Hiring a car is practically the only way to get around Maui, unless you plan to stay exclusively at beach resorts, which are also accessible by bus.

However, there are no bus routes to the island’s most beautiful areas. Driving in the Hawaiian Islands is, however, a relaxed experience; the locals are used to tourists, so there’s no need to worry about hiring a car in Maui.

The general guidelines for car hire also apply in Maui, and if you’re new to this, read our article‘How to hire a car abroad for the first time’.

Where, when and how to book a car on Maui

When booking a car with a car hire company, the general rule is that the earlier you book, the cheaper it will be; however, in the Hawaiian Islands, prices do not vary drastically unless you’re travelling over Christmas or major American public holidays.

To book, we recommend using one ofthe comparison sites that list all car hire companies, which will sort the results according to your chosen criteria.

We almost always use the comparison tool from Booking.com.

Compare car hire prices on booking.com

Car hire prices on Maui

Hiring a car on the island of Maui is relatively inexpensive, at least compared to the very high cost of accommodation and other services. The price depends on the length of the hire (the longer the hire, the cheaper the daily rate) and, of course, the type of car.

• 7-day hireof a small car – from 455 usd
• 7-day hireof a jeep or more expensive car – from 680 usd
• Prices and availability of car hire companies at Kahului Airport

Always read the rental terms and conditions carefully, particularly the insurance details, which you can also find on theBooking.com website. Some car hire companies include insurance in the final price, whilst others will charge an additional fee, ranging from 10 usd to 15 usd per day, depending on the type of car and the duration of the hire.

International driving licence and other documents

The Hawaiian Islands are part of the USA, and to drive thereyou’ll need an international driving permit, which can only be used in conjunction with a standard national driving licence.

In the USA, the international driving licence issued under the Geneva Convention is valid.

Car hire companies usually requirea credit card to hire a car; they will often hire to you on a debit card as well, but either on less favourable terms or with a very high deposit, often exceeding 1 500 usd.

Petrol prices and where to park

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

On Maui, 1 gallon of petrol costs on average 4 usd, which, when converted to litres, meansyou’ll pay around 1,20 usd perlitre.

Petrol stations on Maui are no different from the American standard. Usually, the attendant will fill up your tank with ‘Regular’ – standard unleaded petrol – but you must pay for it in advance by card at the terminal by the pump, where you’ll need to enter the postcode linked to your card account for verification.

The amount you fill up with will then be deducted from your card. If the terminal does not accept your international card (a common problem), you must first pay for the petrol at the attendant’s counter, where you select the exact amount. If you do not use up the full amount, the surplus will not be deducted from your card.

There are plenty of petrol stations in the largest cities, but do not rely on them in rural areas.

Parking is relatively difficult at the natural attractions along the Road to Hana, as there are very few spaces along the road. Some car parks at nature reserves charge a fee of around 10 usd.

Book a car at Kahului Airport

Traffic and road regulations

Maui is criss-crossed by a good network of roads, all of which are toll-free. A quick journey along three straight roads connects Kahului with the resorts of Kihei and Wailea-Makena on the south coast; a major road also runs westwards along the southern edge of the island to the well-known resorts of Lahaina, Kaanapali and Kapalua.

Among the most popular attractions on Maui are the iconic Road to Hana, which winds its way along the densely forested, rugged north coast, and the mountain road leading right to the summit of the 3,000-metre-high Haleakala volcano. 

The roads mentioned above are of a very high standard and clearly signposted, although they do carry fairly heavy traffic. Particularly from Kahului to the west coast, you’ll often find yourself stuck in a long line of cars travelling at no more than 60 km/h.

The rest of the roads on Maui can be described as very narrow, winding side roads, where driving is more of a chore than a pleasure. A typical example is the popular scenic Route 340, known as the Kahekili Highway, which winds along Maui’s north-western coast and is, in places, barely wide enough for a single car. Due to the numerous bends, visibility is very poor, and it is definitely worth exercising caution and driving very defensively here.

Traffic offences are strictly enforced, and speeding, parking where prohibited or using a mobile phone whilst driving can prove very costly. Take a look at the basic traffic rules on Maui:

• drive on the right (just like in the Czech Republic)
• the speed limit (always indicated by a sign) is 55 mph / just under 90 km/h on roads outside built-up areas and 25 mph / 40 km/h in built-up areas
• you may turn right on a red light unless a sign explicitly states ‘No turn on red’
• At quiet junctions, you will come across so-called ‘All-way Stop’ signs, meaning there is a ‘STOP’ sign in all directions. The driver who reached the junction first has priority. If two or more vehicles arrive at the same time, you must follow the same rules as at Czech junctions
• Using a mobile phone whilst driving is prohibited
• There are no roundabouts on Maui