Best rental car companies at HNL
11 companies at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi), ranked on what renters actually pay and how they’re treated. Our pick is National Car Rental. Be careful with Thrifty Car Rental and Payless Car Rental.
- 1National Car RentalBest overallFewest surprise chargesFastest pickupEmerald Aisle makes pickup fast · Thin selection on the Executive aisle at times (mostly sedans)71 /100
- 2SixtHighest-rated branchNewer, often premium cars and frequent upgrades · Some long key-pickup lines64 /100
- 3Enterprise Rent-A-CarQuick pickup, especially with online check-in · Clean cars and friendly staff63 /100
- 4AvisFriendly counter staff, frequent free upgrades · Some reviews mention unexpected charges (Google summary)Some reviews on this Avis listing name Budget staff, so the listing may mix Avis and Budget (shared Avis Budget Group counter).62 /100
- 5Alamo Rent A CarSkip the Counter online check-in praised for fast pickup · Choose your own car (e.g. Jeep colour) from the lot57 /100
- 6Budget Rent a CarSimplest rulesFriendly staff but long waits reported · Vehicle condition and maintenance complaints (expired safety inspection, low fluids, warning lights)46 /100
- 7TuroNo rental counterHosts pay the airport parking fee, not the guest · Cars may be parked max 6 hours before pickup and must be retrieved within 6 hours after the trip43 /100
- 8HertzLowest under-25 feeFast for Gold members on good days · Waits of 1-1.5 hours for reserved cars at peak, including status members39 /100
- 9Thrifty Car RentalLowest-rated branchCounter lines of 1-2+ hours with few clerks staffed · Low base price, add-ons push total up37 /100
- 10Dollar Rent A CarVery long counter lines (1-3 hours) even after online check-in · Second wait for the car in the garage32 /100
- 11Payless Car RentalMost surprise-charge complaintsSlow pickups (up to two hours) · Taxes and fees added on top of quoted price31 /100
Rank = company Fair-deal score (70%) blended with this branch’s Google rating (30%, less when a branch has under 100 reviews). Awards go to the company that leads on one check; hover an award to see the number behind it. Google ratings are from Google Maps contributors, checked October 16, 2026.
What renters at HNL say
“Took me all of 15 minutes to get inside a brand new, clean car of my own choosing.”
“No hidden surprises or hassles. No lines.”
“They mentioned a 15-minute wait, but the car was ready in under 10.”
“some of the tyres on our Jeep were bald and would not pass registration inspection in Australia.”
“I used the “Skip the Counter” option, which allowed me to go straight to the car without waiting in line.”
“After getting the vehicle home, I noticed the safety inspection had expired, the maintenance reminder indicated the oil change was overdue”
HNL rental car questions
What is the best rental car company at HNL?
On our ranking, National Car Rental (71/100). It combines the company’s record on surprise charges, damage claims and disputes with how the HNL branch is rated on Google (4.6 stars from 2,141 reviews).
Which rental car companies are at HNL?
National Car Rental, Sixt, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis, Alamo Rent A Car, Budget Rent a Car, Hertz, Thrifty Car Rental, Dollar Rent A Car, Payless Car Rental operate at the airport. Turo is off airport or by arrangement.
Which rental company at HNL is best for what?
National Car Rental: best overall (Highest score at HNL: 71/100); fewest surprise charges (Best price honesty score at HNL: 3/5); fastest pickup (Best pick-up and delivery score at HNL: 4/5. Emerald Club members skip the counter and pick from the Emerald Aisle). Sixt: highest-rated branch (★4.6 from 4,249 Google reviews of the HNL branch). Budget Rent a Car: simplest rules (Best fine print score at HNL: 4/5). Turo: no rental counter (No counter; host handoff in the garage). Hertz: lowest under-25 fee ($19 a day, the lowest published under-25 fee at HNL).
Can you skip the rental counter at HNL?
Yes, with some brands: National Car Rental (Emerald Club members skip the counter and pick from the Emerald Aisle); Avis (Avis Preferred members (mentioned in reviews); not verified from Avis HNL page); Alamo Rent A Car (Online check-in / 'Skip the Counter' lets you go straight to the car (mentioned repeatedly in Google reviews)); Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards / President's Circle board (members still reported waits at peak)); Thrifty Car Rental (Online check-in can send you straight to a numbered stall (one 2026 review)). Join the free programme before you fly.
Which HNL rental companies get the most complaints?
Thrifty Car Rental (lowest-rated branch, 2.3 stars on Google) and Payless Car Rental (most surprise-charge complaints, 2.2 stars on Google). They are real companies and can be cheaper; go in prepared.