Maui to Crack Down on Illegal Peer-to-Peer Car Rentals at Airport

Peer-to-peer car rentals in Kahului Airport have been growing in popularity, allowing residents to rent their private vehicles to meet the surge of visitors entering the state. However, these illegal car-sharing schemes have led to a rise in various issues. Car theft has become more common, many involving these peer-to-peer rental vehicles, as they have become easy targets for thieves because they are often unlocked with the keys inside and have noticeable lockboxes.

Parking at the airport has also become more arduous, with many of these illegal rental cars taking up slots that others need. Police and the airport staff are now attempting to raise awareness that it is unlawful to conduct commercial businesses like car-sharing initiatives without a permit, given how these illicit arrangements can hamper commercial car rental operations and legal car-sharing companies permitted to run at the Kahului airport.

What happened to commercial car rentals?

Renting a car is a popular way to get around Maui and other Hawaii islands as it allows for more freedom while traveling. Maui car rentals at Kahului Airport, the second busiest airport in Hawaii, are done at the newly constructed CONRAC facility. Those looking to rent a car at the airport can do so before their trip, so they can access the best cars and deals before availability runs out. Once the rental is arranged and visitors arrive at the airport, they can take a tram to get to the CONRAC facility and look for the car company they booked with.

Though the rental process is simple enough, the issue that gave rise to illegal car-sharing was the lack of availability of commercial rental cars. As rental vehicles decreased during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, access to them became scarce. This posed a problem when more people began traveling after health and safety restrictions were lifted, and the remaining cars couldn’t accommodate a large number of tourists coming in. Illegal peer-to-peer operations exploited this shortage, running their businesses without permits since the airport couldn’t always provide enough vehicles to meet the growing demand.

Tamping down Turo

Illegal car-sharing businesses have also impacted the operations of peer-to-peer car rentals with permits to run at the airport. Some Maui residents list their cars on the car-sharing platform Turo to capitalize on the growing car rental demand. However, illegal operations are making it harder for these legal listings as the crackdown on peer-to-peer car rentals has strained their reputation. They’re aiming to comply with stricter policies and regulations for car rentals to hamper illegal car-sharing; some have stationed their vehicles outside the airport to avoid taking up parking slots. However, conflicting information from the car owners and the Turo app has caused friction with customers confused by these new adjustments.

The impact of tourism

Hawaii has long been a dream travel destination for many, so those looking to visit the state after COVID-19 regulations were relaxed led to a high demand for vehicles to rent. Unfortunately, many tourists were met with high prices and low inventory for car rentals in Hawaii. The rental car shortage, coupled with increasingly high prices, was also one of the effects of the tourism surge that locals became concerned about. Tourists aren’t entirely to blame for this shortage as it’s also a result of numerous factors that have led to car rental companies having to cut back on their fleet. However, tourism in islands like Maui may continue to impact car rental operations and prices without proper policies in place. Tourism management plans for the Maui Nui area—which includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai—have already been arranged. Though they mainly serve to protect Hawaii’s wildlife and nature, additional regulations could also help manage the car rental situation in Maui and other Hawaiian islands.