Which Car Hire to Choose on Savai’i?
While lazying on a beach for the entirety of your holiday on Savai’i is rather tempting, it’s well worth hiring a vehicle to explore the island too! Trust us! Whether you need to hire for just the day or for your whole stay, this list of all of the car rentals on Savai’i will help you compare car rental companies. What’s more, it’s also worth comparing companies in the 10 Best Car Rentals in Samoa as most will allow you to transport vehicles on the ferry and can sometimes work out cheaper than renting on Savai’i.
Don’t know where to explore in your rental vehicle? Check out A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Savai’i: One Day Itinerary or A Self-Guided Trip Around Savai’i: Two-Day Itinerary.
5 Things to Look For When Comparing Car Rentals on Savai’i
Before we dive into our comparison of the car hires on Savai’i, know what to look for with these car rental comparison tips.
1. Prices and Inclusions
Car rental companies on Savai’i have various inclusions and quite different daily rates. We make sure to list inclusions in the comparison below, where available. For costs to consider for your car rental, check out The Cost of Renting a Car in Samoa.
2. Vehicles Offered
Savai’i’s car rental companies might be limited but they at least have very varied fleets. The size of your vehicle will matter depending on how many people are travelling in the vehicle. You might want to get a high-clearance vehicle to access attractions like the Alofaaga Blowholes which has a poor access road. Otherwise, the main roads are in good condition, so we recommend sticking to a vehicle that complements your budget. Learn more about what it is like to drive in our guide, How to Drive in Samoa + 10 Road Rules You Need to Know.
3. Service
Once you have picked one or two car rental companies to compare, give them an email or a phone call and ask them a few questions. See how helpful they are in their answers. This little test will give you an idea of how helpful the company will be should anything go wrong during your trip.
4. Payment Options
Nowadays, not everyone wants to have a credit card. If that’s the case for you, double-check which car rental companies accept other payment methods. Note that most car rental companies on Savai’i require a bond payment, but most will accept (and prefer) cash – see where the closest ATMs are located in Information, Shops & Services on Savai’i. Plus, learn more about paying for things in What is the Best Way to Pay in Samoa?
5. Location
Location is important if you’re hoping to hire a vehicle straight off the ferry or perhaps from a certain resort (more than half of Savai’i’s car rental companies operate out of an accommodation). Although some will deliver a vehicle to your location, note that the price is usually that of a taxi plus 10% for transporting the driver back. See taxi rates in Taxis in Samoa: Taxi Fares, How to Use & More.
© Jetz RentzJetz Rentz
Offering the largest fleet of vehicles on Savai’i, and with a convenient location just a short walk from the ferry terminal (not to mention, free delivery to Salelologa Wharf), Jetz Rentz is an obvious go-to for car and scooter rentals on Savai’i. Your Temporary Driver’s License is sorted with the ability to complete applications at their office located at the Jet Over Hotel.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations
Jet Over Hotel, Salelologa (approximately a 10-minute walk north of the ferry terminal). Delivery/drop-off is available anywhere on Savai’i for a fee or free to Salelologa Wharf.
Vehicles Available
Vehicles offered by Jetz Rentz include compact cars, scooters, SUVs, vans and 4WD pickup trucks. Most vehicles have automatic transmission except 4WD pickups.
- Toyota Vitz
- Toyota Passo
- Nissan Note
- Toyota Rav4
- Hyundai Tucson
- Mazda BT-50
- Ford Ranger
- Yamaha Mio Scooter.
See more places to rent scooters in Scooter Hire in Samoa: Where to Rent, Cost & More.
Further Services and Inclusions
- Temporary Driver’s License applications available
- Child seats available
- Free vehicle drop-off/pick-up at Salelologa Wharf
- Vehicle delivery (fee applies)
- Free unlimited kilometres
- Free liability insurance.
Approximate Price
Prices are subject to change. Cars with Jetz Rentz cost approximately ST$90 per day, SUVs ST$150, 4WD pickups ST$250-$300 and scooters ST$50.
Insurance
A bond is taken for all vehicle rentals via pre-authorised MasterCard/Visa or cash of around ST$500 until the vehicle is returned. Liability insurance is included in all hires.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comCruising Savai’i Rentals
Operating out of Le Lagoto Resort on the northeast coast of Savai’i, Cruising Savai’i Rentals has a small fleet of vehicles with private driver services available. Vehicles are relatively modern (2018 models) and are well suited for touring Savai’i. The team can organise your Temporary Driver’s License so that’s one less thing off your mind.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations
Le Lagoto Resort, Fagamalo village on the northeast coast. Delivery/drop-off is available anywhere on Savai’i for a fee.
Vehicles Available
Vehicles offered by Cruising Savai’i Rentals include SUVs and vans. All vehicles have automatic transmission.
- Hyundai Creta
- H1 Hyundai Van.
Further Services and Inclusions
- Temporary Driver’s License applications available
- Vehicle delivery (fee applies)
- Private driver services available (fee applies)
- Free unlimited kilometres.
Insurance
A bond is taken for all vehicle rentals via Visa, MasterCard or cash.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comSandy Beach Rentals
Operating out of Stevensons on Manase, this small rental company hires out a tiny range of vehicles which might just be your most convenient option if you’re staying in the Manase area. Sandy Beach Rentals offers two different vehicle types but note that it’s best to approach this company already with your Temporary Driver’s License.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations
Stevensons on Manase, Manase on the northeast coast.
Vehicles Available
Vehicles offered by Sandy Beach Rentals include compact cars and people movers.
- Toyota Voxy 5-seater
- Toyota Voxy 7-seater.
Approximate Price
Prices are subject to change. Compact cars with Sandy Beach Rentals cost approximately ST$110 per day and people movers are around ST$165 per day.
Insurance
A bond is taken for all vehicle rentals via Visa, MasterCard or cash of around ST$500 until it is returned.
© Queen RentalQueen Rental
Located on the main road in Salelologa, Queen Rental are not the most reliable at replying to emails, so it’s best to call or show up at their rental stand and speak to an attendant face-to-face.
With a limited but variable fleet of compact cars, SUVs (like Hyundai Tucson and Nissan X-trail) and people movers, you’ll often find that they run out of vehicles quickly once the ferry comes in.
Note that Queen Rental does not offer Temporary Driver’s Licenses, so you’ll need to organise this yourself following the advice in How to Get a Samoa Temporary Driver’s License.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comMaaola Rentals
Finally, the elusive Maaola Rentals is another option for car hire on Savai’i. The small local business is located in Salelologa, however, they are still a five-minute drive from Salelologa Wharf so your best bet is to take a taxi there.
The Savai’i car rental company has around six small cars and SUVs with models such as Suzuki Swifts and Nissan SUVs, as well as approximately two minivans.
More About Car Rentals on Savai’i
That’s it for our complete comparison of the car rental companies on Savai’i. Learn more about renting a car using the following guides:
- What You Need to Hire a Car in Samoa
- 10 Safety Tips for Driving in Samoa
- 10 Best Car Rentals in Samoa
Finally, compare car rentals with other ways to travel around the island in our Savai’i Transport Guide: 9 Ways to Get to (& Around) Savai’i.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2024])
- Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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