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Hawaii Car Rental Tips
2.) We recommend you book your rental online as many rental companies have online specials. Booking your rental together with a flight and/or accommodation will also save you money.
Tip: When booking online always look for car rental coupons before you make your final decision. You can possibly save a lot of money.
3.) Book as far in advance as possible. Depending on when you travel the rates may increase or decrease according to demand from other travelers. We always figure that planning ahead on this never hurts.
4.) When possible, rent two, three, five day, or week long packages as these are generally priced lower than any other.
5.) At the rental counter you'll be given three options in regards to refueling the vehicle. Two are good deals and one is not. You can choose to prepay for a tank of gas, usually at a special (lower) rate, which allows you to return it with any amount of fuel in the tank. Or you can choose to refuel before you return the car at the going rate for gas at stations near the airport. The final option is the most expensive option, to return the car and let the rental agency refuel it for you. Just be warned that their refueling rate is significantly higher than the going rate for gasoline at stations (up to two dollars more!).
So which option is best for you? Here's the benefits of each option, and some price estimates to go along.
If you choose the prepay option you'll be charged at the counter for a full tank of gas. The rates that most rental agencies charge per gallon are typically only pennies cheaper than the going rate on the island, but it's still a way to save some money. Of course you are not reimbursed for what fuel remains in the tank when you return the car. So if you return the car with a half tank of gas then you paid for something you didn't use. The prepay option is ideal for people who don't want to worry about refueling their car on the way back to the airport or who think they'll return the car nearly empty.
The other option you have is to refuel the car yourself before you drive back to the airport. This can be the cheapest alternative for many folks because you leave with a "free" tank of gas at the time of your rental, and you're only responsible for filling the tank back up when you return. Ultimately you pay only for what you used on the island. This is the best option if you plan to do a lot of driving on the island and have the time to refuel on your way to the airport. Just keep in mind that gas stations are only allowed to get so close to airports for security reasons, so make sure you top the car off when you return it.
The last option we do not recommend because it's the most expensive. If you don't prepay for your fuel, and you return the vehicle with a half tank, the rental company will charge you a much higher rate to refuel the car once back in their possession. The rate is usually criminal, and thus we highly advise you not to choose this option unless you absolutely have to.
Tip: When booking online always look for car rental coupons before you make your final decision. You can possibly save a lot of money.
3.) Book as far in advance as possible. Depending on when you travel the rates may increase or decrease according to demand from other travelers. We always figure that planning ahead on this never hurts.
4.) When possible, rent two, three, five day, or week long packages as these are generally priced lower than any other.
5.) At the rental counter you'll be given three options in regards to refueling the vehicle. Two are good deals and one is not. You can choose to prepay for a tank of gas, usually at a special (lower) rate, which allows you to return it with any amount of fuel in the tank. Or you can choose to refuel before you return the car at the going rate for gas at stations near the airport. The final option is the most expensive option, to return the car and let the rental agency refuel it for you. Just be warned that their refueling rate is significantly higher than the going rate for gasoline at stations (up to two dollars more!).
So which option is best for you? Here's the benefits of each option, and some price estimates to go along.
If you choose the prepay option you'll be charged at the counter for a full tank of gas. The rates that most rental agencies charge per gallon are typically only pennies cheaper than the going rate on the island, but it's still a way to save some money. Of course you are not reimbursed for what fuel remains in the tank when you return the car. So if you return the car with a half tank of gas then you paid for something you didn't use. The prepay option is ideal for people who don't want to worry about refueling their car on the way back to the airport or who think they'll return the car nearly empty.
The other option you have is to refuel the car yourself before you drive back to the airport. This can be the cheapest alternative for many folks because you leave with a "free" tank of gas at the time of your rental, and you're only responsible for filling the tank back up when you return. Ultimately you pay only for what you used on the island. This is the best option if you plan to do a lot of driving on the island and have the time to refuel on your way to the airport. Just keep in mind that gas stations are only allowed to get so close to airports for security reasons, so make sure you top the car off when you return it.
The last option we do not recommend because it's the most expensive. If you don't prepay for your fuel, and you return the vehicle with a half tank, the rental company will charge you a much higher rate to refuel the car once back in their possession. The rate is usually criminal, and thus we highly advise you not to choose this option unless you absolutely have to.
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Author: J.C.Derrick
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