Rent a car in Las Vegas

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How to rent a car in Las Vegas

Rent a car in Las Vegas if you're the independent sort and you prefer to drive yourself around town. There's no end to the car rental companies you can find in Las Vegas. You can even rent motorbikes and flashy sports cars. Of course, what you pay will depend on what you are renting. Parking is free at the hotel parking lots. One word of warning though, traffic on the Vegas Strip is no joy ride. It could take 20 minutes to get to the casino almost right in front of you. However, being able to chauffeur yourself around at will and get to locations outside town make renting a car a must-do. On that note, here are some tips on Las Vegas car rental.

Contact your insurance company to find out what the policy is regarding Las Vegas car rentals. If you have full coverage then you may not need to purchase additional coverage from a Las Vegas car rental company. If you don't have full coverage, you may be able to purchase a supplement.

Make your reservation online. Some companies offer discount coupons on their website.

Compare rates among several Las Vegas car rental companies to see who has the lowest rate for the time you will be traveling.

Keep checking the rates offered by your preferred rental company because they change constantly. You may find that the rates drop daily the closer you get to your travel date. Book the lowest rate you find but don't wait too long because it may shoot up again the day before you travel.

Look for the signs showing you where to take the shuttle to the new Rent-A-Car Center when you get to McCarran airport. It's about 8 minutes away and all the major rental companies are there. You can make your booking there or check-in to pick up your reserved car. Note: Rental car counters are no longer located in Baggage Claim.

Expect to pay more if you rent a car at the McCarran Rent-A-Car Center. Las Vegas car rental companies have to pay a facility fee for the use of this place and they pass this on to the customer. However, the convenience of driving yourself from the airport may outweigh the extra charge.

Prepare for the possibility of long lines at the rental counters. You may find yourself waiting for as long as 20 minutes, if not more, while the people ahead of you complete paperwork.

Look for car rental stations at your hotel. You can pick up a car as from 7:30am but most, if not all, car rental companies close at 5pm.

Make sure that there won't be an extra charge if you return the car you rented at the hotel to the airport as you're leaving.

Ask your offsite Las Vegas car rental company if they will pick you up from your hotel. Most companies offer this free service.

Make sure there is no charge for mileage. This becomes an important issue if you are planning a trip to the Hoover Dam or to an attraction that's even further away.

Take the back roads on either side of the Vegas Strip when you are driving. Traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard can resemble a parking lot at times, especially weekends.

Parking is free no matter where you park on the Vegas Strip. Legally, that is.

Take note, some companies will charge an extra fee for one-way rentals. For instance, you may incur a charge if you rent a car from a company in Las Vegas and drop it off at the branch office in Los Angeles.

It is relatively cheap to rent a car in Las Vegas because of all the competition.

Click here for a list of the car rental companies at McCarran Rent-A-Car Center.

Driving in Las Vegas and DUI

Here are a few things you should be aware of when driving in Las Vegas.

Failure to give the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalk - Fine $280

DUI - Liquor and/or drugs - Requires mandatory court appearance - Bail $2,115

Drinking alcholic beverage while driving - Requires a mandatory court appearance, 5pts on your record and a bail of $640

Open alcoholic container in vehicle will fetch you a $640 Fine

Other ways to Get Around

Taking a walk on the Strip

Take a walk to get a closer look at everything on the Strip.

How to Get a Free Shuttle Ride

Hotels in Las Vegas often provide free transportation. If you know what attractions are close to these casinos, you can use the free shuttles to your advantage.

How to take a taxicab

Learn where to go to get a taxicab on the Strip. There's no shortage of taxis when you're tired of walking.

How to hop on the CAT (Citizen Area Transit)

Hop on the Deuce, one of the CAT (Citizen Area Transit) buses run by the Las Vegas Public Transportation System.

How to take a trolley

Do the tourist thing and take a trolley.

How to ride the monorail system

Try the superfast monorail system and cover the 4-mile Strip in 15 minutes.