Hawaii car hire

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Hiring a car is strongly recommended for travellers visiting any of Hawaii's beautiful islands. Many of the islands' popular attractions are only accessible by car, and it is often much cheaper to use your own car hire than to travel by taxi. Plus, if you want to travel to Hawaii's more remote regions, you may find yourself out of service and unable to call for a taxi. Your own car also gives you complete flexibility over where you go and when. Driving in Hawaii is very easy, with well-signposted roads that can take you all over the islands.

Once you're on the road, remember that cars drive on the right-hand side and speed signs are in miles, not kilometres. Hawaii has lower speed limits than the mainland United States, so prepare to take it slow and enjoy the ride. You usually won't be travelling long distances, so taking a little longer to reach your destination won't have a big impact on your plans. You'll find the busier roads on the island of Oahu, particularly the Kamehameha Highway, which provides access to many of the island's favoured attractions. While most of the roads you drive on will be in good condition, you will need to keep an eye out for potholes. One crucial piece of road etiquette to remember is that in Hawaii, drivers very rarely use their horns, and doing so when it's not absolutely necessary will be considered very rude.

In Hawaii, the minimum age for car hire differs between companies. Most require you to be at least 21 years old, some require you to be at least 20 years old, and a few will let travellers as young as 18 hire a car. For travellers under 25, there is usually an extra surcharge. If a driver under 25 is only an additional driver, this charge may be waived. There are also often vehicle restrictions for travellers under 25; this may cover premium cars, minivans and SUVs.