5 Best Honolulu Airport Car Rental Companies — Browse Tips on Renting a Car in Honolulu in 2024

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is the largest airport in Hawaii, welcoming droves of international visitors to this vacation hotspot. One thing that most of those travelers need? A rental car. Hawaii is just one of those destinations where a rental car will make your trip significantly easier, more convenient, and ultimately more affordable, even if it’s an extra up-front cost.

There are multiple car rental options at Honolulu’s airport, plus off-airport rental car companies in the near vicinity. Which car rental company should you go with? Here are the five best car rental companies operating out of Honolulu Airport, plus tips for renting cars in Hawaii in general. 

Which Car Rental Companies are Best at Honolulu Airport?

There are 10 different on-airport car rental companies at HNL, and all are national brands. Here are the best five out of those 10, based on recent reviews on platforms such as Kayak and Google. 

1. National Car Rental 

With a high rating on both Google and Kayak, the National Car Rental location at Honolulu’s airport stands apart from the pack with ease. While reviewers do admit that National might be a little bit pricier than some of the other car rental companies located at the airport, the cost is well worth it. Reviewers rave about the high level of service, as well as the quick rental process, from start to finish.

While this National location isn’t open 24-7, it does open at 5 a.m. and stays open until nearly midnight, which should cover you for most pick-ups and drop-offs. However, in the event it doesn’t, the location does offer after-hours return service, too. There’s also Emerald Aisle service available, which allows you to pay a simple fee when booking, then skip waiting in line upon your arrival at the airport, and go straight to your car, which you’ll get to pick off the lot.

Pros: High level of quick service and seamless transactions. 

Cons: A little bit pricier than some of your other options. 

Phone: (844) 913-0738

Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Google Rating: 4.6 stars

Kayak Rating: 9.2 (Wonderful)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at National

2. Sixt Rent a Car 

Sixt may not have the highest Kayak rating, but it does have a pretty impressive Google rating. So, while it might not be as superior an option as National Car Rental, which ranks highest on our list, it’s certainly not a provider to ignore if you can’t find what you want within your budget at National.

Sixt offers a wide variety of vehicles, including exactly the types of vehicles you might want most for your Hawaii vacation. Think of a convertible for cruising around the scenic highways, or an SUV to take into the mountains or to that remote coffee plantation. The variety of cars and SUVs is one of the things reviewers like most about this rental car provider. 

As far as what’s making for that less-than-stellar Kayak review? It seems that, sometimes, Sixt doesn’t always have the car you want. However, for some reviewers, that results in an upgrade. Others, though, aren’t as lucky. 

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Sixt opens later than some of the other best-rated car rental providers on our list. That’s something to take into consideration if you have an early flight. You don’t want to be stuck waiting around for the rental counter to open.

Pros: Good variety of vehicles and more affordable pricing than what you might find elsewhere. 

Cons: Even with the large variety of vehicles, Sixt might not always have the one you want. Additionally, some reviewers report that the customer service leaves something to be desired. 

Phone: (888) 749-8227

Hours: Daily from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Google Rating: 4.6 stars

Kayak Rating: 7.8 (Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Sixt

3. Alamo

Much like Sixt, Alamo gets great ratings in some instances and lackluster ratings in others. Regardless, Alamo is a good pick for those who want to save their cash for other vacation expenses, as Alamo is known for being a little less pricey than some of the other national car rental brands. 

Alamo also offers a variety of well-liked amenities. A self-service kiosk and skip-the-counter service both allow you to pick up and drop off your rental car your way, without relying on the staff. After-hours return service also comes in handy. 

Positive reviews mention the easy pick-up process and how quick pick-up and drop-off both are. Negative reviews bemoan vehicles that are in less than stellar condition. 

Pros: Better rates than what you’ll find elsewhere and a super-convenient pick-up and drop-off process.

Cons: Some reviewers say the cars could be in better condition.

Phone: (844) 913-0736

Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Google Rating: 4.3 stars

Kayak Rating: 9 (Wonderful)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Alamo

4. Enterprise 

Enterprise is known for its great service and great cars — but also its higher prices. Still, if you’re fine with paying a little extra for a high-quality experience, you might not regret this car rental decision. Positive reviews mention great service and an easy pick-up process.

Some reviewers did note that the Enterprise location within the airport is located the furthest away out of all the rental car counters. This means that you might end up taking your luggage on a bit of a trek before you reach your vehicle. 

Other complaints mostly revolve around misunderstandings or miscommunications. Think not knowing where to go during drop off or being unsure of the company’s Covid-19 policy. The point? If you have all your ducks in a row and you’re no stranger to renting a car while on vacation, you should have no issues. 

Pros: Friendly service, the quick rental process, and a nice variety of vehicles. 

Cons: The cars are kept the furthest from the airport, so you might need to walk a little extra to get to your rental. 

Phone: (844) 913-0737

Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Google Rating: 4.4 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.9 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Enterprise

5. Hertz

Another well-known brand, Hertz gets top points at its Honolulu airport outpost for car cleanliness and comfort. Reviewers report that the rental counter is easy to reach from the airport and that the rental process is fairly easy. Customer service also gets a nod. 

The things that travelers didn’t like about renting with this Hertz location? The extra fees and pricing. Before you sign that dotted line, just make sure that you understand everything you’re paying for, including extra fees and insurance, as well as fees you could incur if the car is late or damaged. 

It’s worth noting that this rental car provider is open a little bit later than some of its competitors at the airport. Most are open only until 11 p.m., while the Hertz counter is open until midnight. This could be a decision-making factor for you if your flight is scheduled to come in later in the evening.

Pros: Hertz offers a convenient counter location and clean and well-maintained cars, and is open later than some of the other rental car providers on our list. 

Cons: Hertz can be on the more expensive side, and there are fees and extra charges to watch out for. 

Phone: (808) 837-7100

Hours: Daily from 5:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Google Rating: 3.8 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.3 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Hertz

Comparing the 5 Best Car Rental Companies at Honolulu Airport  

Get a quick glimpse of these five best car rental companies, so you know which is best for you.

Brand/Rental Provider	Google/Kayak Rating	Types of available vehicles	Budget or Luxury?
Hertz	3.8/8.3	Cars, SUVs, luxury vehicles, trucks	Luxury
Alamo	4.3/9	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Budget
Enterprise	4.4/8.9	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Luxury
National	4.6/9.2	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Luxury
Sixt	4.6/7.8	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Mid-Range

Tips for Renting Cars at Honolulu Airport

Decided you’re for sure renting a car when you arrive in Honolulu, even if you’re not entirely positive which rental provider you’re going with? Then here’s what you need to know. 

Know where to go.

As mentioned, there are 10, on-airport rental car companies at HNL. These include:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Thrifty
• Sixt 

All 10 of these rental providers’ rental counters are located in the airport’s Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. The facility’s entrances are situated outside Baggage Claims 26 and 31, across from Terminal 2. 

If you arrive in Terminal 2, between Baggage Claims 19-31, you can just walk to the facility. If, however, you arrived elsewhere in the airport, you’ll have to take a shuttle to the facility. 

Follow signage for the shuttle buses. If you arrived in Terminal 1, the shuttle pick-up point is a blue and white median located between Baggage Claims 8 and 9. If you arrived in Terminal 2 (and not between Baggage Claims 19–31, which are within walking distance of the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility), the shuttle pick-up point is a blue and white median located at Baggage Claim 18. If you arrived in Terminal 3, the pick-up point is directly outside the terminal building.

Shuttles run from 4 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Once you reach the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, go to the second level, where you’ll find the rental counters. 

If, however, you rented a car from an off-airport provider, you’ll still need to go to the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility if that rental car provider is picking you up from the airport. In that case, once you get to the facility, go to the west end of the building, on the ground level, to the area marked PRE-ARRANGED 4. There, your provider will know to pick you up at the blue and white curb. 

Explore all your options. 

Before booking just any rental car from the above options, thoroughly look at all the different rental providers in the area. Many travelers rave about the local rental car companies and find that they’re a good alternative to the national brands. The service is often more personalized and, since you can be picked up by your off-airport rental car provider right at the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, choosing to rent a car off-airport isn’t too much of an inconvenience.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.