Hawaiian Tourists Renting U-Hauls Due to Car Rental Shortage

Unlike this 15-foot U-Haul moving truck, tourists to Hawaii are renting pickup trucks and cargo vans to get around.

Photo via Flickr/HireAHelper.

Because of a rental car shortage in Hawaii, tourists are starting to rent vehicles from U-Haul, according to a report by Fox Business.

U-Haul’s local marketing office, which oversees U-Haul transactions at more than 30 locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands, has seen a parallel between foreign addresses and driver’s licenses for tourists who are renting from U-Haul in higher numbers, according to the company.

“We have seen a considerable uptick in U-Haul rentals from customers who are visiting the islands now,” Kaleo Alau, president of U-Haul Company of Hawaii, told Fox Business.

Alau said that most of the rentals are for U-Haul’s smaller vehicles, including its pickup trucks and cargo vans. The reservations for these rentals are stretching from a few days to a week, according to the report.

Normally, U-Haul’s cargo vans and pickup trucks are used for “small jobs” and rented from one hour to 24-hour rental periods.

Currently, in-town U-Haul rentals start out with a flat rate of $19.95 plus a per-mile charge and a fee for accident protection.

Many of Hawaii’s U-Haul stores and dealers have been left “with less available equipment than usual,” said Alau. He advised local movers to call in advance to reserve U-Haul equipment, according to the report.

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