Quick Summary:
- Open the boot, lift the floor, and locate the foam tool tray.
- Check jack, wheel brace, and tow eye match the car’s mounting points.
- Confirm everything clips in place, then refit panels so nothing rattles.
- If anything is missing, return to the desk before leaving the car park.
When you pick up a car hire in Las Vegas, it is easy to focus on fuel level, paperwork, and finding the exit. However, a 90 second boot check can save a lot of hassle later. The jack, wheel brace (lug wrench), and tow eye are small items that sometimes get removed during cleaning, left in a previous vehicle, or stored in a place you would not expect. If you discover they are missing only after you have driven away, sorting it out can become slower and more complicated.
This guide shows where these items are usually stored, how to confirm they actually fit your car, and what to do at the rental desk if something is missing. The steps below apply to most modern vehicles you will collect from Las Vegas, including compact cars, saloons, SUVs, and vans.
If you are collecting from an airport location, the process is identical, the only difference is the car park layout and how far you are from the counter. For location details tied to your pickup point, see Las Vegas airport car rental or car rental in Las Vegas.
Do this check before you drive out of the lot
The best time to check is immediately after you load your bags, while you are still in the pickup area. That way, you can walk back to the desk and ask for the missing tool without having to re-enter or explain why you have left the premises. In Las Vegas, queues can build quickly at peak times, so a fast, systematic check helps you keep moving.
Set your phone torch ready, open the boot, and keep the key with you. Make sure the vehicle is in Park with the handbrake on. If your car has a power tailgate, do not let it close on you while you are lifting panels, some vehicles will time out.
Where these items are usually stored in the boot
Most rental cars store these tools in one of three common places. You only need to check each area once.
1) Under the boot floor, in a foam tray around the spare or tyre kit
This is the most common setup. Lift the boot floor panel, which may be carpeted and sometimes has a fabric loop handle. Under it you may see a full size spare wheel, a space saver spare, or a tyre inflation kit. The tools are typically in a moulded foam insert either on top of the wheel or in a recessed compartment beside it.
Look for:
Jack, usually a small scissor jack or bottle style jack. It is often wrapped in a thin plastic sleeve or clipped into the foam.
Wheel brace, sometimes an L shaped wrench, sometimes a cross wrench, and sometimes a two piece wrench with a separate handle extension.
Tow eye, a short metal threaded hook or ring, often in a small bag. In many cars it is bright red or yellow, but it can also be plain metal.
Some vehicles also include a wheel locking nut key. That is not part of the title items, but if you see locking wheel nuts on the alloy wheels, you should also confirm the key is present, because without it a puncture becomes much harder to deal with.
2) Side cubbies in the boot, behind a small access door
On some saloons and SUVs, the jack and brace are stored in a left or right boot side compartment. These often have a small hinged door or a removable cover. Open both sides quickly, as one side may hold the warning triangle or first aid kit, and the other may hold tools.
If you have a larger vehicle, such as from van rental in Las Vegas, storage can be more variable. Vans sometimes keep tools under a rear seat, behind a side panel, or in a fixed plastic tray in the load area.
3) With the tow eye stored somewhere other than the jack
The tow eye is the item most often separated from the rest. It may be:
In the glovebox with the owner documents.
In a small bag in the centre console.
In the same pouch as the locking wheel nut key.
If you cannot find it in the boot tray, check the glovebox quickly. You are not looking for a long towing rope, just the threaded metal eye that screws into the bumper.
How to confirm the jack is present and correct
Finding a jack is not enough. You want to know it is the correct type for the vehicle and that it is usable.
Check the jack’s condition. Look for obvious bending, missing pins, or seized mechanisms. A jack that looks damaged should be swapped before you leave.
Confirm you have the handle. Many jacks need a crank handle or a two piece rod. Make sure every piece is present, not just the jack body.
Confirm there is somewhere to use it. Look for the jacking points. Most cars have small notches or reinforced points along the sill, often marked by arrows on the plastic trim. You do not need to lift the car, just confirm the jack head shape looks compatible with the pinch weld or designated point.
Know what you are lifting for. Some cars have no spare wheel at all, only a tyre inflation kit. Even then, the vehicle can still carry a jack for emergency clearance, but many will not. If there is no spare, you are mainly checking for a tow eye and wheel brace if the wheel must be removed during recovery.
How to confirm the wheel brace fits your wheel nuts
This is the most important practical check, because a wheel brace can be present but the wrong size.
Identify the fastener type. Most vehicles use hex lug nuts, but some use lug bolts. Both typically need a standard socket size.
Test fit on one nut only. Choose a single wheel nut on an accessible wheel, push the brace or socket on, and confirm it seats fully without wobble. Do not loosen it in the car park unless you need to. You are simply checking size and engagement.
Look for a locking nut. If one nut has an unusual pattern, you will need a locking key. If the key is missing, treat it as essential, because the wheel cannot be removed without it.
Check extension pieces. Some braces are designed to be used with an extension rod for leverage. Ensure you can assemble it and that the joints are not rounded off.
For SUVs, the brace may be larger, and sometimes stored with a different jack. If you are driving an SUV from SUV hire in Las Vegas, confirm the tool set matches the wheel size and that the spare, if present, is accessible.
How to confirm the tow eye is present and fits
The tow eye is only useful if it matches the vehicle’s tow point thread.
Find the tow eye cover location. Most cars have a small removable square or round cover on the front bumper, rear bumper, or both. The cover may have a little notch where you can pry it off with a key blade or plastic trim tool.
Do a quick alignment check. You do not need to remove the cover, but locate it so you know where the tow point is. If you do remove it, keep the cover safe, as losing it can lead to a charge.
Check the tow eye threads look clean. If the tow eye is heavily rusted or the threads look damaged, ask for a replacement before leaving.
Confirm it is the correct part. A tow eye from another model may look similar but not screw in. If you have time, carefully offer it up to the tow point opening after removing the cover. Do not force it. If it does not start threading easily, stop and ask the desk to verify the correct part.
How to confirm everything fits back properly and does not rattle
After you have located the items, take ten seconds to re-seat them correctly. Rental cars often develop boot rattles because tools have been left loose after inspections.
Clip each piece into the foam or brackets. The brace and tow eye should sit flush in their cut-outs. If something sits proud, you may have the wrong tool, or it is in the wrong slot.
Refit the spare wheel retainer. If there is a spare, ensure the centre bolt or clamp is tight by hand. A loose spare can thump over bumps.
Lay the boot floor flat. Make sure carpet edges are not folded, and any side covers are snapped back in place. Close the boot and listen for any immediate clunks when you press down on the bumper area.
What to do at the desk if anything is missing
If the jack, wheel brace, or tow eye is missing, handle it while you are still on site. Keep it simple and factual.
Step 1, take a quick photo. Photograph the empty compartment where the tool should sit, plus a wider shot showing the vehicle number plate or rental sticker. This helps avoid confusion and saves time if staff need to fetch parts.
Step 2, return to the desk or booth. Explain that you have not left the lot and that the safety tools are missing. Ask them to supply the missing item or swap the vehicle.
Step 3, request confirmation on paperwork. If they provide the tools, ask the agent to note it on your file, especially if the compartment looked damaged. If they swap the car, repeat the boot check on the replacement.
Step 4, consider your route. If you are about to drive out to remote areas, a complete kit matters more. Even around Las Vegas, a puncture can happen at awkward times, and waiting for assistance without a tow eye can add delays.
Provider processes vary, but the expectation is the car hire is supplied with the manufacturer’s standard tools where applicable. If you arranged your rental through Hola Car Rentals and need location specific context, you can review the relevant pages for Enterprise car hire in Las Vegas or National Car Rental in Nevada.
Extra Las Vegas practicalities that make this check worthwhile
Heat is a genuine factor. In summer, the boot area can be extremely hot, so do your check quickly and avoid kneeling on sun heated metal. Also, Las Vegas trips often include day drives to Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, or longer stretches towards Utah or Arizona. A missing tow eye might not matter until you need a recovery truck, at which point it becomes a real problem.
Finally, remember that some modern vehicles are supplied with run flat tyres or a sealant kit instead of a spare. In those cases, you may still need a tow eye for safe loading, and you should confirm the sealant kit is in date and the compressor is present, even though that is outside the core three items in the title.
FAQ
Q: What if my Las Vegas car hire has no spare wheel, only a tyre inflator? A: That can be normal. Still check for the tow eye and confirm the inflator and sealant canister are present and not obviously expired.
Q: Can I be charged if the jack or tow eye is missing when I return? A: Potentially, yes. If you spot anything missing at pickup, report it immediately and ask for it to be recorded on your rental file.
Q: Where is the tow eye cover usually located? A: Typically on the front bumper or rear bumper, behind a small removable plastic cap with a notch for prying.
Q: How do I know the wheel brace fits without loosening a wheel nut? A: Push the socket or brace fully onto one nut and confirm it seats snugly, with no wobble or slipping, then remove it.
Q: What should I do if the tools are present but look damaged? A: Go back to the desk before leaving the lot and request a replacement tool or a different vehicle for safety.
