The cheapest LAX airport shuttle is free: Los Angeles World Airports runs no-charge shuttles from the terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center and to the LAX-it taxi and ride-app lot. From there you still pay for the next leg, US$1.75 on Metro rail or a metered taxi or app fare. A pre-booked private car from Elly8.net costs more, from US$170 to Beverly Hills in a Business Sedan, but the chauffeur meets you inside arrivals and the fixed price covers the whole car, not one seat.
So the question is not which is cheaper; the shuttle is, for one person. It is what you are buying for the difference: time, a walk with bags, a second wait at a pickup lot, and how many people share the fare. This comparison goes through each LAX shuttle in turn, then shows where the lines cross.
Is an LAX airport shuttle cheaper than a private car?
For one traveller with light luggage, yes: the free airport shuttle to the Metro Transit Center plus a US$1.75 Metro fare is far cheaper than any car. For two or more people with bags, the gap narrows fast, because a private car from LAX to Beverly Hills is a fixed US$170 per vehicle, not per person.
See Los Angeles prices and reserve
The LAX shuttles, one by one
"LAX shuttle" covers several different services. Here is what each one actually does.
The free LAX-it shuttle
Taxis and ride-app pickups at LAX are not at the terminal curb. According to Los Angeles World Airports, passengers either walk to the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1 or take the free LAX-it shuttle from the Lower/Arrivals Level. At busy times LAWA adds buses and ambassadors to the route.
This shuttle is free, but it is a step, not a journey. You ride it to the lot, then wait for your taxi or your app driver there. At peak arrival times, that is two waits instead of one, with your bags in hand.
The free shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center
The LAX/Metro Transit Center opened on June 6, 2025, where the Metro K Line and C Line meet. LAWA operates a free shuttle between the terminals and the Transit Center, with stops on the Lower/Arrivals Level at each terminal. From the station, the Metro regular fare is US$1.75, with daily and weekly caps.
For a solo traveller with a carry-on, heading somewhere on or near the rail network, this is the best-value way out of LAX. The costs are time and transfers: a shuttle, a platform, possibly a change of line, and the walk at the other end.
FlyAway buses
FlyAway is the bus service that connects LAX with set stops around the region; LAWA announced additional FlyAway service from Union Station and Van Nuys beginning July 1, 2026. As with any bus, you pay per person and travel stop to stop, so it suits travellers going to one of its stops who can live with a scheduled departure and a second leg from the stop to the final address.
Shared-ride vans
Shared-ride van companies typically carry several parties in one vehicle, dropping each at its own address. The per-person price is usually lower than a private car for a solo traveller. The trade is the wait while the van fills and the extra stops on the way: your drive to Beverly Hills can include someone else's drop-off in Marina del Rey. If you are on a schedule, that unpredictability is the cost.
Hotel courtesy and rental car shuttles
Many airport hotels run courtesy shuttles, and the rental car companies shuttle customers from the terminals to the new Rental Car Center, which LAWA says opened as a consolidated facility in March 2026. These are free to their own guests and customers, and only useful if your hotel or rental is the next stop.
The private car option
A pre-booked private car works differently. You give the desk your flight number when you book. The chauffeur tracks the flight, waits inside the arrivals area of your terminal with a name board, helps with the bags and walks you to the car. There is no LAX-it lot, no shuttle to a second pickup point and no app queue. Complimentary waiting starts after a tracked landing, so a late flight or a long immigration line does not change the price within the included time.
The LAX prices to Beverly Hills, about 12 mi (20 km) and around 22 minutes on a clear road, are fixed per vehicle:
- Business Sedan, up to 3 passengers: US$170
- Business SUV, up to 6 passengers: US$225
- First Class SUV: US$275
- First Class Sedan: US$300
- Executive Sprinter, up to 12 passengers: US$445
The price includes the chauffeur, vehicle, taxes, a standard gratuity and the meet and greet. Tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost. For Santa Monica, Downtown, Pasadena or any other address, the web booker gives a fixed quote. Read more on our airport transfers and meet and greet pages.
Side by side: cost, wait and comfort
This table compares the realistic options for a trip from LAX to a Westside hotel.
| Option | What you pay | Waits after you reach the curb | Bags and comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free shuttle + Metro rail | US$1.75 per person, shuttle free | Shuttle, then train, then the walk from the station | Fine with a carry-on, hard with large cases | Solo traveller, light bag, near a station |
| FlyAway bus | Per-person ticket | Fixed departure times, then a second leg from the stop | Set stops, second leg needed | Solo traveller to a FlyAway terminal |
| Shared-ride van | Per-person fare | Van fills, then other passengers' stops | Shared space, multiple drop-offs | Solo traveller not on a schedule |
| LAX-it shuttle + taxi | Free shuttle, then metered taxi | Shuttle, then the taxi queue at LAX-it | Taxi trunk, no meet and greet | No booking, off-peak arrival |
| LAX-it shuttle + app ride | Free shuttle, then a dynamic app fare | Shuttle, then the wait for your driver at LAX-it | Depends on car type, surge at peaks | Flexible solo trips off-peak |
| Elly8.net Business Sedan | US$170 fixed, per car | Chauffeur inside arrivals, flight tracked | Door to door, bags handled | Late flights, couples, meetings |
| Elly8.net Business SUV | US$225 fixed, per car | Chauffeur inside arrivals, flight tracked | 6 seats, 6 bags, child seats on request | Families and groups with luggage |
App-ride prices are not published in advance, and they change with demand. LAWA's Board of Airport Commissioners has also approved higher rideshare pickup and drop-off fees, set to take effect with the activation of the SkyLink people mover.
The per-person maths
The private car looks expensive for one person and cheap for four, because it is priced per vehicle.
- One traveller: US$170 in a Business Sedan, against US$1.75 by rail. The rail wins on price by a long way, if the time and transfers are acceptable.
- Two travellers: US$85 each in the sedan. Still more than shuttle and rail, but now competitive with two separate per-person tickets on a scheduled bus or shared van once you count the second leg.
- Four travellers with bags: US$225 for a Business SUV, about US$56 each, door to door. A sedan-size app ride may not fit four people with checked bags, so an XL vehicle is often needed.
- Ten travellers: US$445 for the Executive Sprinter, under US$45 each, all in one vehicle.
Time: the hidden cost of the curb
LAWA's own guidance is that travellers should expect to reach the curb about 15 minutes after landing with no checked bags, 30 minutes with checked bags and 45 minutes on international arrivals. That is before any shuttle. Each shuttle-based option then adds a ride and a wait: to the LAX-it lot, to the Transit Center platform, or to the next scheduled bus.
With a chauffeur, the clock stops when you walk out of baggage claim, because the driver is already there. After a long-haul flight into the Tom Bradley International Terminal, or a red-eye with children, that is usually what people are paying for.
The honest verdict
Take the free shuttle and Metro if you are travelling alone, with a carry-on, in daylight, to somewhere near a station, and your time is flexible. It is the best value from LAX by far.
Take FlyAway or a shared van if you are solo with a large bag and your destination fits their routes, and an hour of slack does not matter.
Take a taxi or app ride from LAX-it for a spontaneous trip at a quiet hour, when you have not booked anything and the queue is short.
Book a private car when the arrival is late at night, when you are two or more with checked bags, when you have children who need car seats (available on request), when a meeting or event follows the flight, when you want a fixed budget with no surge, or when the trip must go on a company invoice. For a wider view, see chauffeur vs shared airport shuttle and chauffeur vs Uber and Lyft.
Departures: the shuttle problem in reverse
Going to LAX is where shuttles are least forgiving, because a scheduled bus or a shared van that is late can mean a missed flight. A private car picks up at your door at a time you choose, and the fixed price does not rise in traffic. The LAX round trip to Beverly Hills, both legs on one booking, is listed from US$325 in a Business Sedan to US$850 in an Executive Sprinter, 5% below two one-way fares.
For a deeper look at what a fixed LAX price includes and what can be added, read our guide to flat rate car service to LAX. If you are landing in Orange County instead, our comparison of SNA to Disneyland shuttles and private cars covers John Wayne Airport.
Booking a private car at LAX
- Route and flight. Choose LAX to Beverly Hills on the Los Angeles page, or enter any address in the web booker, and add the flight number.
- Vehicle. Pick by passengers and bags; the fleet page lists the capacity of each class.
- Reserve. Press Reserve now and pay securely. The confirmation arrives by email, with the chauffeur's details before landing.
Rides in Los Angeles are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup; 10% applies at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free shuttle at LAX?
Yes. LAWA runs a free shuttle from the Lower/Arrivals Level to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where the K Line and C Line meet, and a free LAX-it shuttle to the taxi and ride-app pickup lot east of Terminal 1. Both are a first step; you then pay for the train, taxi or app ride.
How long does an LAX shuttle take compared with a private car?
It depends on the shuttle, but every shuttle-based option adds at least one extra ride and one extra wait after you reach the curb. With a pre-booked private car the chauffeur meets you inside arrivals, so the journey starts when you leave baggage claim. On a clear road LAX to Beverly Hills takes about 22 minutes.
How much is a private car from LAX to Beverly Hills?
From US$170 in a Business Sedan, US$225 in a Business SUV, US$275 in a First Class SUV, US$300 in a First Class Sedan and US$445 in an Executive Sprinter. Prices are fixed per vehicle and include the chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet.
Where does the chauffeur meet you at LAX?
Inside the arrivals area of your terminal, with a name board. You do not need to take the LAX-it shuttle or find a pickup lot. Your confirmation explains the meeting point, and the desk confirms it for your terminal, including the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Is a shuttle better for a solo traveller?
Often, yes. One person with a carry-on, travelling in daylight to somewhere near a Metro station, will save a lot with the free shuttle and a US$1.75 rail fare. A private car makes more sense for a late arrival, heavy luggage, a meeting soon after landing, or when a company is paying and needs an invoice.
Can a private car take a family with car seats?
Yes. Child seats are available on request; tell us the age and weight of each child when you book. A Business SUV seats up to 6 with 6 bags for US$225 from LAX to Beverly Hills, which is usually the easiest way to move a family and luggage in one vehicle.
