Renting a car is practically the only way to travel around Kauai. There are no bus routes to the most beautiful parts of the island in the west, north and middle of the island, and even where they do, they usually don't go to the main tourist attractions.

However, driving in the Hawaiian Islands is easy, the locals are used to tourists and there is no need to worry about renting a car on Kauai.

Even on Kauai, general car rental guidelines apply and if you're new to this segment, check out our article How to Rent a Car Abroad for the First Time.

Where, when and how to book a car in Kauai

When booking a rental car, generally the earlier you make the reservation the cheaper it will be, however in Hawaii the prices are not extremely different unless you are travelling during Christmas or major US holidays.

To book, we recommend using one of the car rental comparison engines, which will sort the results of all car rental companies according to your chosen criteria.

Compare car prices on booking.com

Virtually all the major multinational car rental companies operate in Kauai, so the choice is very wide.

Car rental prices in Kauai

Renting a car on Kauai is a cheap affair, at least compared to very expensive accommodation. The price depends on the length of the rental (the longer, the cheaper the daily rate) and of course the type of car.

• 7-day rental of a smaller car - from 455 usd
• 7-day rental of a jeep or more expensive car - from 680 usd
• Check out car rental offers in Kauai

Always read the detailed rental conditions and especially the insurance, which you can also find on Booking.com. Some rental companies include insurance in the final price, elsewhere you will have to pay extra, between 5 usd and 10 usd per day depending on the type of car and length of rental.

International driving licence and other documents

The Hawaiian Islands are part of the USA and to drive here you need an international driver's license, which can only be used in combination with a regular national driver's license.

The Geneva Convention international driver's license is valid in the USA.

Car rental companies usually require a credit card to rent a car, and will often lend you a debit card, but either on less favorable terms or with a very high deposit often exceeding even 1 500 usd.

Petrol prices and where to park

Gasoline is about a dollar a gallon more expensive in Hawaii than in the continental US.

1 gallon of gasoline costs on average 4 usd, which means that converted to gallons, you will pay about 1,20 usd for 1 gallon of gasoline on Kauai.

Parking is easy on Kauai.

There are no really big cities here and public parking lots are at all stores, offices, banks, beaches and tourist attractions. Parking is allowed everywhere that is not specifically prohibited by a traffic sign. For example, it is common to park along the roadside at tourist attractions outside the towns. However, at major tourist attractions such as the Na Pali Coast or Waimea Canyon, there is usually a parking fee of 10 usd.

However, be really careful to check if there is a road sign prohibiting parking in a certain section. The fines are uncompromising and you can be sure that the car rental company will charge any fine to your card. Parking offences are also charged 100 usd.

Book a car at Lihue Airport

Traffic and traffic regulations

Kauai is a rural island with no major cities, so it effectively makes do with just one main road circling the island's three neighborhoods (with the exception of the Nā Pali Coast, which doesn't have a road). Most tourist attractions can be reached by good quality tarmac roads, only the very west and centre of the island lacks roads and if you venture into these areas, a 4x4 rental car is a prerequisite.

Traffic on Kauai is not heavy, and therefore there is no need for highways or 4-lane expressways. Local drivers are very considerate, there is no rush to get anywhere and even a very tepid drive will take you around the whole island in 3 hours. Regulations are followed here and it is unnecessary and expensive to break them.

Violations are policed and speeding, parking at a no parking zone or talking on the phone while driving can cost you very much, even hundreds of dollars. Check out the basic traffic rules on Kauai:

• Drive on the right
• The maximum speed limit on Kauai is 50 miles per hour (mph), which is equivalent to about 80 km/h. In many places, however, signs indicate a lower speed, usually 30 or 35 mph
• you may turn right on a red light unless the sign specifically states "No turn on reg signal"
• at low-volume junctions you will see "All-way Stop" signs, i.e. there is a "STOP" sign from all directions. The first person to cross the intersection is the first to arrive. If 2 or more vehicles arrive at the same time, you follow the same rules as at Czech intersections.
• talking on the phone while driving is forbidden
• There are no roundabouts on Kauai.