"You can rent at 21 from any major company in Hawaii. At 20, Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty are your best options. Under 25, a daily surcharge applies — but the rate varies enough between suppliers and booking channels that comparing at checkout is worth doing before you commit."
The minimum age to rent a car in Hawaii is 21 at most major suppliers — with Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty as the exceptions, accepting drivers from 20. No major company rents to anyone under 20. Under 25, a young driver surcharge applies on top of the daily rate at every supplier.
Hawaii's age rules are simpler than many international destinations — no terrain-based vehicle restrictions, no tiered minimums by car class except at the luxury end. The part that catches people is the surcharge: the counter rate and the online booking rate are often different, and the gap between the two is wide enough to be worth knowing about before you arrive.
Age minimums and what they mean for your trip
Most major suppliers require drivers to be at least 21 — Enterprise, Alamo, National, Avis, and Budget all set the floor there. Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty go as low as 20.
| Age | Surcharge | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | Not eligible | No major supplier in Hawaii rents to drivers under 20. No exceptions at the counter. |
| Age 20 | $10-$35/day | Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty accept drivers from 20. All other major suppliers require 21. |
| Age 21-24 | $20-$35/day | All major suppliers available. Luxury, convertibles, and 12-passenger vans are typically restricted to 25+. Booking online brings the surcharge below counter rates. |
| Age 25+ | No surcharge | Full fleet access at all suppliers. No age-related restrictions or fees. |
Discount Hawaii Car Rental and Hawaii Car Rentals published policies, May 2026. Surcharge ranges reflect counter rates; online booking rates are often lower.
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If you're 20
At 20, your options are Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty. All three operate at the four main Hawaiian airports — HNL, OGG, KOA, and LIH — so the limitation is which counter you go to, not which island. Book a supplier that requires 21 and show up at 20, and you'll be turned away. Worth confirming the supplier against your age before you fly.
Your license must be valid and in your name. Hawaii accepts US, international, and foreign licenses directly — no International Driving Permit is required for most visitors. If your license uses a non-Latin alphabet, an IDP alongside it removes any ambiguity at the counter.
The young driver surcharge
Under 25, every supplier adds a daily surcharge. Book online with your age entered and it shows in the checkout total — no surprise at the counter. The $20–$35/day figure is what it costs if you don't. On top of Hawaii's standard airport fee stack, which already adds roughly 40–50% to the base rate, a $40/day car ends up closer to $80–$85/day all in for a driver under 25.
The gap between suppliers is real and structural. Dollar and Thrifty operate off-airport, which means they don't pay the Hawaii Airport Concession Fee that on-airport suppliers do — their surcharge lands around $10/day all-in, versus $29–$34/day at on-airport suppliers like Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis once taxes are applied. The tradeoff is a short shuttle ride from the terminal. Whether that's worth $20/day is straightforward math.
Vehicle class restrictions
Standard and midsize cars are available to all drivers from the minimum age. The classes that typically require 25 are luxury cars, convertibles, and 12-passenger vans. The restricted list varies by supplier and isn't always visible at the search stage — if you have a specific vehicle in mind, check the supplier's age policy for that class before booking. For most Hawaii itineraries a compact or midsize handles every paved road on every island; the restriction is about vehicle category, not road capability.
Second drivers under 25
The surcharge is per driver, not per rental. If the primary renter is 27 and the second driver is 23, the surcharge applies for the full rental based on the younger driver's age. It comes up often enough in group travel — couples where ages straddle 25, siblings sharing the driving — that it's worth confirming at booking rather than at the counter.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: At 21, every major supplier in Hawaii is available to you. At 20, look at Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty specifically. Either way, compare with your age factored in at checkout so the surcharge shows in the total — the gap between the counter rate and the online rate is real enough to be the deciding factor between two otherwise similar options. If you're bringing a second driver under 25, factor their surcharge into the total too.
If you're already booked: Check the confirmation for the surcharge line item. If it's absent, email the supplier now — knowing the daily amount before you arrive is better than negotiating it at the counter while tired. Also confirm the vehicle class you've reserved is available to your age group, particularly if it's anything in the premium or specialty category.
If you've been charged a surcharge you weren't expecting: Start with your booking platform if you used one — they can confirm whether the charge was disclosed at booking. If you booked direct and it wasn't in the original contract, contact the supplier in writing with your rental agreement. Give them one week before disputing it with your credit card company.
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- Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty accept age 20; every other major supplier requires 21. Booking the wrong company at 20 means no car at the counter.
- Luxury cars, convertibles, and 12-passenger vans are typically restricted to 25+ — the restricted class list varies by supplier and can change.
- The surcharge is per driver, not per rental. If any listed driver is under 25, it applies for the full rental regardless of the primary renter's age.
- Some suppliers won't accept debit cards from drivers under 25. If you're not paying with a credit card, check the supplier's policy before you book.
- No travel credit card? LDW adds $15-$25/day on top of the surcharge. Factor it in when comparing total costs.
- Surcharge amounts are not fixed. The ranges above reflect published rates and can sit outside them depending on supplier and booking channel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car in Hawaii at 20?
Yes — through Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty, all of which set the minimum at 20. Most other major suppliers require 21. A young driver surcharge applies regardless — it varies by supplier and booking channel, so compare with your age entered at checkout to see the real cost.
Can I rent a car in Hawaii at 21?
Yes. At 21 you can rent from any major supplier in Hawaii — Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Alamo, National, Dollar, Thrifty, and Hertz. A young driver surcharge applies until you turn 25. Standard and midsize vehicles are available; luxury cars and convertibles are typically restricted to 25+.
How much is the young driver surcharge in Hawaii?
It depends on the supplier and where you book. Counter rates run $20–$35/day at most major suppliers. Dollar and Thrifty operate off-airport, so they don't pay the Hawaii Airport Concession Fee — their surcharge lands around $10/day all-in. Enter your age at the booking stage so the surcharge shows in the checkout total and you can compare the real cost.
Which rental companies have the lowest young driver fee in Hawaii?
Dollar and Thrifty consistently have the lowest surcharge — around $10/day all-in — because they operate off-airport and don't pay the Hawaii Airport Concession Fee that on-airport suppliers do. The tradeoff is a short shuttle ride from the terminal.
Are there vehicle restrictions for drivers under 25 in Hawaii?
Yes. Luxury cars, convertibles, and 12-passenger vans are typically restricted to drivers 25 and over. The exact list varies by supplier. If you have a specific vehicle class in mind, check the supplier's age policy for that class before booking.
My second driver is under 25 — does the surcharge apply?
Yes. The surcharge is per driver, not per rental. If any driver on the agreement is under 25, it applies for the full rental regardless of the primary renter's age.
I'm already booked — will the young driver surcharge show at the counter or was it in my booking total?
It depends on how you booked. Some platforms include it in the quoted total; others add it at the counter. Check your confirmation for a surcharge line item. If it's absent, email the supplier before you fly — you want the exact figure before you sign anything at pickup.
