Bridging the Gap Between Your Move and Your Vehicle's Arrival
Most Hawaii car shipments take somewhere between 13 and 24 days from drop-off to arrival, depending on the port and route. If you are moving to the islands before your vehicle arrives, you will need transportation in the meantime. Here are the realistic options and what each one actually costs.
Peer-to-Peer Apps: Turo and Outdoorsy
Turo is the largest car-sharing marketplace in Hawaii, with listings ranging from economy cars to trucks and Jeeps, and you can book before you land. Outdoorsy works the same way but specializes in RVs and camper vans, which some relocating families use as a combined lodging and transportation solution while they house-hunt. Both typically require the renter to be at least 25 years old for the lowest rates.
Traditional Airport Counters
Standard rental counters at Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, and Lihue airports are the most straightforward option and the easiest to book far in advance, but they are also usually the most expensive during peak travel months. If you go this route, book as early as possible since Hawaii rental inventory sells out fast in the summer.
How Long You'll Actually Need One
The key number to plan around is your vehicle's transit window. If you know your car shipped on a specific sailing, you can book a rental for that exact window instead of an open-ended one, which meaningfully lowers the total rental cost. Our tracking updates give you a realistic arrival date so you are not paying for a rental car for days you do not need it.
Why Shipping Beats a Long Rental
A short rental to bridge the gap makes sense. A rental that stretches for months while you delay shipping your own vehicle usually does not, once you compare the total cost. If you are still deciding whether to ship your existing car or buy new in Hawaii, call (808) 378-7540 and we can walk you through the real numbers for your situation.
