Here’s my advice –
1 – When you pick up the car, ask for a car with the lowest mileage possible.
2 – Check for roaches while you are still at the rental car place. Start by opening the doors quickly and look to see if you see any roaches scampering along the door seal. Next, open up the truck quickly to see if you see roaches.
3 – If you see roaches, tell them to get you a clean car.

Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon! Maui is fantastic!

Oh my goodness, what a nightmare! I can just picture you and your wife going through your bags in the lobby. It’s scary how many you found. Yuck!

My husband and I decided to go through our backpacks that we had in the car. At times we had the backpacks half zipped. My husband found one roach crawling around in his bag. Luckily I didn’t find any. When you’re on vacation, you’d rather be spending your time doing something pleasant rather than searching through your bags with one hand and holding your shoe ready to smash with your other hand.

Thanks for letting us know you rented through Hertz. I suspected that the roach problem wasn’t isolated to Dollar and Alamo.

That’s interesting that Hertz told you they had a process for trying to control the roaches. Apparently, it’s not effective enough, unfortunately. Next time, ask for the newest model you can get.

Thank you, Dave, for sharing your experience and your first time comment at Go Visit Hawaii.

That evening when we were coming back from dinner I opened the door and saw a half dozen roaches scatter. Called Hertz up and told them to come get the car and that I did not want a replacement. Luckily we had the sense to empty our bags in lobby of the hotel where we killed four or five roaches that had crawled into our camera bag and my wife’s purse.

When I returned home I did an internet search on Hawaii rental car roach problems and was surprised that I couldn’t find anyone mentioning this problem before. I suspect the problem is rampant but most people just don’t notice.

That is a funny story! I think I’m like your husband. I freak out over those big boys. I know logically they’re not going to harm me, but they just give me the creeps.

There’s no doubt that the renters are also at fault for leaving windows open, tops down, eating and drinking in the cars, leaving crumbs, etc. That being said, the rental car companies should do something to curtail the infestation. It really is disturbing to open the car door and see roaches scattering.

Thanks for sharing your story and for laughing with us!

We were at the drive-inn… when we still had such a thing… and there was one of those big boys decided to make house in some old, used car my husband had back then. He’s mortified by them. I don’t care as long as they stay away from me. Those big guys are primarily outdoor germies that come out when it’s humid.

Anyway, my husband caught sight of it and jumped in the back seat with his slipper in hand. I had to drive home with the light on all the way with him in the back seat with his legs crossed and his slipper in hand! It’s hilarious now! (It was then too… for me anyway.) I have other stories like that one but they don’t involve a car.

I think they are Hawaii’s version of the sewer rat that other states have too many of.

For a rental company, however, it is inexcusable! They do make for good stories though! Right Andy? LOL! Thanks for the visual you two! Been there, done that and it’s still hilarious!

I’m actually surprised and slightly impressed that Dollar came out to exchange the car with you.
I had to laugh about your friend keeping her feet on the back seat, because we actually saw roaches crawling on the back seat and then scampering between the cushions when we opened the car door. Eww! It’s creepy to think we drove all the way from the lava viewing point past Hilo to Waikoloa in the dark!

White roaches?! Sheesh!

I’ll try your trick of putting sand on the floor mats. Thanks for that tip. Hmm….now I’m contemplating covering our next rental car in sand.

1) Coming out with a gaggle of groceries from Safeway I get in the car and see about 10 roaches scatter. Well, not wanting to transport them in our groceries, we call Dollar at 9pm (after they’re closed) and thankfully 30 minutes someone was nice enough to come retrieve our car and swap us out. The funny part? It was a kid who brought his friends with him and when one of the girls got in, she let out a blood curdling scream and they made flame tracks outta that parking lot! LOL

2) Brought our friend with us and she was creeped out and kept her feet up on the backseat. Every night we had to go fumigate the Jeep with Raid.

3) On Maui there were these WHITE roaches (they looked like those sea animals that have always lived in darkness) everywhere. The outside of the Jeep was crawling with them. One crawled in the vent and we forgot about it the next morning and turned on the air full blast and it came at us at warp speed. I don’t know whose scream was more girly, mine or the man’s.

4) There was sticky dried pop in the moveable cup holder one year and crumbs everywhere and we took it back and said clean it or switch out the car because we’ve always had problems with roaches, they switched out the car.

Two good tips if you don’t want them coming around your legs/feet (in addition to not leaving food in there) is sprinkle some sand from your shoes on the floor. They don’t like to walk on it. (It’s sad I know this) Also, don’t hang up air fresheners in your car, it attracts them!

Sorry, that was rather long winded!

The car was so bad, I ended up having to warn her with a “sweetheart, I’m about to touch your hand, so don’t freakout that a roach is crawling on it.”