Cheapest Way to Rent a Car in Las Vegas: 4 Practical Tips

cheapest way to rent a car in Las Vegas
RickSteves

Las Vegas is a city of excess, and that includes car rentals. The average price of a rental car in Las Vegas is over $100 per day, but there are ways to save money. This article will show you the cheapest way to rent a car in Las Vegas.

We will cover everything from finding the best deals to avoiding hidden fees. We will also give you a promise: if you follow our tips, you will save money the next time you need to rent a car in Las Vegas.

Cheapest Way to Rent a Car in Las Vegas

#1. Rent from a Non-Airport Neighborhood Location

While most visitors choose to pick up their rental car at the airport, picking up your car from a neighborhood location away from the airport can frequently save you a significant amount of money.

No, it’s not as convenient, and you’ll have to pay for a ride to the pickup location, but if you’re renting for a long time, the extra inconvenience may be worth it.

How to Find Pricing for a Neighborhood Location

Kayak.com is a great resource for estimating neighborhood location pricing.

  • Once there, look for your desired dates and times in Las Vegas (the city, not the airport).
  • Then, sort the results by price. Typically, the least expensive neighborhood locations will rise to the top. A map will also show where the rental location is, making it easy to determine how difficult/easy it will be to locate that car.
  • You can then use the Uber or Lyft phone apps to estimate how much a ride to and from the airport would cost to see if it’s worth booking that way.

#2. Leverage Discount Companies Requiring a “Double Shuttle”

Anyone renting a car in Las Vegas for airport pickup must take at least one shuttle to the centralized rental car center. The cheapest rental car companies require a second shuttle from the centralized rental car center to their off-site location.

While a second shuttle ride is inconvenient, many people don’t mind wasting time in exchange for savings.

Fox, Ace, and Advantage are among the Las Vegas car rental companies that require a double shuttle.

#3. Reserve a Refundable Car Rental

It may cost a few dollars more at the time of booking, but securing a rental that you can cancel and re-book if prices drop can be an excellent way to save money.

#4. Investigate Turo Options

Turo, unlike traditional rental car companies, is a peer-to-peer platform that allows ordinary people to rent out their cars to others. The range of options is quite impressive and includes brands such as Tesla, Mercedes, BMW, and others.

The deals are usually found on the other end of the “fanciness spectrum.” Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas are widely available and frequently inexpensive.

While Turo rentals are among the most affordable in Las Vegas, most require a $50 – $100 delivery fee to meet you at the airport.

Turo is worth checking out with or without delivery (if you don’t mind the hassle of Ubering to the pickup location), as their lower-end inventory can often be reserved at a discount compared to traditional rental car companies.

Cheapest Way to Rent a Car in Las Vegas: Where to Find Deals

When looking for the best deals, online travel agencies and metasearch sites can be helpful because they search and display pricing from hundreds of car rental companies.

#1. Rentalcars.com

Rentalcars.com is a simple website that offers great deals on rental cars from hundreds of rental companies. You can narrow down your search by rental company, car specifications, fuel policy, the maximum number of passengers, and other factors.

Rentalcars.com returned a price of $308.99 for Alamo, which is comparable to booking direct, but the offer includes a free vehicle upgrade, and you can select a 2019 model.

#2. Orbitz

Orbitz is another excellent resource for finding rental cars, flights, hotels, cruises, and vacation packages. Sign up for Orbitz Rewards to receive special insider prices that appear in blue on the search results page.

When we compared the cheapest provider available on Orbitz — Fox Rent A Car — we discovered that the price was the same as going direct, which was true for many rental providers. Orbitz may, from time to time, promote savings that can be “unlocked” by clicking a banner above the search results. When we were looking, there was a special offer for 12% off Avis and Budget.

#3. Kayak

Kayak differs from other online travel agencies in that the booking does not take place on the Kayak website. When a visitor clicks to book, they are redirected to that website to complete the booking.

The rate for Fox Rent A Car on Kayak was the same as the prepaid rate available when booking directly. Although most online travel agencies do not promote prepay rates, Kayak does because it redirects the visitor to the supplier. Set up a Kayak Price Alert, and you’ll receive an email whenever prices change based on your search criteria.

#4. Expedia

Expedia allows you to search for not only rental cars but also hotels, flights, and excursions. Pricing is similar to Orbitz because both websites are owned by Expedia Group, but with Expedia, you can earn points by joining the Expedia Rewards program. Members earn one point for every dollar spent on car rentals (and other purchases) that can be redeemed for free car rental days; hotel stays, and other benefits.

Expedia, like most online travel agencies, reserves the booking but does not require payment until you pick up the vehicle. This means you can cancel at any time, but it prevents you from taking advantage of the cheaper prepaid rates available by booking directly.

Is it worthwhile to rent a car while in Las Vegas?

While finding free parking for car rentals in Las Vegas can be difficult, there are numerous paid options. Because Las Vegas is a large and bustling city that is frequently visited, there are several traffic hotspots, including Highways 95, 159, and 515. If you want to avoid getting stuck in traffic, avoid driving on these roads during rush hour, which is usually in the early mornings and evenings.

A cheap rental car in Las Vegas can be a convenient way to see all of the sights while staying in this area. While Downtown Las Vegas is known for being walkable, driving to other neighborhoods is usually preferable. Rental cars in Las Vegas will make it easier for you to visit distant attractions such as the Grand Canyon.

What different traffic laws should I be aware of while driving in Las Vegas?

There are a few different traffic regulations to be aware of when driving in Las Vegas. For example, unless there is a sign indicating otherwise, it is illegal to make a right turn at a red light.

You may, however, make U-turns when it is safe to do so, even if no sign instructs you to do so. Drivers are permitted to have a maximum blood alcohol content of 0.08, and if you drive with more than this in your system, you risk receiving a DUI. Using a cell phone while driving is illegal in Nevada, but hands-free headsets are permitted.

If you have any questions about traffic laws, please contact the Las Vegas Department of Motor Vehicles for the most up-to-date information.

Can I rent a car in Las Vegas and drive to Mexico or Canada?

Travelers who rent cars in Las Vegas frequently take road trips to either Canada or Mexico. Many companies will allow you to cross the border with your rental car, but make sure to notify them ahead of time to ensure that this is permitted under your contract.

Drivers using Las Vegas car rentals must obtain a non-resident insurance card prior to their trip, whereas those driving to Mexico must have Mexican automobile liability insurance. In general, you can get these from most major car rental companies. A valid driver’s license with an expiration date beyond your rental period, as well as a passport or passport card, are required in addition to insurance.

Is it possible to rent a car in Las Vegas without a credit card?

Most companies prefer that customers pay for their car rentals in Las Vegas, even if they are cheap car rentals in Nevada, with a major credit card. However, this is not the only method of payment accepted, and some Las Vegas car rental companies will accept payment with a debit card if desired. In this case, a credit check may be required, or you may be asked to provide additional documents, such as proof of insurance or a utility bill.

The company may also require a cash deposit. Some rental car companies accept cash or checks as payment, but this is less common. Make certain that the payment method you use corresponds to the driver’s name. Contact your rental company ahead of time to confirm that your preferred method of payment is accepted.

What documentation is required for an international traveler to rent a car in Las Vegas?

You will be able to rent a car in Las Vegas even if you do not have a driver’s license from the United States, including an economy car rental, an electric car rental, or a passenger van rental. Some employers will require an official international driver’s license, while others will accept a valid foreign driver’s license if it is written in the Latin alphabet.

If your driver’s license is written in a different alphabet, you may be able to pay for an official translation ahead of time to give to the rental company. Along with your driver’s license, bring your passport with you when you pick up your vehicle, as almost all companies will require a copy of this when completing your file. To drive a rental car in Nevada, you must be at least 21 years old. A daily underage driver’s fee may also be charged to young drivers under the age of 25.

Last Thoughts

Finding the best car rental deal does not have to take hours and hours of searching. Use any of the above websites to conduct a few searches, and once you’ve found a deal that suits you, see if it’s cheaper than going direct. Take advantage of price match guarantees provided by many rental companies; however, the vehicle’s make, model, and booking conditions must be identical for a price match to be honored.

Rates from neighborhood offices are typically the cheapest, followed by airport rates and then hotel locations. Even if you’re only renting for the day, see if there’s a neighborhood office off the Strip nearby, as you’ll usually get a better rate.

Cheapest Way to Rent a Car in Las Vegas:
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