Empire Rent A Car car rental locations in New York
12 Locations
Sunnycars car rental locations in New York
12 Locations
All Car car rental locations in New York
10 Locations
Easirent car rental locations in New York
10 Locations
Alamo car rental locations in New York
9 Locations
Dollar car rental locations in New York
9 Locations
National car rental locations in New York
9 Locations
Ace car rental locations in New York
4 Locations
Top tips for renting a car in New York
If you are driving in New York City, it is important to know the difference between “parking” and “standing.” “No Parking” means you can’t leave your vehicle, but you can stop temporarily to unload or load passengers or goods. “No Standing” means only a brief stop is allowed for loading or unloading passengers. Another regulation is the requirement of child safety seats for all children under the age of four, and booster seats for children up to the age of eight.
If you’re planning on driving primarily in New York City, it can be beneficial to rent a compact car to make parking and navigating through traffic easier to manage. Parking can be a hassle on busy city streets, so having a car with a rearview camera may be helpful. If you plan on doing most of your driving outside of the city, then it is much better to book a rental car based on the size of your party and your preferred style of car.
New York is known for having snowy winters. If you are traveling during the months of December to March, it may be best to ask for an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle. It is important to note that in certain snow conditions, snow chains may be required in New York State, but many rental car companies do not allow chains to be used on their vehicles. Make sure to check with different companies on their policies.
Parking on city streets in New York State, especially those in New York City, requires paying attention to many different regulations about which side of the street you can park on, on which day, and at what time. The rules are clearly posted, but always double-check before you leave your rental car. Remember, you’ll be held responsible for paying any tickets you receive on your rental car.
FAQs about renting a car in New York
Renting a car when visiting New York State is a great idea. Once you use the car to get around the various neighborhoods of New York City, the rest of the state offers sprawling wilderness and wonderful scenery that would be tough to reach without a car. You can follow the Hudson River up north, or you can drive to Lake Erie and Niagara Falls for stunning views. Even closer to the city, you can explore the Catskill Mountains. The benefit of having a rental car rather than relying on public transportation is the freedom to see New York beyond just the city.
Expect to drive much slower in New York State than in other regions of the country. The maximum speed, unless otherwise posted, is 55 mph, but can drop down to 40 mph on select highways. Another thing to keep in mind is toll roads. New York has transitioned to cashless tolling, which means that a camera will be taking a picture of the license plate as you drive by. Some rental cars are equipped with an E-ZPass, but you may want to check your rental agreement for surcharges or just pay online yourself.
To rent a car in New York State, you must be at least eighteen years of age, though most companies will charge a “young renter” fee to renters under the age of twenty five. Prices can vary quite a bit between companies, however, so be sure to compare multiple options. Restrictions also apply to some categories of cars, including premium vehicles and SUVs. To rent a car, you must produce a driver’s license and proof of insurance. Foreign nationals can use an international driver’s license, but will most likely have to provide a passport or some other form of identification as well.
On average a rental car in New York costs $39 per day.
Standard (Nissan Frontier or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in New York.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Hertz ($37/day), Ace ($42/day) and Dollar ($45/day).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in New York are Enterprise (8.5, 1783 reviews), Alamo (8.5, 1623 reviews), and National (8.5, 209 reviews).
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in New York are New York (67% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in New York), Buffalo (9%) and Brooklyn (8%).
On average a rental car in New York costs $598 per week ($85 per day).
On average a rental car in New York costs $2,561 per month ($85 per day).