Honolulu had the second-highest average daily car rental rates in the nation at $94, according to a study released Wednesday by CheapCarRental.net.

Anchorage, Alaska, had the nation’s costliest rate at $95.

The CheapCarRental.net survey compared and ranked 50 U.S. destinations based on rental rates for the cheapest available car from June to August. Each city’s airport was chosen as the pickup and drop-off location.

The third-ranked destination for car rental was Washington, D.C., with an average rate of $81, while the most affordable daily car rental rates were found in Los Angeles, at $35; Las Vegas at $32, and Columbus, Ohio, at $28.

The published average rates included all taxes and fees in each location, said researcher Daniel Berger.

"The reason Honolulu was so expensive is that on some dates in the period we analyzed the budget models were sold out," he said. "That means the cheapest available car was more expensive than usual."

The June-through-August time frame is popular with visitors, so demand is high.

The research methodology also was looking at finding the cheapest available car rental "five days to 10 days" from a theoretical trip to Honolulu, whereas "the earlier you book, the more likely (budget) cars are available," Berger said.

CheapCarRental.net is preparing its annual study that will level off the peaks and valleys of demand in each market.

However, Honolulu still is likely to be among the most expensive destinations for car rental, Berger said.

Car rental companies in Honolulu contacted for this story deferred questions to corporate offices on the mainland, where officials could not be reached.

Early booking is one way to ensure budget-level car availability, but some Hawaii travel agencies can offer cheaper rates at the last minute, said Bruce Fisher, owner of Hawaii Aloha Travel.

"People don’t realize we really do get better deals."

His company worked to get less expensive car-rental and other rates for people coming to Honolulu for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference last year, and that was "at the last minute," he said.

"I had my contracted rate, because I work with wholesalers …the contract rate is the rate, as long as they have (the cars) available."

"If the car is there, it’s typically $28 to $35 a day," Fisher said.

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On the Net:
>> www.cheapcarrental.net
/press/summer-2012.html
>> www.hawaii-aloha.com/