Daily rentals from Rino's start around AIT, not at the terminal
Figure on arranging Rino's Rentals from their Aitutaki base in town rather than at Aitutaki Airport (AIT) itself; there’s no dedicated counter in T1 and nothing in the arrivals shed. They handle both cars and scooters, and most visitors line things up ahead of time via email or phone so the vehicle is ready once they land on their domestic flight from Rarotonga (RAR).
Rino's typically rents compact cars and basic scooters by the day, with small manual cars often the cheapest option and scooters usually priced lower again for solo riders. You’ll drive on the left throughout Aitutaki, and the airport is only a few kilometers from the main village areas, so pickup in town or a pre-arranged meet-up near AIT works fine for most stays of 3–7 nights.
Opening hours for local rental outfits like Rino's usually track island business times, roughly 8:00 to 16:00 Monday to Saturday, with limited or pre-arranged service outside those windows. Because Aitutaki flights can land around midday or mid-afternoon, confirm your arrival time with them so someone is actually available to hand over keys and check your licence when your Air Rarotonga flight touches down.
Count on basic paperwork: Rino's will want your home-country licence details, and Cook Islands scooter rules can require an extra local licence or police station visit in town if you go above 50cc, so ask them what engine size they’re offering. Fuel isn’t included; you’ll top up at the small petrol station on the main road near Arutanga and bring the car or scooter back close to the level you started with.
Because there’s no formal desk or signboard at AIT naming Rino's Rentals, you’ll often get directions like “meet by the tiny terminal building” or “we’ll drop the car at your accommodation,” so keep your phone or email confirmation handy. One practical tip: build in at least 30 minutes between landing in T1 and any arranged pickup time, so you have a buffer if your Rarotonga–Aitutaki flight runs late or bags are slow off the belt.