Take Harry Reid Airport as an example:
1. Reserve a car in advance through various travel apps. To complete the process, you’ll need to prepare the following: passport, original driver’s license, international driver’s license translation, an international credit card (in the driver’s name), and a rental voucher (issued after booking via the platform).
2. After collecting your luggage, head outside to the first floor and walk to the shuttle pick-up point. Enjoy a complimentary 20-minute ride directly to the car rental center. Here, you’ll find several well-known car rental companies such as Enterprise, SIXT, Budget, Alamo, Avis, National, Thrifty, Dollar, and Payless.
3. Proceed to the appropriate counter and speak with the staff. Present all the documents listed in step one to finalize your car rental. Note that when booking through an app, insurance fees are usually included. If the staff tries to upsell you on a fuel card or extra insurance, politely decline if it doesn’t suit your needs.
Additionally, they may temporarily freeze a portion of your credit card balance to cover any potential traffic violations. This amount will be refunded within 30-60 days if no infractions occur.
4. Collect your vehicle. The staff will guide you to the pickup location, typically in the parking lot, by directing you to a numbered spot on the ground.
The key will already be inside the car. Once you’ve verified everything is in order, you’re free to drive off. Remember, the driver taking the car out must match the information provided during the rental process. Security checks are conducted at the exit, so only the registered driver can leave initially.
However, once outside, the driver can be changed without further inspection.
5. Hit the road! Familiarize yourself with American traffic rules beforehand. Generally, they aren’t too different from what you might know domestically. If you’re unfamiliar at first, take it slow and cautious while driving.
6. Fueling up. Before returning the car, ensure it’s fully refueled. Ask the staff which type of gasoline the car requires. You can refuel at any gas station using self-service pumps. First, insert your credit card, enter the PIN, and select the appropriate gasoline type. The nozzle on the right is for gasoline, while the left is for diesel.
Typically, choosing the right-side nozzle should suffice.
7. Return the car. Refuel the vehicle and drive back to the car rental center. Be mindful of which company you rented from and park in their designated area. Leave the keys inside the car and exit—no on-site inspection seems necessary for foreign drivers.
8. After returning the car, catch the shuttle bus outside the car rental center to return to the terminal for your next flight.
