Do You Need a Car In Las Vegas?
If you’re visiting Las Vegas you won’t need a car if you're staying in the city proper but could if you plan on visiting distant attractions.
Written by Talullah Blanco
Reviewed by Lisa Steuer McArdle
You won’t need a rental car when you visit Las Vegas if you’re staying in the city proper, but it could be a good idea if you plan on traveling to distant attractions or have young children.
If you’re visiting Las Vegas and trying to decide if you should rent a car for your trip,
Jerry
, the trustworthy car insurance broker app
, is here to help. We’ll help you figure out if you need a car in Las Vegas and while we’re at it, we’ll help you save on car insurance
, too!RECOMMENDED
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Where to get a rental car in Las Vegas
If you’re visiting
Las Vegas
and plan on visiting attractions outside the downtown strip, getting a rental car is probably a good idea especially if you have kids. Las Vegas has plenty of car rental locations, including at the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). For great customer service and unlimited mileage, head to an Enterprise Rent-A-Car location, but if you want affordable rates check out Budget and Avis, or try booking through a third-party rental website like Kayak.
When it comes to the type of car to rent when you visit Las Vegas, you can rent anything from a practical compact car to a luxury full-size SUV since most hotels and casinos on the strip have free parking garages for guests and visitors and offer valet services. However, street parking can be difficult and a small sedan could be to your advantage if you don’t plan on visiting the hotels and casinos.
If you’re on a budget, renting a smaller car is usually cheaper than a larger vehicle. Another great way to keep costs low? Wait to book the week before and save as much as 13% more than if you book several months in advance.
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
Do you need rental car insurance?
Whether or not you actually need rental insurance depends on the car insurance coverage you already have.
You can probably forgo the rental company’s insurance if you already have a full coverage car insurance policy since your
collision
and comprehensive coverage
will cover the rental vehicle. The catch? You’ll still have to pay your insurance deductible and hidden rental company costs like loss of use to the rental company, towing charges, admin fees, and diminished value in the event of damage.If your car insurance policy only includes
basic liability insurance
or you don’t have car insurance to begin with, you should opt for the collision damage waiver (CDW). This will cover collision damage and those hidden fees mentioned earlier.MORE: How to avoid being unfairly charged for rental car damage
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Do you need a car in Las Vegas?
Now that you know how to get a rental car in Las Vegas, let’s answer the question of whether you actually need one.
The answer depends on the reason for your Vegas trip and where you plan to go. If you’re traveling to Sin City for a bachelorette party or adult weekend and your trip is confined to the Strip, the downtown area home to famous hotels like the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and the Venetian, you won’t need a rental car.
You can explore the city on foot, bike, and electric scooter or use Vegas’ public transportation system to go pretty much anywhere you want downtown. But once you start traveling outside the city center, a rental car will be your best bet.
Where public transportation can take you
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) operates Las Vegas’ public transit bus system the
Deuce
, which runs throughout the downtown and residential areas. You can purchase a 2 Hour Pass for just $6, a 24 Hour Pass for $8, or a 3-Day Pass for $20 and pay with exact cash on-board Deuce vehicles or card via the downloadable rideRTC transit app
or select ticket vending machines
.When you visit Las Vegas, there are only two bus routes you need to know—
Deuce on the Strip
and the free to ride Downtown Loop
. Here’s where they’ll take you:- Every resort on the Las Vegas Strip
- The Arts District north and south
- Brewery Row
- The Strat
- Pawn Plaza
- City Hall
- Fremont East Entertainment District
- Mob Museum
- Circa
- Fremont Street Experience
- Symphony Park
- Las Vegas North Premium Outlet
You can also use the Monorail—a 3.9-mile elevated system that allows you to navigate the Las Vegas Strip in just 15 minutes with speeds of up to 50 mph. Single-ride and multi-day mobile tickets can be purchased
online
for between $5 and $57.50 depending on the pass you choose. Where public transportation can’t take you
The Deuce and Monorail can take you anywhere in downtown Las Vegas and along the Strip besides residential areas, and that’s pretty much the extent of their services. If you’re planning a day trip to anywhere outside of the Las Vegas city center, you’ll need a rental car to visit these nearby attractions:
- Red Rock Canyon
- Valley of Fire
- Hoover Dam
- Seven Magic Mountains
- Lake Mead
- Mount Charleston
How to save on car insurance in Las Vegas
Whether you own a car in Las Vegas or are renting one for a trip, car expenses can burn a hole in your wallet. Thankfully, the
Jerry
app can help you cut those costs in a matter of seconds. Just download the app and in less than 45 seconds, Jerry collects all of your information from your existing insurer. Choose from competitive quotes from top insurance companies and Jerry takes care of the rest—securing your new policy and helping you cancel your old one upon request. No long forms, no calling around, no hard work.
With the average Jerry user saving over $800 per year on car insurance, you could cover your trip to Vegas!
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