Many people prefer to pay for everything in cash while on vacation. This makes sense, since it’s easier to track your spending. However, when it comes to renting a car, most places only take credit cards…unless you’re in Las Vegas!
There are several car rental companies in Las Vegas that accept cash as an initial payment option, including Rentheim, AAA Car Rentals and Global Autos. Rental cars paid for in cash instead of credit cards are typically subject to higher security deposits and require an additional form of identification.
| Rental Company | Accepts 100% Cash | Credit Check | Security Deposit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rentheim | yes | no | $250 | $ |
| AAA Car Rentals | yes | no | $200-$300 | $ |
| Global Autos | yes | no | $300 | $ |
Renting a car can be a pain, particularly in a city as busy as Las Vegas. Although there are some companies that will accept cash only rentals, many of them have additional requirements that have to be met. In this post, I walk you exactly through which companies accept cash and what their rental requirements are. I’ll also let you know about some of the risks associated with renting a car with cash.
Where to Rent a Car with Cash in Las Vegas
Most car rental companies don’t accept cash for initial payments or for security deposits. There are only a handful of companies that accept upfront cash payments. They include:
- Rentheim
- AAA Car Rentals
- Global Autos
Dollar Rent A Car also states that they offer cash rentals on their website. I called them to confirm, but the rep on the phone told me that Dollar is no longer doing cash rentals.
The list of places in Las Vegas where you can rent a car with 100% cash is very short. However, there are plenty of places that accept cash for the final payment when you return the vehicle. These places still require a credit or debit card for the security deposit, but allow you make your final payment in cash. These companies include:
- Advantage
- Alamo
- Budget
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- National
- Ace
- Fox
- NU Rentals
It’s important to note that not all locations accept cash for security reasons. So if you plan on paying for your rental in cash, I recommend going with one of the companies that always accepts 100% cash payments.
Requirements for Cash Only Car Rentals in Las Vegas
The car rental companies that accept cash payments are extremely easy to work with. All you really need is a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. If you don’t have insurance, or if your current insurance isn’t sufficient, they will require you purchase one of their protection plans.
I also recommend you bring two forms of identification. Most of the time you won’t need it, but it can prevent potential issues.
Other than that, there is really nothing else you need. There are no credit checks and all three companies rent to drivers under the age of 25.
Best Places to Rent a Car with Cash in Las Vegas
These are the only places to rent a car with cash in Las Vegas. All of these companies are local to Las Vegas and much smaller than the bigger chains. None of them require a credit card, or even a debit card. You can do everything in cash.
Rentheim
Rentheim is the best company to rent a car from with cash. They have very good prices and excellent customer service. You’re also able to book everything easily online.
- Location: 5 minutes from McCarran Airport
- Rating: 5/5 Stars
- Credit Check: No
- Price: $
They will rent to drivers under the age of 25 and there’s no credit check. Rentheim does require security deposit of $250 that is fully refunded once you return the vehicle.
There is a limit to the number of daily miles you can put on the car, however you can add unlimited miles for $60.
AAA Car Rentals
AAA Car Rentals is another company that accepts cash payments (no association to the AAA the roadside assistance company). They’re located a bit further from the airport (about 10 minutes).
- Location: 10 minutes from McCarran Airport
- Rating: 4.2/5 Stars
- Credit Check: No
- Price: $
They have really good prices, but their cars seem a bit older. In my experience, I didn’t see anything super negative, but it’s worth mentioning that they have very mixed reviews online (4.2 stars on Google but 2.5 on Yelp).
AAA puts a 100 mile daily limit on their cars. If you plan on going over that, they charge $0.45 per mile. Again, no credit checks here. Expect to put down a security deposit of $200-$300.
Global Autos
Global Autos is very similar to AAA Car Rentals, although located slightly closer to the airport. They have very good prices, but their vehicles seem to be a bit older. They also have plenty of mixed reviews online.
- Location: 5 minutes from McCarran Airport
- Rating: 2.4/5 Stars
- Credit Check: No
- Price: $
Global does not do credit checks, and they rent to anyone over the age of 20 with a valid driver’s license. Security deposits are $300.
They also limit the daily miles you can put on your car to 100. You’ll have to pay $0.45 per mile after that. They will increase the security deposit by $75 if you plan on going more than 100 miles.
One last thing to note about Global is that you can’t make a reservation. You have to walk in because their inventory changes everyday.
Risks of Renting a Car with Cash in Las Vegas
Generally, I recommend using either a debit or credit card to rent a car. Using a card allows you to dispute charges if there is an issue with your rental. If you use cash and have a dispute, you’re guaranteed to lose your security deposit.
If you have bad credit, I wrote another article here about where to rent a car in Las Vegas with a debit card. There are a couple of companies I mention in that article that don’t do credit checks.
If cash is your only option, I would recommend you go with Rentheim. They are the closest to the airport and have the best reviews.
This post is part of a series comparing the best rental car companies in Las Vegas. Check out the next article in the series comparing all of the rental car companies at the airport in Las Vegas.
