Although I didn't need to rent a car I was looking for some good binoculars for an upcoming family trip. Tony's name came up as someone knowledgeable on the topic. After getting's Tony honest take on the craft of binoculars I ordered a pair of ScoopX UHD 10x42 binoculars for a huge discount from practically anywhere else. They're great to say the least especially for the price! I can 100% vouch for Tony as a great trustworthy source for binoculars. He'll take care of all your needs. Highly recommended. read more

The Nissan Maxima rented to us was filthy, but I'm still giving Tony 4 stars because he saved our Big Island trip. We went to Big Island thinking we'd just rent a car once we get there because we didn't know yet what days we'd need a car. We didn't want to pay car rental for a full week (plus hotel parking) when we'd only use it for a couple of days or so. BIG MISTAKE! We didn't realize a golf tournament and some medical conventions would take place in the island during the time of our visit. Long story short, all the major car rental companies did not have a single car available for us. And believe me, we called them all---Enterprise, Budget, Avis, National, Dollar, Hertz, you name it! It was such a nightmare! We were finally able to rent a Subaru AWD on our 4th and 5th day in Kona for about $160 PER DAY!!! You read that right, PER DAY. So we spent over $300 for a 2-day car rental. When we moved to Hilo, Tony's was the ONLY car rental that had a vehicle available. Tony was aware of the car shortage situation in the island that week, but did he take advantage and jack up his prices??? NO!!! He charged us about $40/day. If only for that, he definitely deserves the 4 stars. But here's the thing...as I've mentioned earlier, the car he rented us was filthy. It reeked of cigarette; there were hair strands from previous passengers on the dashboard cover; the center console beverage holder was yucky and sticky; the 12-volt DC power outlet didn't work so we couldn't charge our cellphones; the driver's door had a broken handle; the gas door was broken as well; the wiper fluid was empty; the check engine light was on; it was manual transmission. Despite all of those negatives, the car still got us from point A to point B. And in the end, isn't that all that really matters? Had we not been desperate at that time, we would have looked elsewhere. But I'm glad to have met a decent, hardworking guy like Tony. Maybe next time we'll still rent from him, but we'll make sure to request for a cleaner car :) read more

This review should've been done back in 2014 when I borrowed the car. Can't say what the set up is today. Back then Tony picked us up at the airport, took us to his residence where all of his rentals are mixed amongst other cars used for parts. He gave us an old beat up mini suv. Not the greatest looking car but it did it's job and served it's purpose like a charm! We took it all through Puna and Ka'u. Super light on gas. AC worked in the heat of Ka'u and the heater kicked in during a cold night up Volcano. Got it back to Tony in one piece. Tony took out his completely hand written spot on contract in his spiraled binder, had me sign it, took us back to the airport with more than enough time to leisurely board our plane ride back to Oahu. If you're a creature comforter, Tony not for you. But if just need to get from point A to B, and blend in with the locals, Tony's your man! read more

We have used Tony's service, and recommended it, to many people over the last 8-9 years. The vehicles are older, not always pretty but they run and, on the rare occasion that they don't, Tony never leaves you in the lurch. If you're looking for the most reliable older local vehicles to blend in on the island, and reasonably-priced, excellent service, this fits your bill. read more

I feel like my trip to the big island is 300% more memorable after having met Tony. Is this a good thing? Let's see: 1) We recieved "the last car on the island", which may also have been the least desirable car in Tony's fleet, and that's saying something. Basically it was a beat up ash tray on wheels. 2) the car started showing a battery light on the dash board and broke down on the highway. The upside: Tony drove super fast half way across the island late at night to give us his own "sweet" Scion xB (with custom paint job!!) 3) new car had a few quirks which include impossible to open rear door (with copious duct tape utilized for reinforcement), flashing dashboard lights/electrical problems, and potential for setting off the alarm in the middle of the night. But at least it was drivable and the AC worked. 4) Tony forgot to ask for the key from the first car so we had to drive several hours out of our way to give him the key. The best thing I can say about Tony is he's an honest guy not trying to screw you over. Yes the cars leave something to be desired, but you can see that when you get them and he will describe all the issues to you. He works hard to please his customers, with the limited resources he's got. Give Tony a chance! read more

Good News: you'll pay 30% less than the normal rental car places on island. The cars look "local" meaning they look like hell. Perhaps less break-in risk. The handwritten contract is clear and cute. Probably runs great. Bad News: There are likely broken parts. Possibly duct tape. Probably tidy but Definitely not clean. Don't expect a recently washed deodorized car like at Hertz or whatever. You may end up waiting for Tony cause he runs the cars all over Island and sometimes gets hung up waiting on late tourists. read more

This experience was not good. I was told I could rent a 4WD and we got there and he gave me a choice of 3 very small cars, it was too let to get another car so I took one when he told me the 4WD had been vandalized and unusable. He told me we could trade for a truck the next day and didn't call. He called our last night there and offered to change us to the 4WD (that supposedly wasn't available) because someone had just turned it back in from a rental! The car was filthy, beat up and very embarassing to drive. To top it all off Cockroaches were coming out of the console between the seats the last day we had it. And NO, not everyone on the islands drove cars like this. We were the only people we seen local or not driving as big a piece that this car was. read more

Tony totally accommodates you as best as he can. My friend and I had an open ended schedule, so prolonging the rental was not a big deal. Easy to work with and made everything run as smooth as possible. We ended up renting twice from him! Support a local business, rent from Tony! read more

Tony's Car Rental - Car Rental Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

TONY. I have such warm, weird memories of renting from Tony. He saved my BUTT when I came over from Oahu for a last minute long weekend and everywhere else in Hilo was sold out. Gave me a great rate, too! When frankly, someone else might have gouged me because there was no competition. Chill, cool guy, flexible, answered the phone quick. Car was, uhhhhhhhhh, well-loved, shall we say? And that was just fine for my purposes! Just know that not all the available stock is gonna be what you're used to from the big mainstream rental companies, kay? Set your expectations at a reasonable place. If you can work with a great deal on a dirty, high-mileage car, you're in luck. Cash deposit, handwritten contract. Tony picked us up minutes after we hit the curb at Hilo airport, and we made a pitstop at the copy shop for him to copy my ID. Got my whole deposit back, no funny business. Integrity is still a thing! Glad I heard about him by word of mouth, would recommend to a friend. Even if everywhere else isn't sold out, really consider going to him instead if you don't care about having a fancy car. Tony's legit. read more

Tony is a good guy and a fair businessman. His prices are great and he takes care of any problems. We rented a 4-runner for 2 weeks and it was good. there was a problem in the middle of the trip and he came to us and delivered a replacement. these are not new cars. they are local cars with higher miles. and price is like 1/2 of the corporate places. I like the look. We felt more like locals and did not stick out. thanks Tony! read more

What a guy. If your looking for a cheaper, easier and ultimately better car rental, tony is your man. We booked a car with Tony with only a few days notice on a 12 day rental. The car was a 2003, was ugly and there was a couple of small roaches in it at first. But it ran great the whole time. We traveled over a thousand miles all over the island from beach to over 9000 ft and it never let us down. We had heard about frequent car break ins on the island, but we didn't need to worry about that with our local looking car. It certainly didn't look like a rental : ) and those roaches, we bought a couple roach traps and they were gone in a couple days. We saved over $650 going with Tony. He was great to work with, timely and dependable. Can't recommend him enough. Give him a call and support a local business owner. read more

All the raving reviews are true!! My husband found Tony's Car Rental on Yelp for our one day in Hilo. Tony was quick to answer our call and even picked us up from wherever we were! We are so grateful we found him because other car rental prices in the area were almost double his rates! DOUBLE! We love the small local business that Tony provides - it's fast, honest, and exactly what we needed. Keep in mind that Tony is running this all by himself, so you may need to wait until he drops off his current customers and he will write up your contract himself. We rented a simple sedan for a really low price. The AC wasn't working, but we didn't mind keeping the windows rolled down throughout the drive. Everything was in cash and there is also a deposit that he will return to you once you give the car back. We will use Tony's Car Rental again before ever using those overly-priced car rental places! Mahalo, Tony!! read more

Tony really helped me out of a pickle. After booking a REALLY last minute trip, I found out how difficult it is to rent a car without a reservation. Rental car companies were charging $1000 for my 3 DAY STAY. So ridiculous. Tony literally saved my short trip. Without a car, it is impossible to get around. He even knew how much the rental car places were charging and could have charged close to it, but didn't. Such a great guy! The car was old, but worked and got me around which was the most important part. He also does cash only so you need to have the cash and deposit on hand. He returns the deposit upon return of the car. Tony even picked me up and dropped me off at the bus station afterwards. Thanks for saving my trip Tony! You have a customer for life! read more

Tony's given the best deals, and has accommodated me when I needed a truck for a couple days without taking advantage of me. He offered the truck for a fair price, and I got the insulation loaded, and delivered for my house with out a problem. He's the first guy I call when coming for a visit. read more

What Tony is doing is great on so many levels! He works to accomodate your needs and schedule better than any national chain can ever manage. He picked me and my family up at the airport and dropped us off. We needed a bigger car so he gave us a bigger car for a few days at no extra cost. The cars were all stick shift and were great on gas which is helpful for the Big Island where everything is a pretty lengthy drive away. The price was unbeatable. The cars were a little worn but hey no one's gonna break into a car that looks local. Give Tony a chance and support local business! You'll be glad you did. read more

A year later, I contacted Tony to rent a car. I asked for a car with A.C. and he upped his charges by a huge amount from the year before. Needless to say, I bypassed. read more

Tony's car rental is strictly a word of mouth operation. Tony is a kind hearted local guy who lives near the airport with a huge, diverse inventory of cars at his disposal, and will provide pickup / drop off from the Hilo airport. Get this - Tony's WEEKLY rate was $100 cheaper than what Alamo told me I'd be paying for 4 days!! I'd much rather support a local economy and a small business owner than a big company any day, so Tony gets my vote. Don't expect the cars to all be shiny and new - but that's why Tony's cars are so charming! He hooked me up with a van because at the time, he said that was all that he had left with an automatic transmission. No problem - it was clearly dirty on the inside, the side doors near the captain's chairs didn't work and the headlights are super dim at night - the outside isn't too pretty either. But you know what? As "ghetto" as it sounds, this is actually a blessing in disguise. Contrary to what you think about Hawaii, the locals probably don't like you. In fact, it's pretty common that "nice" rental cars parked in remote locations (the beach, anyone?) get broken into and robbed constantly!! Hey, the car's not yours anyway, you probably bought insurance, and probably have plenty of valuables inside. Having a regular car that blends in may really help you out in the long run!!! I had to switch my flight to a later date and still needed the van nearly a full day after I told Tony I would have it back. He told me he had a reservation for the van already, but would happily switch me cars with no extra charge. You won't get that kind of service from a big rental company. Second car I got was a low riding 80s honda with "Polynesian Underground" painted on the hood. Much cleaner than the van and much better gas mileage, kinda sporty looking! Cash only, be prepared to pay cash with a cash deposit. Will write you up a contract, make a copy of your license, etc. I'll be coming back!! Tony accepts calls and or texts. read more

I have no idea how this guy has a 4.5 on Yelp. Do NOT rent from him. We were in a jam and I read pretty good things about Tony so I gave him a call, asked for a clean car because I had our son. We live in Pahoa (near Hilo) so I tried to find his dealership the day before hoping to pick out a cleaner car. We drove around and there is no sign or building for the rentals. We got out and asked a couple people and they told me "there is no car rental dealership around here". I tried to call Tony but he did not get back to me until I was back home. I called him back and explained that we didn't need 4 wheel drive just something that could fit my sons car seat. He offered us a 2003 Forester for $250 a week starting the next day. We had to drop off our previous rental at the airport and Tony had agreed to pick us up there, he told me to call him and he would arrive in 10-15 mins. I called when we arrived, turned in our other car, and we sat down to wait. It was an hour before he arrived. He picked us up in the Forester, dented front side, broken break light, and FILTHY!!! I stepped inside to put my sons car seat in and there was a spider crawling across the back seat. I opened the spot where you put your glasses and there were molded sandwich wrappers, and ashes in the ash try. We started driving and he explained everything wrong with the car, airbag light, check engine light, oh and the windows do not go down! The drivers window falls down like 2 inches and you have to pull on the entire window to put it up. (Then it falls down again) . He also told me that I never have to put the 4wheel drive on because it is a 4 wheel drive car all the time. (What a plus-since Foresters are ALL WHEEL DRIVE). We arrived at the super 8 so he could go in and photo copy the rental agreement...one paragraph hand written. We arrived to drop him off in the same location my son and I drove around the day before, I asked him about his office and he said he does not have one here and the only way to see him is to call....We gave him the $250 for the car and a $250 deposit. We drove the *hitbox home and had it for the week. We didn't use it very much, it was not a safe vehicle, I really thought about calling him and bring it back but decided just to have it for the week. The day came to return the car. I received a call at 11:06am from Tony, he asked me what time I planned on bringing the car back. I said we would be in Hilo by two (which was the time we picked it up). He told me that the car was due back by 11am and there was a $10 fee for every hour. (Never told this before) I told him we would come to Hilo and drop it off right then. He then informed me that he had meetings until 3:30 and that it would be $40 to keep it for another day. WTF? He was going to charge us $50 to bring it back at 3:30, because he was in meetings???? This was enough to put my husband over the edge, but to avoid confrontation I told Tony we would keep it for another day and bring it back in the morning. We left Pahoa at 10am, hit down pouring rain in the POS car. We called and told him we would be a couple minutes late, he told my husband the car is due back at 11am! (My husband was furious at this point) We were going to take the car right back but since we had an errand to run and we were already paying $10 for the hour we did that first. (Also to defuse my Husband) We arrived at the "return location" at 11.50 am, I called Tony. No return call, we waited 10 mins then my husband got *issed off and started calling over and over. Tony answered on the 3rd call. He told us 5 mins. He arrived at 12:17pm. I told my husband to stay in the car. Tony came over and looked at the gas tank said, here is $190 of your deposit. I walked away and didn't tell my husband this until we were a few blocks away to avoid further confrontation. He charges us $40 for the day-because he was not going to be around that day??? And $10 for the hour after 11am (ok?!) and $10 for the 12pm hour because he didn't answer the phone?? and didn't arrive??? Do not rent from this guy! You are taking your life into your own hands, there is nothing at all legit about this "company"! I found a $16.95 perday mid size suv on Hotwire. read more

Cool guy. Super local. Super cheap. Good car. The car was like a 90 something Toyota Camry. Not the best looking car but works perfect. Car was good on gas. One good thing too the car isn't new so you actually blend in more w the locals driving it around. Tony was real friendly too. Gave us a ride to and from the airport. Would rent again. read more

Tony's great. We texted via phone a few days prior to my flight to Hilo to arrange for a car to drive around the Big Island. He had a sporty coupe with big decals reading "Filipino Underground" across the entire hood- it was perfect. Great gas mileage, fairly dirty but manageable. The best part was the pick-up and drop-off that he arranged. Dirt cheap over the entire weekend. read more

Tony is a great guy. Had troubles w/ car rentals at airport. It was a cash transaction. He gave me back 100% of my deposit. We were able to travel the full island of Kona. I HIGHLY recommend his business. When I come back will use over corporate car rentals. Keep it local read more

Tony was a nice guy who saved our Christmas vacation! We didn't realize that the entire island sells out of rental cars months in advance for Christmas break. We called Tony and lucky he had an SUV! It was smelly and dirty but it ran so that was good enough for us. We were a little skeptical of the cash deposit but we got it back no hassle. read more

Tony is simply the best car rental in Hilo. I needed a car very last minute and he really helped me out. First he offered me a pickup truck at a very decent rate, then he asked me to switch and upgraded me at no additional cost. He gave me a great deal on my last day if I would change cars that day, and even gave me a ride to the airport after dropoff. Definitely the best car rental experience I've had, and the best in the island. Thanks Tony! read more

BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO USE THIS BUSINESS BASED ON THE OTHER REVIEWS..maybe I can be the one to save you. I'm a pregnant lady that lives on island and this is by far the worst experience I've ever encountered living here. Received a vehicle that smelled heavy of body odor and cigarettes. Bad condition and absolutely filthy. Now before you think I'm exaggerating about the condition, this is coming from a local that just needed a temporary vehicle. NOT picky at all. I'm not on vacation. I just needed something to get me to and from work. I was actually worried about driving it home! Long story short I only had this car for an hour due to a change of plans that was out of both parties control. So we agree to meet back infront of the restaurant in 15 minutes. Which by the way yes. You meet this sketchy dude infront of a restaurant. He ends up not showing for 45 minutes. When he finally does he tells me I now owe a random fee of $350 for a 3 day minimum. Nothing states this in the contract by the way. Which he hand writes and scans off notebook paper at a 711 corner store as you wait for him in the rental. So as he realises I'm not that easy, he eventually drops it down to $150. Then even further to just $50. And by this time my bloods boiling because I literally drove the car across the street and back and he's demanding $50. I continue to tell him no and then he threatens to keep ALL my money if I don't at least give him $50 dollars of it. Says he'll take me to court and that "he's been to court many times for this exact reason". This is EXTORTION folks.The exact definition of it actually. So I finally agree and he gives me back the rest and we go our seperate ways. I actually went as far as emailing a copy of his 711 contract to my lawyer on island and her reaction was what I anticipated. If it was anything over $50 I would 100% be pursuing this in court. I hope he feels really good about taking money from a vulnerable pregnant lady. Don't let him take your money too.. Aloha. read more

First of all, the previous reviews are precise: Tony is a great local businessman--ask him about his bakery--and I agree he is probably the best deal in town. Great for all purposes; we took ours all over the island, including the Visitor's Center of Mauna Kea (the summit was out of our range, so either hitchhike, or upgrade). He has about 40-50 cars in his fleet, so he's sure to have something to fit your needs and budget. We got "upgraded" at no extra charge to a standard transmission (fantastic mileage) Honda Civic EX with AIR CONDITIONING. Great hookup, and it came in handy, especially since the Volcanoes National Park has areas that may require the windows UP! It did come with the aforementioned charm of a wet sock in one of the cup holders, and though it took 7 days to notice it, a 40oz bottle of OLD E, but what good times--it was vacation! He picks you up and takes you back to the airport! $250 for 10 days! (All cash, plus DEPOSIT)--can't go wrong! Thanks, Tony! read more

I made a mistake hiring a car off tony, we were in a rush and he was open on sunday The car we hire off him was infested with roaches, when we told him about it we laughed. The car was very old and dirty, the drivers window got stuck all the time, the A/C didn't work at all, parts of the car were held on by duck tap, the central locking didn't work properly, the drivers seat was in poor condition. One good thing was the car didn't break down The price of this car was very close to a proper company, we should of spent the each money. read more

Tony's the man. Don't even bother looking elsewhere. I go to school in Hilo and my sister flew in for a week to visit. It was during the Merrie Monarch festival, so every other car rental company was completely out of cars, except for one, which wanted $430 for two days! Tony charged us $100 flat, picked us up, and dropped my sister off at the airport. The car ran fine, got excellent mileage, and didn't stand out as an "I'm a rental, break into me" car. Very easy and enjoyable doing business with Tony. read more

I can't begin to say enough nice things about Tony. Coming from San Francisco, I'm used to the ease of Zipcar and Tony's car rental proved just as easy. I could be a premier user of Alamo or Enterprise or Budget, and I would still use Tony's car rental! He's fair, affordable and all-around just nice guy who goes the extra mile. read more

Tony has perfect cars for long term rental. These are "local" cars and I doubt if anyone would target them for theft. Tony picks you up and drops you off-great service! read more

Tony was very easy to work with, even with changing dates and times. He was helpful and kind enough to give us a ride to the airport and drop a friend off back at their home. His place is the definition of a small, self-started business, but he is willing to go the extra mile to please customers. I will definitely be renting from him again. read more

I came to Hilo without a plan and was referred to Tony through a local contact. I was really happy to meet Tony because he hooked me up with a car, which allowed me to escape from the rainy side of the island, to the sunny Kona beaches during my short stay. He also gave me awesome local insider's tips. He is down to earth, trustworthy, and knows how to find good people! Support this local business! read more

Tony is a badass. We really enjoyed dealing with him. Hard cash only and no crappy insurance add ons! Blending into the island in a local car is a huge benefit. Thanks Tony! read more