Car Rental - Sat nav

Question

Hi All, Visiting next month from the UK and plan on renting a car for a couple of days and just wondering about the option to pay extra for Sat-nav. Most modern cars now have sat nav and USB ports built in, will they be active in the rental cars as standard or de-activated?

Answer

When renting a car in Las Vegas, especially from major rental companies, the availability of built-in satellite navigation (sat-nav) or GPS can vary depending on the vehicle class and model. Many modern rental cars do come with built-in infotainment systems that include navigation features, but these may not always be activated for rental use.

Here are some key points to consider:

Built-in GPS may not be active: Some rental cars have navigation systems that are disabled for rentals, and companies may offer a separate portable GPS unit for an additional daily fee.
Infotainment systems with smartphone integration: Even if the built-in sat-nav is deactivated, most modern rental cars support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto via USB or Bluetooth. This allows you to use Google Maps or Apple Maps directly from your phone, which often works just as well as a built-in GPS.
Rental fees: Renting a dedicated GPS from the rental company usually costs around $10-$15 per day. If you plan to use your smartphone with offline maps or mobile data, this fee may be unnecessary.

Tips for UK visitors:

Check with the rental company ahead of time about GPS availability in your specific car category.
Consider bringing a phone mount and an international data plan or local SIM card, which often gives you more up-to-date navigation options than the built-in systems.
Download offline maps for Google Maps or Apple Maps as a backup in case of poor signal areas.

In summary, most modern rental cars in Las Vegas will have infotainment systems capable of navigation, but the factory GPS might be inactive. Using your phone with CarPlay or Android Auto is generally a reliable and cost-effective alternative to paying extra for a rental sat-nav.

Car Rental - Sat nav

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