KAYAK’s insights & trends for The Big Island car hire
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in The Big Island with confidence.
How far in advance should you book car hire in The Big Island?
You should book your car hire in The Big Island around 87 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the most popular rental car in The Big Island?
Hires in the SUV category (Ford Expedition or similar) are the most popular option in The Big Island, costing ฿2,631/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as ฿1,911/day.
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in The Big Island?
The cheapest month to hire a car in The Big Island is September at an average cost of ฿1,683/day. December is the most expensive month to hire a car in The Big Island when prices are ฿2,837/day on average, which tends to be 27% above the yearly average hire price for The Big Island.
The Big Island car rental price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right rental car in The Big Island by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
฿1,286 - ฿2,309
All Car Types
฿2,210 - ฿3,922
How much does it cost to hire a small car in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire a medium car in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire a large car in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire an SUV in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire a van in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire a pickup truck in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in The Big Island?
How much does it cost to hire a convertible in The Big Island?
Small car hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿1,933 per day. The best time to book is September, when prices average ฿1,286 per day, which is about 34% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 41% cheaper than the average car hire in The Big Island, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿2,614 per day. The best time to book is May, when prices average ฿1,699 per day, which is about 36% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 20% cheaper than the average car hire in The Big Island, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car hire in The Big Island typically cost around ฿3,007 per day. The best time to book is May, when prices average ฿1,781 per day, which is about 41% less than the yearly average. Large cars can be 8% cheaper than the average car hire in The Big Island, offering more comfort for longer trips at a reasonable price.
SUV hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿3,428 per day. The best time to book is September, when prices average ฿2,073 per day, which is about 40% less than the yearly average. SUVs are typically 6% more expensive than the average car hire in The Big Island but provide extra space and capability for groups or road trips.
Van hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿5,112 per day. The best time to book is May, when prices average ฿3,249 per day, which is about 37% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 37% more expensive than the average car hire in The Big Island but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿3,926 per day. The best time to book is September, when prices average ฿2,705 per day, which is about 32% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are typically 18% more expensive than the average car hire in The Big Island but are ideal for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿5,082 per day. The best time to book is March, when prices average ฿2,919 per day, which is about 43% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 37% more expensive than the average car hire in The Big Island but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible hire in The Big Island typically costs around ฿3,115 per day. The best time to book is September, when prices average ฿2,540 per day, which is about 19% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are surprisingly 5% cheaper than the average car hire in The Big Island, providing a rare opportunity for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular car type
Small
Top tips for hiring a car in The Big Island
Driving on the Big Island of Hawaii can be both exciting and exotic. Visitors to the island will likely want to consider a tough four-wheel drive for exploring the volcano national park or Mauna Kea Forest Reserve. Or perhaps a convertible might seem like a good idea for cruising the streets of Hilo or Kailua-Kona. What rental drivers might not realize, however, is that gasoline is priced quite differently in Hawaii than it is on the mainland. Therefore, when choosing your rental vehicle for the Big Island, be sure to consider gas mileage along with utility.
The maximum speed limit on interstate highways and rural freeways in Hawaii is 60 mph; however, the limit is only 25 mph in residential areas. Therefore, it is always important to watch for posted speed limits as these may change depending on road type. While drivers may use their mobile phones in hands-free mode, it is against the law to text while driving on any roadway in Hawaii. Children under one year of age or weighing less than 20 pounds must be secured in rear-facing car seats. Between the ages of one and four years, children may ride in forward-facing car seats, after which time they may transition to booster seats.
Your Big Island adventure will only be made more fun and exciting with a vehicle rental. However, there are some things to keep in mind about driving in Hawaii, which may be a little different from other states. For example, when driving in the parks or reserves, it’s important to use caution before going off-road. The reserves on the Big Island contain beautiful forest and jungle landscapes, which will often include protected or poisonous species of flowers or other plants and should be avoided. Likewise, driving off-road in the volcano national park carries obvious risks as well. Have fun in Hawaii, but always stay safe.
Small rental cars in The Big Island are around 18% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in The Big Island
Should I hire a car in The Big Island?
Renting a car on the Big Island means having the freedom to go anywhere and explore all that this incredible paradise has to offer. When you rent a car, you bypass the need to rely on public transportation, which isn’t always available, or even taxis or private rideshares, which can be very expensive in Hawaii. With your rental vehicle, you can attend a meeting in downtown Hilo, then cruise over to the beach in Captain Cook and watch the sun slip into the Pacific, all on your schedule.
What is driving like in The Big Island?
Driving on the Big Island can be generally summed up in one word: beautiful. There are many roads on the island with breathtaking views of both the land and the sea. For the most part, the roads on this island are well-maintained and convenient, whether you’re in downtown Hawaii or uptown Hilo, or just circling the coastline in your fancy rented convertible. Signage may be a little sparse at times, and traffic can sometimes form in the cities, but wherever your Hawaiian adventure takes you on the Big Island, you’re sure to enjoy every moment and every mile.
How old do you have to be to hire a car in The Big Island?
In the state of Hawaii, including on the Big Island, you must be at least seventeen years old to hold an unrestricted driver’s license. After that, you may rent a car beginning at age eighteen. Generally, car rental agencies will apply a surcharge to your rental agreement if you are under the age of twenty five. This additional fee may be applied on a daily basis or can be assessed as part of the overall rental price. All drivers, regardless of age, will need to present a valid driver’s license, in addition to certain other documents, at the time of rental agreement signing.
How can I find car hires near me in The Big Island?
KAYAK and its partners wish to use cookies or similar technologies to store and/or access information on and about your device and process personal data such as your IP address, device identifiers etc., in order to improve your experience on the site, to analyse navigation, to offer and measure personalised advertising, and to facilitate sharing on social networks. We also allow the use of third-party cookies (including those from our advertising partners) on our sites.
By clicking 'Accept', you consent to your data being processed by 0 vendors on this web site for the purposes described in this notice. You can review the vendors and their individual processing purposes on the .
To review individual processing purposes and cookie categories, please click ’Select individual purposes’. You can review your choices and withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the ’Privacy Preferences’ link in the page side navigation.
