Hawaii Road Trip Tips for Beginners | From Parking to Insurance

A rental car is a must-have for any Hawaiian vacation! But it's so complicated, from booking to insurance and parking fees. So, here's a quick article. Here are some tips to help you avoid all the mistakes that can happen with rental cars and reduce unnecessary waste of money.I tried it.

Before reading this article, it would be easier to understand if you watched the video for first-time travelers to Hawaii.

👉 Check out the Hawaii rental car travel information video

1. Should I reserve a rental car in Korea or locally?

It is much cheaper and safer to reserve a rental car in advance in Korea.

  • Recommended reservation platforms
    • ✔️ Rentalcars.com, ✔️ Expedia, ✔️ Hotwire
    • ✅ Korean language support available, and you can check the 'amount including tax and insurance'
  • Things to check when making a reservation
    • Vehicle pickup location (whether airport pickup is available)
    • Resort Fee, Child Seat Option
    • Whether or not the Deductible Waiver (CDW) is included

📍 Especially during peak season, if you don't make a reservation in advance, the price will increase several times. Advance reservation is required!

2. Is it necessary to have insurance?

It is essential to understand the structure of US rental car insurance.

시애틀로가는-렌터카-차안
렌터카로 시애틀 가는 길
  • CDW (Collision Damage Waiver): Waiver of liability for vehicle damage ➡️ Mandatory!
  • SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance): Third-party damage coverage
  • LIS (Liability Insurance Supplement): In the United States ‘Since 'liability insurance' is basically lacking, it is very important to subscribe to LIS.do.

📍 If an accident occurs without insurance in Hawaii, you may face personal expenses exceeding thousands of dollars, so be careful.

✅ 하와이에서 렌터카로 운전해보는 거, 모든 운전자들의 로망이죠. 
👉 하지만, 렌터카 보험 말고도 🔎하와이 여행 필수 꿀팁도 반드시 알고 하와이 여행하세요!

3. How to Avoid Hawaii Parking Fee Bombs

Most accommodations in Hawaii charge separate parking fees, so be sure to It is important to make an accurate rental car use plan.do.

  • Average parking fees at resorts
    • Waikiki Hotel Standard $30-$50 / 1 night
  • List of free or cheap parking lots :
    • Ala Moana Shopping Center (free to use during business hours (generally 10:00-20:00))
    • International Market Place
      • (When paying at a store/restaurant for $10 or more, 1 hour of free parking / After 1 hour, the standard rate of $2 per hour for up to 4 hours, and $2 per 20 minutes after 4 hours is applied)
    • Ward Village (there are over 2,600 parking spaces within the village, most of which are free for use by stores or facilities)
  • Free public parking recommended by locals
    • Near Kapi'olani Regional Park
    • Near the Diamond Head trailhead

4. Tips for Traveling with Children

  • Car seat regulations
    • Hawaii requires children under 4 years old to use car seats.
    • Booster seats are required for children under 8 years old.
    • Available for rent from rental car companies for a fee ($10-15/day)
  • Consider trunk size
    • For families with strollers and lots of luggage, we recommend an SUV.
    • Popular models include Nissan's Rogue and Hyundai's Tucson (larger and more comfortable with the Korean patch).

5. Precautions for local driving

  • Be sure to check the signal when making a right turn!
    • In the United States, right turns are generally allowed even on red lights, but “No Turn on Red” Prohibited if there is a sign
    • ‘Always stop at a 'STOP' sign
  • Strictly enforce the speed limit
    • Especially near schools (School Zone) less than 25 miles during daytime
  • Hawaii has strict traffic laws.
    • Violations such as using a cell phone or turning left in a no-left zone will result in an immediate fine.
  • fuel policy
    • Full-to-Full is the norm ➡️ Be sure to visit a gas station to refill before returning
하와이-붉은-신호등
하와이의 일방통행 표지판과 신호등

6. Comparison information by rental car company

companymeritdisadvantage
HertzEasy airport pick-upThe price is somewhat expensive
AlamoVariety of family vehiclesPopular models sell out quickly
TuroLocal private car sharing platformSeparate insurance is required
EnterpriseVariety of insurance optionsInconvenience of moving to the prosecutor's office outside the airport

📌 Conclusion

In Hawaii, a rental car isn't just a means of transportation; it's a key factor in determining your travel satisfaction. I hope everyone who reads this blog will be able to book a rental car economically without any mistakes. More travel tips I've collected will follow in the next post.

🎬 하와이 여행 영상 보기

(EP 1) 하와이 여행 가기 전, 이것 모르면 "벌금 폭탄" 맞습니다 | 40대 아저씨의 하와이 필수 조언
(EP 2) 하와이 가족여행 고민될 때 꼭 보세요 🌺 7박 가성비 숙소 리얼 후기

🔻Good articles to read together🔻