Car rental in Las Vegas

Picking up your car at Las Vegas airport

At Harry Reid airport the rental companies are not inside the terminal: they all operate from the Rent-A-Car Center, a dedicated airport building a few miles away that houses every company's office.

You get there on the free shuttle that leaves from the arrivals area of each terminal. Once you have your bags, follow the rental car signs to the stop. The ride is short and buses run often. Your voucher shows the rental company and any special instructions.

A question we get often: we don't offer meet-and-greet at the terminal door. We only work with official rental companies, which is what guarantees the car is there, the contract is right and you have support if something happens.

What you need to pick up the car

There are three things, and all three are mandatory. Without any of them the rental company won't hand over the car.

A credit card in the main driver's name. The rental company blocks a security deposit. Debit cards, cash and someone else's card are not accepted.

A physical, valid driver's license. In the United States a license on your phone, photos or copies are not accepted. It has to be the plastic card, valid for the whole rental.

A valid passport. The minimum age is 19 (it may vary by rental company or category), with no maximum age. Drivers aged 19 to 24 pay a young driver fee, and we tell you before you book.

Do you need a car for the Strip?

Just for getting around the Strip, not really: the hotels are next to each other, traffic on the boulevard is slow and walking is often faster. Where a car changes your trip is outside the city.

That's why many customers pick it up on the day their excursions start, not the day they land. You save rental days and parking. Tell us your plan and we'll tell you what makes sense.

Parking at the hotels

Many big Strip hotels charge for parking, including for their own guests, and valet usually costs more. Ask when you book your hotel whether parking is included.

Hotels off the Strip and downtown often have free parking. And on the street, the usual rule: leave nothing in sight inside the car.

Road trips from Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the gateway to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country, and almost all of them are reached on good paved roads.

Close by, for half a day: Red Rock Canyon, half an hour away, which at some times of year requires a timed-entry reservation; the Hoover Dam; and Valley of Fire, an hour away, with amazing red rocks.

For a long day or a night away: the Grand Canyon, in Arizona. The West Rim is closer; the South Rim, the national park side, is about four to five hours away and best done with at least one night. Zion, in Utah, is about two and a half hours away, and in season the canyon road is done on the park shuttle. Death Valley, in California, is about two hours away.

Many customers plan a multi-day loop: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Page and the Grand Canyon, then back to Las Vegas. Or they continue to Los Angeles and drop the car there: the rental company charges a one-way fee, and we include it in your quote.

Heat, desert and fuel: driving with peace of mind

In summer the heat is extreme, often above 40 °C (104 °F), and even more in Death Valley. Always carry plenty of water in the car, even on short outings, and avoid hiking at midday.

Fill up before you leave and whenever you can. In the desert there are long stretches with no gas stations and no phone signal. Download offline maps before you go.

Avoid driving desert roads at night: there's no lighting, animals cross and, if something happens, help takes a while. Plan to be back in daylight.

Never leave children, pets or your phone inside the car in the sun: it heats up in minutes.

Do I need an SUV?

It's not essential. The most visited parks, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Valley of Fire and Death Valley on their main roads, can be reached in a regular car.

A midsize SUV is still the most popular choice: more trunk space, more height and more comfort on long drives. What is almost always forbidden is dirt and off-road tracks: insurance doesn't cover you there. We guarantee the category, not the exact model: the rental company assigns that at pickup.

Crossing state lines and tolls

On a single trip you might pass through Nevada, Arizona, Utah and California. That's allowed and very common, but tell us when you book where you're going, so it's written in the contract.

Nevada has no toll roads, and you won't find any on the usual park routes either. For this trip, the toll pass offered at the desk is rarely needed. National parks do charge an entrance fee per car.

The most expensive mistakes

Running out of fuel in the desert. A tow truck in the middle of nowhere is expensive and slow. If the tank is half full and there's a station, fill up.

Returning the car without a full tank. The rental company charges missing fuel at a much higher price. At many stations a foreign card asks for a ZIP code at the pump: if it doesn't work, pay inside before filling up.

Showing up with your license on your phone. They won't give you the car and you lose the booking.

Signing without reading. Extras such as roadside assistance, GPS or a child seat are sometimes offered at the desk, and they're paid there with no refund. If something doesn't match your booking, message us before you sign.