Las Vegas Taxi 2023 Base Rates - Harry Reid

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Update: Currently, the rates are $3 higher, $22, $26, and $30, respectively

As of December 20, 2019, you will only have to pay a Las Vegas Taxi Base Rate when traveling from Harry Reid International Airport to a Las Vegas Strip hotel or from a Las Vegas Strip hotel to Harry Reid International Airport.

Las Vegas Taxi's Zone Based Pricing Map — Las Vegas Taxi – Zone-Based Pricing Map

Why Do We Use the Term Base Rate and Not Flat Rate?

The main reason we say the word base, as opposed to flat, is because the rate you end up paying could potentially be higher than what is posted in this article, or in the taxi cab, based on what you decide to do. There are 2 variables.

Tipping – Should you wish to give the Las Vegas Taxi Cab driver a tip, that will make your total higher. That amount is totally dependent on your generosity and/or how good of a job you feel the driver performed their duties. Your tip is greatly appreciated by the driver and the community, as that money typically stays local.
Credit Card Use – Should you decide to use a credit card, the credit card company that provides the credit card machine, located inside of the Las Vegas Taxi Cab, charges $3 per transaction to use their machine. If you use their machine, expect $3 to be added to your total.

Why Have Las Vegas Taxi Base Rates?

There has been some speculation as to why Base Rate Las Vegas Taxi fares have been implemented by the Taxicab Authority. We personally feel there are two reasons.

A base rate from the airport to a Strip hotel and from a Strip hotel to the airport makes taxis more competitive with Uber and Lyft. Why? An advantage taxis have over ridesharing options is that it’s illegal for taxis to impose a surge or prime price because there are more riders than taxis available, as ridesharing companies do. With a base rate, the passenger will know how much the taxicab price will be every time. This can even allow the passenger to budget their transportation cost ahead of time, as opposed to it being a variable.
A base rate from the airport to a Strip hotel and from a Strip hotel to the airport will virtually eliminate all cab drivers from long-hauling passengers to and from the airport. Long hauling has been a problem for years in the taxicab industry. Because of it, many passengers decided to take other transportation options, rather than gamble on whether or not their cab driver was going to long haul them.

In our opinion, this move by the Taxicab Authority is a long time coming and we are happy that it’s here now.

Now, you might be asking, who benefits from a base rate to and from the airport and Las Vegas Strip hotel? Is it the cab drivers or cab passengers? Both actually. Here’s why:

Since the beginning of time, the rule for cab drivers has always been that they are to take the shortest route possible to the passenger’s destination. That didn’t mean the fastest route, just the shortest route. Many times, when traveling to and from some hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, the fastest way isn’t always the shortest way. Let’s take Treasure Island for example. When leaving the airport the fastest way would be to take the airport tunnel, to the 215, to the 15, exit at Spring Mountain, then take a right at the first light. That entire trip can be done without ever stopping at a traffic signal. As opposed to the potential of hitting, approximately 8 traffic signals when traveling via the surface streets, Swenson to Harmon, Harmon to Paradise, Paradise to Sands, then Sands to Las Vegas Blvd. The freeway is faster, although it would cost $5 to $7 more. Now, the cab driver can take whichever route they want, based on their knowledge of the traffic at the time.
For the passenger, as stated before, they now know what price they are going to pay, regardless of which route the cab driver takes. If the cab driver wants to take the freeway because it’s faster, the passenger pays the same amount either way. The passenger doesn’t have to worry if they might pay $30 from the airport to their hotel and $20 from their hotel to the airport. The price will always be the same. Another thing the passenger might enjoy is not seeing the meter tick away, adding more money to their trip, while they are sitting in traffic. That worry will be non-existent for the passenger, as long as their trip is to or from the airport.

We put together a couple of lists to make it easy for you to find out what the Las Vegas Taxi Base Rates are, either by Zone or by Hotel. Click either link below.

All in all, we feel that this decision makes a ton of sense for trips to and from the airport and Las Vegas Strip hotels for passengers and drivers alike. Good job Taxicab Authority and Las Vegas Cab Companies.