"Nu SLC is one of the better-reviewed US locations in the network. The price is real, the logistics are specific, and a short preparation window before you land changes the experience significantly."
If the price at Nu SLC is noticeably lower than everything else on the page, that gap is real. Nu operates off airport property, runs a leaner operation than the on-airport brands, and passes that saving on in the base rate. The trade-off is logistics: an off-airport shuttle you call rather than catch, and a counter that moves at its own pace. Know both before you land and there's nothing to be surprised by.
Operating hours and booking type
Nu isn't an on-airport brand running around the clock. The Salt Lake City location operates 8:00 AM to 12:30 AM daily.` That covers most arrival windows, but it's worth checking against your realistic arrival time — not just the scheduled one. Vehicles are held for up to 2 hours past your reservation time, but only within operating hours. A flight delayed past 12:30 AM falls outside that window regardless of your reservation. If your timing is uncertain, TotalFlex (pay at location) lets you cancel without penalty before your scheduled pickup time; a prepaid rate has limited refund paths if the location closes before you arrive.
Getting to Nu's lot
Nu doesn't have a desk in the terminal — pickup is on-call. When you land, the move is simple: cross the Sky Bridge, take the escalator or elevator down into the Rental Car Parking Garage, follow signs to the Off Airport Rental Car Shuttle Pick Up Zone on the west side of the garage, and call +1-801-359-4269 to request the shuttle. The lot is at 72 North 2400 West, about 2 miles from the terminal.
The shuttle runs on-call, not on a fixed schedule. Most travellers report it arriving within 10–20 minutes of calling, though that stretches at busy periods. Call as soon as you reach the shuttle zone — the clock starts when you phone, not when you land.
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What you'll pay at checkout
Nu's checkout shows the full total before you confirm — base rate, taxes, and every local fee on one screen. Nothing is added at the counter beyond optional add-ons you choose. What surprises some first-time renters is how far the final number sits above the advertised base, so it's worth knowing what each line is before you see it.
On a one-day economy car rental at SLC, the checkout breaks down like this:
- Base rate — $28.07. What Nu charges for the car.
- Vehicle License Fee (VLF) — $5.00. Utah's vehicle registration and titling recovery charge, applied by every brand at SLC.
- Tourism surcharge — $3.58. A Utah state levy required of all rental companies.
- Operator Recovery Fee — $3.43. Nu's off-airport equivalent of an airport concession fee — the overhead cost of operating near the airport.
- Rental tax — $3.00. Standard Utah state rental tax.
- Energy Recovery Fee (ERF) — $1.20. An internal Nu surcharge covering utility costs, bus fuel, and fleet operating expenses.
- EP Surcharge — $1.33. A small operational add-on. Nu doesn't define this abbreviation publicly — it's not a product you opted into.
Total: $45.61 for one day — roughly 62% in taxes and fees on top of the base rate. The government charges are fixed; the base rate varies by vehicle class and dates. Nu SLC also adds a 3% credit card surcharge on the transaction total, stated in their rental conditions for this location — small, but worth knowing before you see it on your statement.
What to expect at the counter
Nu SLC is independently operated under the Nu brand — and it shows in the right way. Travellers who rent here repeatedly are vocal about it: prices are honoured, there's no pressure on add-ons, and the cars are clean. For a budget supplier, that's a better starting point than most.
Wait times are the one thing worth planning for. Mid-week and off-season the counter moves quickly. Friday afternoons, holiday weekends, and peak ski season in January and February are a different story — one agent working through contracts means the queue can run 30–60 minutes. Landing at noon on a Saturday in February is not the same experience as a Tuesday morning in April. Build the buffer in before you land rather than after.
Occasionally a traveller arrives for a booked vehicle class and is offered something different — sometimes at a higher price. Booking a specific vehicle class rather than a supplier's choice rate reduces that risk.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Nu SLC is worth booking if the price gap is meaningful and two things check out — your flight arrives before 12:30 AM, and your credit card covers rental collision damage. The checkout shows the full total upfront including all Utah taxes and local fees — nothing arrives as a surprise at the counter. What's specific to Nu is the off-airport shuttle and the operating hours window. Plan for both and the saving tends to hold.
If you're already booked: Four things before you land. Confirm your arrival time against Nu's 12:30 AM closing. Check your credit card's rental coverage. Save the address (72 North 2400 West) and the pickup number (+1-801-359-4269). At the lot, photograph the car before you drive off and read every line on the contract before you sign — the Nu brand review covers the insurance and deposit decisions in full.
If you've returned the car and have a question about a charge: If you booked through a third-party platform, raise it there first. Then contact Nu in writing with your signed contract and any photos taken at pickup. Give it one week. If unresolved, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step.
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- Nu SLC runs on-call shuttle service — no fixed frequency. If your flight lands close to closing time, operating hours matter more than the 2-hour hold window.
- TotalFlex (pay at location) looks like no-commitment booking but carries a no-show fee of one day's rental or $50 minimum if you don't cancel before your scheduled pickup time.
- A 3% credit card surcharge applies to all transactions at Nu's Salt Lake City location — it's in the T&Cs but easy to miss.
- Geographic restriction: travel is permitted in Utah, Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana only. Violation triggers a $0.50/mile charge for the entire rental.
- After-hours returns are billed to the start of the next business day — Nu is not responsible for the vehicle until a staff member inspects it.
- Photograph the car at pickup — exterior and interior with timestamps. Post-return damage claims are significantly easier to contest with a photo set from the lot.
- Debit cards are not accepted. The deposit hold ($300–$3,000 depending on vehicle and duration) lands on your credit card at pickup, not at booking.
- Read every line on the contract before you sign — add-ons can appear as pre-ticked options. A signed contract is harder to dispute than one you caught at the desk.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I go when I land at SLC to pick up my Nu rental?
After baggage claim, cross the Sky Bridge and take the escalator or elevator down into the Rental Car Parking Garage. Follow signs to the Off Airport Rental Car Shuttle Pick Up Zone on the west side of the garage, then call Nu at +1-801-359-4269 to request pickup. The lot is about 2 miles from the terminal at 72 North 2400 West. Nu operates 8:00 AM to 12:30 AM daily.
I already booked Nu at Salt Lake City — what should I do before pickup?
Three things: check your credit card's rental coverage so the insurance decision at the counter is already made; confirm your flight's realistic arrival time against Nu's 12:30 AM closing; and note that a 3% credit card surcharge applies at this location. Screenshot your booking confirmation and bring a major credit card — debit cards are not accepted.
Nu Car Rental charged me after I returned the car — what are my options?
If you booked through a third-party platform, raise it there first. Then contact Nu in writing with your signed rental agreement and return photos. Give them one week to respond. If the charge remains unresolved, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step.
Is TotalFlex really free to cancel?
TotalFlex (pay at location) only places a $1 authorization hold at booking. No charge occurs unless you fail to show up without cancelling — in which case a no-show fee of one day's rental or a $50 minimum applies. Cancel before your scheduled pickup time and there's no penalty. The risk is for flights delayed past Nu's 12:30 AM closing: if the location treats it as a no-show, the fee can apply even if you called ahead.
What states can I drive a Nu rental from Salt Lake City?
Utah, Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Travel outside these states triggers a $0.50 per mile charge for the entire rental — not just the miles driven outside the permitted area.
Is Nu worth booking at Salt Lake City if the price is significantly lower?
Generally yes, with two conditions: your credit card covers rental collision damage (so you can decline the counter insurance), and your flight arrives before 12:30 AM. The base price is genuine. The checkout shows the full total — including Utah taxes and local fees — before you confirm, and the same government charges appear on every brand's SLC receipt. SLC is one of Nu's more consistent US locations, and a prepared traveller tends to have a straightforward experience here.
