Kahului Airport (OGG), also sometimes known as Maui Airport, is the primary airport on Maui and, as such, likely where you’ll be traveling if you plan on visiting this popular Hawaiian island. While maybe not as busy as the airport in nearby Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, Kahului Airport receives both international and inter-island flights.
Once you’ve arrived in Maui, it’s a good idea to rent a car. The best way to see the island’s gorgeous 30 miles of beaches and scenic highways is undoubtedly via a private vehicle.
So, what do you need to know about renting a car as soon as your plane touches down at Kahului Airport? Here are the best rental car companies to rent from in Maui, as well as a few tips for renting cars on the island in general.
Before booking your Maui rental car, browse our Best Websites to Book Cheap Car Rentals guide and our How to Find and Book Cheap Car Rentals tutorial. Our recommendation is to use RentalCars.com. And, if you’re flying to Maui, see our Best Websites to Book Cheap Flights guide.
Table of Contents ToggleNine rental car companies do business out of Maui Airport, and all are national brands. Here are the best five, based on traveler reviews.
Enterprise is a popular and top car rental company at many airports, and the Enterprise Rent-A-Car outpost at the Maui airport is no exception. At the time of publishing, this Enterprise office ranked 4.6 stars on Google and 9.1 on Kayak. Because of this, Enterprise is the highest-ranked national car rental office at the Maui airport. So, what makes it so great? Firstly, reviewers note that the booking and pick-up process is incredibly easy. Many also mention that there are little to no waits during the pick-up process. Others mention the high level of customer service, which is something that reviewers frequently note about Enterprise overall, no matter the location. Of course, it’s worth including that Enterprise is not the most affordable car rental option out there. Additionally, some say the brand’s lot at this particular airport is on the smaller side. Because of this, the team can’t always guarantee they’ll offer some of the larger cars that you might find elsewhere, at the time of your arrival.
Pros: This Enterprise location is known for its fast service and completely easy rental process. Cons: Enterprise is somewhat expensive. You also might not find the cars you want here if you want something on the larger side. Phone: (844) 914-1547 Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Google Rating: 4.6 stars Kayak Rating: 9.1 (Wonderful)
Like Enterprise, Alamo is also a top-ranked rental car provider at Kahului Airport, with a slightly higher Kayak rating and a slightly lower Google rating. As such, if you want a great customer experience, but maybe don’t want to pay Enterprise prices, it’s worth checking out Alamo’s offerings. Reviewers particularly note Alamo’s special perks, including those you get if you sign up for the easy-to-use Alamo Insiders Club (the brand’s version of a loyalty program, though it’s not as robust in terms of benefits as, say, your favorite airline or hotel rewards program). Perks include accelerated check-in, which allows you to just provide your contact info and driver’s license info ahead of time, so there’s less time at the counter during your pick-up process. Of course, if you want to skip the customer service aspect of your pick-up process altogether, you can also take advantage of Alamo’s self-service kiosks and skip the counter feature.
Pros: Easy and fast, as well as contactless, check-in process, plus frequent good deals on rentals. Cons: Some reviewers mention not finding quite the variety of vehicles that they would have liked. Phone: (844) 913-0747 Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Google Rating: 4.5 stars Kayak Rating: 9.2 (Wonderful)
If, though, you can’t find what you’re looking for with Alamo or Enterprise, go with Sixt. While the new-ish brand isn’t as well known as its competitors in Kahului, it’s still well-ranked and positively reviewed. Sixt offers a range of vehicles, including the larger vehicles and convertibles that are in such high demand in Maui. Do note, however, that this office isn’t as open as early in the morning as some of the other rental car offices at the airport. If you have a flight that leaves early and you want to talk to a human during the drop-off process, take this into account. Otherwise, you can use the out-of-hours return process. While most reviewers were happy with their Sixt experience, make sure you read all the fine print when you book. Otherwise, you could uncover some of the same hidden fees that other travelers have.
Pros: Good selection of cars and good prices. Cons: You could face additional charges if you don’t read your rental agreement’s fine print. This rental office also isn’t open as early as some of the others at the airport. Phone: (888) 749-8227 Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Google Rating: 4.2 stars Kayak Rating: 8.2 (Very good)
With Thrifty, we’re getting more toward the middle of the pack. Thrifty is rated relatively well on Kayak, but not so much on Google. As such, carefully consider whether you might want to go with one of the three above options before booking. Otherwise, just go into your rental experience expecting average, rather than excellence. Thrifty (as you could probably guess) focuses on “thrifty” travel, meaning you can expect some pretty cheap prices here. Additionally, you can get even better deals if you simply sign up for the Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards program. Reviewers report fast service and a good in-person experience. Along these lines, some also mention the lack of up-selling, which is always appreciated. However, others do note that the brand’s broader customer service online and via phone leaves something to be desired. Additionally, take caution if you book the brand’s “wildcard special,” which is supposed to result in a free upgrade at the time of pick-up, at a compact car price — but is less likely to result in what you might consider a high-end vehicle, according to reviewers.
Pros: This car rental office is one of the earliest to open at the airport, which is great if you have an early flight. Additionally, expect a positive in-person customer experience and cheap prices. Cons: Don’t rely on online customer service to get your needs met. Also, don’t expect anything luxurious here. You get what you pay for, after all. Phone: (877) 283-0898 Hours: Daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Google Rating: 3 stars Kayak Rating: 7.8 (Good)
Much like Thrifty, the Dollar Car Rental office at Maui’s airport is mid-range and average at best. The similarities are likely because both Dollar and Thrifty are owned by the same parent company (which is also the same company that owns Hertz). So, don’t expect anything fancy, but do enjoy taking advantage of the resulting savings. When you rent from this location, you’ll appreciate the quick pick-up process, friendly staff, and great prices. The drop-off process is equally easy. Do note, though, that, because of the good prices, you might find the lines are longer, as more travelers attempt to get a good deal.
Pros: Good prices, easy rental process. Cons: This location closes exceptionally early, which could be bad if you have a late or delayed flight. Reviewers also report frequent crowds at the check-in counters. Phone: (866) 434-2226 Hours: Daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Google Rating: 3 stars Kayak Rating: 7.7 (Good)
| Brand/Rental Provider | Google/Kayak Rating | Types of available vehicles | Budget or Luxury? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty | 3/7.8 | Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles, ADA-accessible vehicles | Budget |
| Alamo | 4.5/9.2 | Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles | Budget |
| Enterprise | 4.6/9.1 | Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles, ADA-accessible vehicles | Luxury |
| Dollar | 3/7.7 | Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles, ADA-accessible vehicles | Budget |
| Sixt | 4.2/8.2 | Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles | Mid-Range |
If you plan to rent a vehicle at Kahului Airport, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.
To reach the rental car facility, you’ll need to take a tram. The tram picks up passengers across from the baggage claim area. Once at the rental car facility, find the rental car counter for your chosen rental car company. The rental car facility is very close to the airport, so it’s only about a half-mile ride that usually takes under 5 minutes.
Some travelers, when reviewing their rental car options, make note that the signage isn’t the best, neither for finding the rental car facility and tram nor for dropping your rental car off when you return. To be on the safe side, ask your rental car provider for detailed drop-off instructions before you leave with the car, to make your drop-off experience as simple and streamlined as possible.
Also note that if you need an ADA-accessible vehicle, the airport rental car facility does require that you call 48 hours in advance of your arrival to ensure that your vehicle will be waiting for you. Only three rental car providers at the airport offer ADA-accessible rental vehicles, including Thrifty, Enterprise, and Dollar.
If you don’t mind taking a ride-share service from the airport to a rental car office a little further away from the airport, you might find a local provider that you prefer over the big guys.
Undoubtedly, some of the most highly ranked rental car companies for Maui, on Google, include local offices. For example, GO Rent a Car Maui boasts a 5.0-star rating on Google, and, no, that’s not a mistake. The office has more than 500 reviews. Reviewers encourage fellow travelers to not be “wary” of the family-owned and operated office just because it’s not widely known. Instead, they boast great customer experience and some of the cheapest prices on the island overall.
