautiously on Saddle Road, especially after dark.

Top rental agencies in The Big Island

Hertz

7.3
Good
56 reviews7 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.7

Comfort

7.7

Overall

7.3

Pick-up/drop-off

7.5

Value

7.1

Budget

6.9
Okay
75 reviews2 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.2

Comfort

7.4

Overall

6.9

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

6.9

Thrifty

6.6
Okay
32 reviews7 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.7

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.6

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.4

National

9.1
Wonderful
13 reviews3 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

9.1

Overall

9.1

Pick-up/drop-off

9.0

Value

8.1

Alamo

8.7
Very good
24 reviews3 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.7

Overall

8.7

Pick-up/drop-off

8.7

Value

8.2

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.2
Very good
21 reviews5 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.5

Comfort

8.8

Overall

8.2

Pick-up/drop-off

7.9

Value

8.3

Sixt

8.0
Very good
7 reviews1 location
Overview

Cleanliness

9.6

Comfort

9.4

Overall

8.0

Pick-up/drop-off

8.0

Value

8.1

Payless

7.8
Good
22 reviews2 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.7

Comfort

8.0

Overall

7.8

Pick-up/drop-off

7.8

Value

8.0

Car rental FAQs

  • Should I rent a car on the Big Island?

    Renting a car in Big Island will give you a huge advantage when it comes to exploring the island. There are many remote spots that are unreachable without a personal vehicle. In addition, there are plenty of scenic drives to take that are more comfortable and enjoyable in a Big Island car rental. For example, you can drive the Mauna Loa Road scenic drive or the Coffee country/South Kona scenic drive, and there are plenty of other options, as well. Renting a car in Big Island will allow you to explore the island freely and on your own schedule.

  • What is driving like on the Big Island?

    Driving in Big Island is fairly straightforward most of the time. In the cities, the roads are in good condition and the highways throughout the island are paved. However, you do need to be cautious on Saddle Road and on other rural roads in remote areas. These may not be paved and may have hazards such as potholes and wildlife crossings. However, the local drivers are generally friendly and follow the rules of the road. You may also need to watch out for pedestrian traffic near beaches in and within cities.

  • How old do you have to be to rent a car on Big Island?

    In order to obtain car rentals in Big Island, you must be at least 18 years old. However, some car rental agencies may restrict car rentals to those 21 and up. Moreover, some car rental categories, such as luxury or vans, may only be available to those 25 and up. Check with your chosen car rental agency in advance about any age restrictions or underage driver fees before making your reservation to avoid surprises. You will also need to show your valid driver’s license and a major credit card. Foreign renters will need a passport.

  • What is the cheapest rental car found in The Big Island?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $65/day when booking a rental car in The Big Island. The best deal a user found was for $19/day from Provider's pick, booked on Aug. 29.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in The Big Island for a week from Budget?

    Renting a car in The Big Island for a week can be a great option for travel. Budget, the most popular car rental company for this area, offers rental cars for around $639/week on average.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in The Big Island?

    Typically how long you can rent a car for depends on the inventory of the supplier. For The Big Island however, it is certainly possible to rent a car for an entire month.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in The Big Island for a month?

    We’ve recently found that Provider's pick offers you prices that are 90% cheaper than the average rate available for a long-term rental. The average cost of a car rental in The Big Island for a month is $2,739. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

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