Schenectady car rentals from $49/day

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Schenectady with a pick-up date of 8/12 and drop-off date of 8/20. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.

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Car Rental Deals
Useful Info
Car Rental Deals

Cheap car rentals in Schenectady

Discover the best prices and deals for your travel.
Chevrolet Spark car
Chevrolet Spark
or similar Small
2
2
2/4
$66/day
View Deal
Nissan Sentra car
Nissan Sentra
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$52/day
View Deal
Chevrolet Spark car
Chevrolet Spark
or similar Small
2
2
2/4
$66/day
View Deal
Nissan Sentra car
Nissan Sentra
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$52/day
View Deal
* These are the best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours and may change
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular agency

Most popular car type

Average price

Good deal

Hertz
Intermediate
$82/day
$60/day

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Schenectady car rentals

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Schenectady with confidence.

How far in advance should you book a rental car in Schenectady?

You should book your rental car in Schenectady around 80 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest car rental company in Schenectady?

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Hertz ($36.01/day), Dollar ($52.63/day) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car ($76.90/day). The cheapest rental car price was found at Hertz 1592 State Street (2.4 mi from city center).

What is the best rental car company in Schenectady?

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Schenectady are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (10.0, 1 review), Hertz (6.2, 6 reviews), and National (8.3).
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Rated 10.0/10
Hertz
Hertz
Rated 6.2/10
National
National
Rated 8.3/10
Thrifty
Thrifty
Rated 5.6/10

What is the most popular rental car in Schenectady?

Intermediate rentals (Class Intermediate Car or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in Schenectady. Intermediate rentals in Schenectady cost $68/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as $57/day.

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Schenectady?

The cheapest month to rent a car in Schenectady is January at an average cost of $39/day. July is the most expensive month to rent a car in Schenectady when prices are $99/day on average, which tends to be 67% above the yearly average rental price for Schenectady.

What rental car company in Schenectady has the most locations?

Dollar operates 2 locations in Schenectady, more than any other rental company.
Find deals

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Schenectady

  • Car rentals in Schenectady will provide you with the flexibility and freedom you need to explore some of the city’s most popular attractions, including the Nott Memorial and the scenic Central Park Rose Garden. Head out on a leisurely road trip to one of the cities in the surrounding area, whether it be Albany or Saratoga Springs. With your own vehicle, you can even go to sights that are off the beaten path, including the Mohawk River State Park which is about a 20min drive from the city center.
  • If you’re interested in reserving car rentals in Schenectady, you can do so directly at Albany International Airport once your flight has landed. You’ll find the rental car center located directly next to the baggage claim in the Arrivals Terminal, with the fleets placed in the airport’s main parking garage. There are several rental car companies to choose from, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
  • The region has many pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, so make sure to pay particularly close attention when driving to avoid being in an accident. If you’re driving on a local highway, try to stay in the right-hand lane, as the left-hand lane is generally reserved for cars that need to pass. As Schenectady is a large city with many streets, it can often be difficult for those that are not familiar with the area to find their way. To prevent yourself from getting lost, you can add a GPS to Schenectady car rentals.
  • The state of New York often has high levels of rain and snow during the winter months, which can make the local roads more difficult than normal to drive on. If you find yourself driving during this weather, make sure to decrease your speed limit and add any necessary winter equipment to your vehicle. Highways 5, 7, and 890 are also known for having a substantial amount of traffic, so you may want to avoid being on these roads between the hours of 8-9am and 5-6pm.
  • The following key documents will be needed to rent a car from any of the cheap car rentals in Schenectady. First, you will need a credit card. Your credit card should have enough credit limit to meet your car rental charges. Second, you will need a valid driver's license devoid of major endorsement within 12 months. Third, if you are a non-US citizen, you will need a valid passport for identification. You should also note that most Schenectady car rentals reject cash payments. A majority may also reject a debit card.
  • Most cheap car rentals in Schenectady have adopted minimum and maximum age restrictions. For you to rent a car with most agencies, you will need to be at least 21. You should, however, remember that if you're allowed to rent a car at age 21, most of the Schenectady car rentals have adopted a young driver's policy The policy requires young drivers to pay the daily young driver's fee as a safety measure. Some car rentals have also set their maximum age limit at 75. At 75, you will be requested also to pay the daily safety insurance charges before you can be issued your rental car's keys.
  • Before you embark on your road trips with your rented car from the cheap car rentals in Schenectady, you should research your routes to confirm whether they are toll-free or will attract tolls. For instance, if you are using the I-890 road that runs from exit 26 of the New York State thruway's toll booth, you should budget for the tolls. Other toll roads include; Interstate 90, Interstate 87, and Interstate 287.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in Schenectady for $60 or less
  • Full-size rental cars in Schenectady are around 37% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in Schenectady

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Schenectady?

    To safely navigate through the area’s rain and snow, consider choosing a 4WD SUV for your car rental. Many of the streets and highways in the region are large, giving you plenty of room to drive this kind of vehicle. The extra space will also come in handy if you decide to go on a road trip, as you will be able to store any necessary luggage or recreational equipment.

  • What’s the speed limit in Schenectady?

    If you’re driving on a residential or business street in Schenectady, the speed limit will normally be a maximum of 25mph. When driving near a school, you can plan on it being 20mph. Local highways usually have a limit of 65mph, but this may vary depending on the exact stretch of road that you’re on. Larger streets that are in more remote parts of the city may have a speed limit of up to 45mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Schenectady?

    Downtown Schenectady has quite a lot of free street parking for drivers to take advantage of. If you’re unable to find a free spot, you can also park somewhere with a meter between the hours of 8am-6pm. If you are in a spot with a meter outside of these hours, keep in mind that parking is free. There are also some paid parking garages that you can choose from, such as the Schenectady Municipal Parking Garage.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in Schenectady?

    On average a rental car in Schenectady costs $82 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Schenectady found in the last 2 weeks is $46.

  • Which car rental companies are at Albany Intl airport (ALB)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Albany Intl airport include Dollar, Budget and Thrifty.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Albany Intl airport (ALB)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Albany Intl airport to off-airport locations include Dollar, Budget, and Thrifty.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in Schenectady?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Schenectady?

    An Intermediate car rental in Schenectady costs $59 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Compact car rental cost in Schenectady?

    A Compact car rental in Schenectady costs $102 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car rental cost in Schenectady?

    A Standard car rental in Schenectady costs $125 per day, on average.

  • Should I get insurance when renting a car in Schenectady?

    Most car rental providers in Schenectady offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Schenectady, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

  • How many car agencies are operating in Schenectady?

    KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 3 car rental agencies in Schenectady.

  • What do I need to know before booking a car rental in Schenectady?

    Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).

  • Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Schenectady?

    KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Schenectady so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.

  • Can one rent an electric car in Schenectady?

    You can rent an electric car from many of the cheap car rentals in Schenectady. The availability of about 93 public charging station ports in Schenectady makes it convenient to rent an electric car from any of your cheap car rentals in Schenectady. Popular charging stations are located along Watt Street, Harborside Dr., and Liberty Street.

  • What roads can I make from Schenectady?

    Renting a car from any of your cheap car rentals in Schenectady should allow you to explore Schenectady's neighborhoods conveniently. With your rented car from Schenectady Car Rentals, you can take your daytime road to nearby cities such as; Newark, Jersey City, and Boston. Newark is about 144 miles from Schenectady; Jersey City is about 145 miles away; and Boston is about 149 miles away.

Schenectady car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

10.0

Wonderful

Read 1 review

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

8.0

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

1485 State St

+1 518 374 7890

Monday07:30 - 17:30
Tuesday07:30 - 17:30
Wednesday07:30 - 17:30
Thursday07:30 - 17:30
Friday07:30 - 17:30
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

6.2

Okay

Read 6 reviews

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.2

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.5

Value for money

6.2

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

1592 State Street

+1 518 372 5187

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Oct 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Harold was exceptional at the counter service! Car was ready, clean, and full gas tank. Joined their Gold Club!

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Sep 2022

KAYAK
Great car. Easy, convenient pickup and drop off.

4.0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Dec 2020

KAYAK

Cons:

Car was dirty inside, a size smaller than I expected, tires were low and had me sliding in the rain, windshield wipers needed replacing, and it stunk of cigarette smoke.

6.0 Okay

Kristin, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The staff was nice

Cons:

I was not allowed to drop off at another location, even though I dropped off 3 days earlier than what I had paid for. Made what I needed to do much more difficult.

5.6 Fair

Anonymous, Aug 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff was friendly. Store seemed understaffed.

Cons:

My car smelled like old smoke. When I got out if the car after driving, my clothes had the same smell.

1 out of 2

National

8.3

Very good

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Rd

+1 844 366 2648

Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

5.6

Fair

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

851 Old Albany Shaker Road

+1 877 283 0898

Monday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Tuesday05:30 - 23:5900:00 - 00:00
Wednesday05:30 - 23:5900:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Friday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

No score available yet

2 locations in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

1592 State Street

+1 518 372 5187

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

737 Albany Shaker Road

+1 518 456 1777

Monday05:30 - 23:59
Tuesday05:30 - 23:59
Wednesday05:30 - 23:59
Thursday05:30 - 23:59
Friday05:30 - 23:59
Saturday05:30 - 23:59
Sunday05:30 - 23:59

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

7.9 Good

Maxine, Jun 2021

KAYAK
Good customer service was given.

10.0 Wonderful

Sue, May 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

Yes!

Cons:

Not much!

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Mar 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

dropoff esy

Cons:

provide me with the car i asked for

5.6 Fair

S, Nov 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff remained professional and friendly in poor working conditions

Cons:

Leave the pick up inside the airport and have someone deliver the cars to the door or have a golf cart to take the customer out to the car, it is very difficult dragging all your luggage out to a garage not knowing where your going. A handicapped person (me) will not do it again because I have bad legs and was so sore and tired when I finally got in the car I should not have been driving especially a car I’m not used to. And no there was nobody around to offer help just a sign saying go outside where our staff is working in a dark dingy shack !

10.0 Wonderful

Tawanna, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Yes

8.0 Very good

Anonymous, Sep 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Yes to both the questions. Staff was freindly.

Cons:

Car check over could have been done better. The driver's side mirror would not stay in place and I had to rely on the yellow warning lights on the mirror that a vehicle was near me at times.

1 out of 11

Alamo

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Rd

+1 844 366 2649

Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jun 2025

Minivan

KAYAK
Clean comfortable car. Super friendly and helpful staff.

6.0 Okay

Carolyn, Aug 2024

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
Rental itself was fine. I had an issue at the end of my trip—my flights home were changed, and I had to modify my plans and drop off the car at a different airport (Philadelphia instead of Newark). The agent was able to modify my itinerary, but I was charged a large additional amount to do this VERY disappointed, prob will avoid Alamo in the future.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2024

Economy

KAYAK
All representatives were friendly and knowledgeable, the vehicle was excellent, and I never hit a single bump. I was even able to pick up and drop off a bit early.

8.0 Very good

David, Jan 2024

Standard SUV

KAYAK
Process was easy out and easy in. Only problem was trying to update a discontinued email that was a struggle to update and still seems incorrect, so never received the final document.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jan 2024

Economy

KAYAK
Great customer service on both ends. Price could have been lower, but it was a better deal than we found elsewhere.

10.0 Wonderful

Joanna, Dec 2023

Minivan

KAYAK
Excellent.

1 out of 3

Avis

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

from$54/day

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Road

+1 518 242 4440

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Frank, Nov 2023

Economy

KAYAK
I was lied to, overcharged, and spent many days on hold with the horrible customer service in Albany. I will never rent from Avis again.

6.0 Okay

Greg, May 2021

KAYAK

Cons:

Staff needs to clean the cars inside and out before renting. I went inside a vehicle and it wreaked of cigarette smoke. It was disgusting. Another vehicle wasn’t clean on the outside.

Budget

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Road

+1 518 242 4450

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Alan, Jun 2025

Supplier choice

KAYAK
Smelled like a chimney from smoke, too bad, everything else was PERFECT!!

10.0 Wonderful

Tanya, May 2025

Minivan

KAYAK
The rental was quick to pick up and drop off. It was the exact vehicle that I requested. I recommend Budget to everyone.

4.0 Mediocre

Anissa, Mar 2025

Supplier choice

KAYAK
I picked up my rental very late at night and was handed keys and told to bring it back charged. I didn’t realize it was fully electric. Unfortunately that made for a terrible experience.

4.0 Mediocre

Roger, Jan 2025

Economy

KAYAK
They rented all their cars to others due to a diverted flight. They ignored all the reservations people had made, including mine. I only got a car last minute, after waiting in line for over 30 mins, when a lady decided not to drive a huge Suburban, so I took that.

4.0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Oct 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
I was charged a late fee that should not have beenn charged. Otherwise, good experience

4.0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Sep 2024

Minivan

KAYAK
Easy pick up and drop off. Reservation was for a minivan but we got a Denali. Would’ve preferred a minivan because the trunk in the Denali was very small and a minivan trunk is great. Biggest problem was that the car absolutely reeked of marijuana. We thought it was the garage and drove away incorrectly assuming that. Tried to contact customer service when we realized it was the car, but it was late at night and they didn’t open until the next morning. They did offer a car exchange but we were an hour away at a family wedding and didn’t have the flexibility in our schedule to make the trip back to the airport.

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Road

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

8 travelers who rented a car in Schenectady gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6.2

Car rental locations in or near Schenectady

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Everything you need to know for your car rental in Schenectady

Schenectady car rental information

Pick-up locationSchenectady
Car typesCompact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, Pickup truck, Premium, Standard, Standard SUV, Supplier choice
Rental locations3
Airport locations0
Popular agenciesTuro, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Dollar, Hertz

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