Rent a Car in New York City

Tips for renting a car in New York

While public transportation is often the preferred way to explore Manhattan, renting a car in New York City can be an excellent choice for travelers planning to explore destinations beyond the five boroughs. Having a rental vehicle provides flexibility for visiting nearby regions, scenic drives, and attractions throughout the northeastern United States.

Major rental companies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, Alamo, Sixt, Dollar, and Thrifty operate at JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, and numerous locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Airport rental locations generally offer the largest selection of vehicles and the most competitive pricing.

A rental car opens access to destinations such as the Hudson Valley, Long Island, the Hamptons, Catskills, Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston, Cape Cod, Newport, and numerous small towns throughout New York State and New England. Travelers often combine New York City with road trips through the northeastern United States to experience coastal scenery, wineries, historic sites, and national parks.

Driving within Manhattan can be challenging due to heavy traffic, limited parking availability, toll roads, and congestion pricing programs. For this reason, many visitors choose to rent a car only when leaving the city. Once outside Manhattan, however, driving becomes significantly easier and offers access to many destinations that are difficult to reach by public transportation alone.