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Car hire in New York – Discovering the Big Apple
Vibrant, cosmopolitan and delightfully inspiring, NYC (aka The Big Apple) still manages to combine large amounts of small-town charm with all its mega metropolis splendour. As one of Planet Earth's best-loved destinations, New York boasts an abundance of world-class attractions, such as the mighty Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art), Statue of Liberty and the iconic Empire State Building, to name just a few. Besides all its top-notch tourist sights, it is also a world leader in the arts, fashion, technology and innovative high-quality cuisine with some of the best cultural and fine-dining experiences awaiting visitors at any time of the year.
Besides that, the city is located in the heart of an area filled with interesting things to do and fascinating places to visit. With an Auto Europe car hire in New York you can drive across the famous Brooklyn Bridge to visit Queens, Long Beach and many of the other places worth seeing in New York state, or drive further afield to Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC or Atlantic City, all of which are in close proximity to NYC. For lovers of nature and wild landscapes, the spectacular Harriman State Park is less than an hour's drive from the city, while the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is another large forested area within easy reach of New York.
Few places in the world induce such excitement, wonder, surprise and enchantment as New York, the self-styled ‘city that never sleeps'. You can search for a cheap car rental in New York in a few quick and easy steps through the Auto Europe high-tech booking engine, after which a list of vehicle options with different suppliers will appear in a couple of seconds. For help with your New York travel itinerary, please feel free to contact our award-winning rental specialists and they will be very happy to give you all the assistance you need for an enjoyable and successful driving holiday in this wonderful city. For added peace of mind, please visit our New York car hire reviews page to see the user ratings and comments posted by some of our previous customers in the city.
For general advice on getting around New York and other parts of the USA safely by car, please consult our USA driving guide for information on road rules, speed limits, driving distances, etc.
For more information on renting a vehicle in New York, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
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Where to pick up a car hire in New York
Auto Europe collaborates with all the top car hire suppliers around the world and by doing so is able to offer the best choice of pick-up locations in New York and the city's surrounding areas. Along with the many car hire companies operating at the Big Apple's international airports, there are also numerous well-situated collection points in other parts of the city, some of which are in close proximity to New York's top tourist attractions, most notably Manhattan and the iconic Statue of Liberty. To help you make the right choice, our state-of-the-art booking engine allows you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip. Once you've keyed in your dates, an interactive map will come up with all the available locations for cheap car hire in New York.
New York Airports
Three major airports serve NYC, the main one being John F. Kennedy International Airport which handles most of the city's international arrivals. Another international airport not too far from New York city centre is Newark. Located a bit further out in Queens (compared with the other two airports) is LaGuardia Airport which mostly handles domestic flights.
New York JFK Airport
First opened as an overflow facility for New York LaGuardia Airport, New York John F. Kennedy airport, or JFK (as it is most commonly known) is now one of the world's busiest airports with more than 60 million passengers passing through it every year. Located in Queens just 26 km (16 miles) south-east of Midtown Manhattan, it is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines and has six passenger terminals and four runways. Originally known as Idlewild (to mark the resort and later golf course that was demolished to make way for the runways and terminals), the airport was renamed in honour of President Kennedy following his assassination in 1963. Picking up your car rental in New York is a quick and seamless process, as you'd expect at from of the world's best-organised airports. On the Arrivals level of each terminal (usually near the baggage carousel), there is either a rental car counter or courtesy telephone with instructions on contacting each of the car hire companies operating at JFK. As for the vehicles themselves, simply take the AirTrain shuttle to the Federal Circle Station and your car will be ready for you there.
New York JFK Airport (JFK)
Website: jfkairport.com
Address: Jamaica, Queens, NY 11430, USA
Telephone: +1 718 244 4444
New York LaGuardia Airport
New York LaGuardia is another very conveniently located air transportation hub located just 20 minutes from Manhattan and many of the city's other popular tourist destinations. Originally known as Glenn Hammond Curtiss Airport, it was subsequently renamed North Beach Airport and, when New York City took over its management in 1953, its named changed again to LaGuardia Airport after the then mayor Fiorello La Guardia. Situated just off the Grand Central Parkway, it is easily accessible by car from downtown NYC and has plenty of parking possibilities comprising short-term, long-term, restricted mobility and reserved parking options. A number of car rental facilities are conveniently located at LaGuardia Airport, with many of the car hire suppliers providing frequent free shuttles between LaGuardia and the airport's main rental car facility, with pick-up and drop-off points at Terminal A accessible via the Rental Car Shuttle Transfer Point.
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Website: laguardiaairport.com
Address: East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, NY 11371, USA
Telephone: +1 718-533-3400
Newark Liberty International Airport
Serving both NYC and the state of New Jersey, Newark Liberty International Airport was the first major airport in the USA and today ranks as one of the busiest in the world. It first opened in 1928 but it wasn't until the 1970s that its facilities were improved and expanded due to the increase in international air traffic. Located just 14 km (9 miles) from Manhattan, it is well placed for visitors approaching the city via the Newark Airport Interchange, the junction between Interstate 95 and Interstate 78 (both components of the New Jersey Turnpike), as well as the long-disctance US routes 1 and 9. The car rental pick-up point at Newark Liberty International Airport is easily accessible using the AirTrain shuttle service which connects with Station P3 where many of the main vehicle suppliers are located.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Website: newarkairport.com
Address: 3 Brewster Road, Newark, NJ, 07114, USA
Telephone: +1 973 961 6000
Book with the best car hire suppliers in New York
We are one of the world's leading international car hire companies with convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 180 popular destinations. Thanks to our many years' experience dealing with all the top global, national and local car rental companies, Auto Europe is able to offer its many customers the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in New York
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in New York. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please contact our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in New York?
Yes. It is essential to present a valid credit card in the main driver's name when you arrive to pick up your low-cost car hire in New York because the supplier will always need to place a hold on the value of the deductible for the vehicle they rent you in NYC and all other pars of the USA. Customers who book a premium- or luxury-category car might be asked for a second valid credit card such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners, American Express, etc. also in the name of the main driver.
To find out which cards and card types are accepted, all you need to do is make a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine and click on the blue and white info icon (i) where all the necessary credit and debit card information can be found.
It's important to make sure that the supplier checks the vehicle and signs it off as OK before you leave the premises. Please also makes sure that you have enough funds on your credit card for the deposit amount to be held.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in New York?
When confirming your car rental in New York, you'll find that our Zero Excess coverage always comes as standard with all NYC rentals booked on the Auto Europe website, which includes value added tax (VAT), liability insurance, fire insurance, collision damage waiver (CDW) zero excess and theft protection (TP) zero excess (note that zero excess means the elimination of your excess). For more comprehensive car hire coverage in the Big Apple, you can opt for our Full Damage & Theft Protection product which covers most parts of the vehicle.
There are several key points to remember about car hire coverage in New York City and elsewhere in the USA. If something does happen on the road and you need to make a claim, please be aware that you will need to pay the car rental supplier first then claim the money back from Auto Europe. It is important when making a claim with Auto Europe that you provide all the required documents to receive your refund as quickly as possible.
All this information and more is easily accessible on the Auto Europe website. All you need to do is click on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a quick search in our booking engine to find all the coverage-related info for your cheap car hire in New York. You might also want to check out our related blog post for a general overview of the types of car hire coverage available.
How is the traffic in New York?
Visitors who rent a car in New York will need to be very alert because some parts of the city tend to be busy most times of the day, not just in the rush-hour. Leading to the famous George Washington Bridge, the Cross Bronx Expressway (part of the I-95) can become heavily congested in the morning and late afternoon/early evening on weekdays, so be aware of that when planning a trip out of the city. The same applies to the Long Island Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), two of NYC's main thoroughfares. Expect to wait in queues when entering both the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, and if there's a radio in the vehicle (as there normally is) then it's always a good idea to listen to the local traffic reports when starting out on your journey. Driving across Manhattan from east to west during the rush-hour is particularly tricky due to the fact that the traffic light system is designed to move traffic from north to south, so it's best to avoid driving in Midtown Manhattan at these times. It's also worth bearing in mind that petrol stations are few and far between in most parts of the city (especially in Manhattan), so make sure you fill up the tank whenever possible.
Where can I park my car hire in New York?
Parking your car rental in New York can be expensive but some of the city's car parks offer cheaper rates in specific locations at certain times of the day, most notably at weekends. Available on-street parking spaces can be difficult to find in areas like Manhattan, so it might be best to use the established car parks located close to the top tourist attractions such as the Battery Parking Garage in Lower Manhattan, Manhattan Plaza Parking in Midtown Manhattan and the public parking garage underneath the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). Be aware that few hotels in the city centre offer garage parking, unlike many other destinations in the US. For street parking, always check the local road signs in the case of any restrictions that might apply to the street you're in. Despite being in the digital age, it's still a good idea to keep some coins with you because not all parking meters in New York work with apps or accept credit cards. A good tip for parking on Staten Island (to visit the Statue of Liberty) is to park near the ferry terminal and use the ferry service to get there, which will save you time and money. As New York is such a large and potentially confusing city to navigate by car, another strong recommendation is to pay a bit extra for a GPS device at the time of making your booking.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in New York?
Yes. New York has over thirty toll roads in all. You can pay tolls on the New York State Thruway and other toll roads, tunnels and bridges using an E-ZPass or other transponder. Other methods of payment include Tolls by Mail via a licence plate photo or with cash on some of the main toll roads (please check with your car rental supplier before leaving the pick-up station). Spanning 570 miles across New York State, the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway is one of the longest toll superhighway systems in the United States and is much-used by visitors exploring NYC by car. The Thruway's 426-mile mainline connects New York City and Buffalo, which are the state's two largest cities. The Thruway route from New York to the Pennsylvania line at Ripley is 496 miles long and another of the state's lengthiest stretches of toll road. Other Thruway sections make direct connections with the Connecticut and Massachusetts turnpikes, New Jersey's Garden State Parkway and Interstate 287, and other major expressways that lead to New England, Canada, the Midwest and the South, all of which are tolled highways. Each state has a unique method of charging for the use of toll roads. As previously mentioned, the most widely used system in the United States is E-ZPass, which is predominately used in New York State and elsewhere in the the north-eastern regions of the USA.
Do I need an international driving license to hire a car in New York?
An International Driver’s Licence (IDL) is recommended but not obligatory if the driver's home licence is not in English. Nevertheless, an IDL will be mandatory if the driver's licence is not written in the Roman alphabet (ie in Japanese, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, etc.), in which case it must be accompanied by the driver's national licence.
Can I hire a campervan in New York?
The Big Apple has so much to offer outside the confines of the city centre. With a campervan in New York you'll be able to visit the world-famous Niagara Falls (part of the oldest protected park area in the USA) and stay a night or two with your hotel room (and kitchenette) on wheels, thus saving a lot of money on hotels and restaurants. New York state has more than twenty national parks where visitors can relax a while, park their motorhomes and charge up their batteries in a wide selection of campsites all over the region.
New York Travel Guide
There are a thousand reasons to visit New York, such as enjoying the heady views from the top of the Empire Building, watching a hit show on Broadway or spotting celebrities in Central Park. Manhattan is the main focus for the majority of first-time visitors, most notably the Rockefeller Centre and the thought-provoking 9/11 Memorial and Museum. For you to maximise your travel experience in the Big Apple, Auto Europe offers its customers the thrill of being able to pick up their vehicle in one place and dropping it off in another with a one-way car hire.
Best day trips with my car rental in New York
The city couldn't be better placed for visitors looking to explore the rest of New York state and the amazing New England region of north-east America. Getting around with an Auto Europe low-cost car rental in New York is facilitated by an extremely efficient road and motorway system, including the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway (one of the longest super-highway systems in the USA) and New Jersey's Garden State Parkway heading south down the Atlantic coast. The list of possible road-trips from New York is endless, with the most popular routes featuring some of America's most fascinating cities, such as Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Washington DC. Why not share the driving with a friend of family member by taking advantage of Auto Europe's popular Free Additional Driver offers.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia (or just Philly as it is more commonly known) is a vibrant and very historic destination located just an hour and a half's drive south-west of NYC. The Declaration of Independence was adopted there in 1776 and the Constitution subsequently drafted in the city a few years later. Philadelphia's top sights include the Independence Historic National Park and the famous Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence. Blessed with one of the largest art collections in the USA, you can't leave the city without visiting the remarkable Philadelphia Museum of Art displaying works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Miró and many, many more.
Boston
Boston is a must for people looking to experience the best of the New England region with a cheap car hire in New York. The city's 3-mile-long Freedom Trail comprises many of the city's top attractions, such as the Old State House where the Boston Massacre happened in 1770. Boston's Museum of Science is one of the best in the USA and features a planetarium and rare exhibits such as a fossil estimated to be 65 million years old. Check out the Museum of Fine Arts which houses a large collection of very rare treasures from Egypt and other parts of the world.
Newport (Rhode Island)
Playground for tycoons in the 19th century, the trendy port city of Newport on Rhode Island can be reached in about four hours from the centre of New York. Many people go there to look at the beautiful buildings created by some of America's top architects to mimic the palaces of Europe. Besides fine dining, visitors can enjoy a tour of the mansions in the morning before relaxing on Newport's long sandy beaches in the afternoon.
The Catskills
Just 100 miles north of New York City, the beautiful Catskill Mountains is a vast region of mountains, rivers, forests and parkland covering an area of some 6,000 square miles. Considered America's first protected wilderness, the 700,000-acre Catskill Park and Forest Preserve is the natural heart of a region that comprises thirty-five peaks over 3,500 feet high set amidst six major river systems offering some of the most spectacular views in the whole of North America.
What to do in New York
As one of the world's largest and most vibrant metropolises, New York is bursting with things to do and see with enough attractions to satisfy young and old visitors alike. Here's a selection of some of the things you won't want to miss whilst visiting the Big Apple;
- Brooklyn Bridge: One of the city's most iconic landmarks is Brooklyn Bridge, a magnet for the many visitors who prefer to rent a car in New York and cross it under their own steam. Spanning East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan, it became the world's first all-steel suspension bridge when it was inaugurated in 1883. The views over Manhattan and beyond are breathtaking, encompassing the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
- St Patrick's Cathedral: Located on 5th Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets, St Patrick's Cathedral (opened in 1879) is a very fine example of Gothic Revival architecture in the heart of downtown New York. With seating for over 2,400 people, it attracts millions of worshippers every year, many of whom are drawn by its unique features, most notably its impressive white marble façade, lovely rose window, magnificent organ, famous statue of Pieta, huge bronze doors and spires that pierce the sky at a height of more than 330 feet.
- Central Park: A walk through New York's Central Park is a must for every visitor to New York, whatever the season. Located in the city centre, the park has many popular attractions, including a large lake, zoo, a Disney-esque castle, Strawberry Fields (a moving memorial to musician John Lennon) and a carousel which has been entertaining visitors, young and old alike, since 1871.
- The Met: Founded in 1870, the world-famous Met (short for the Metropolitan Museum of Art) on 5th Avenue has more than two million works of art spanning more than 5,000 years in its permanent collection. The museum's highlights include a vast section of Egyptian art, native decorative pieces, period costumes, rare musical instruments and vintage photographs. Don't miss the Met Cloisters, another branch of the museum located in Fort Tryon Park in north Manhattan which focuses on European medieval art and architecture.
- Rockefeller Center: One of the main tourist attractions in downtown NYC is the Rockefeller Center, a landmark arts, shopping and entertainment complex with a wealth of activities for the whole family. The popular Top of the Rock observation deck can get very crowded, so try getting there early in the morning to avoid the queues. At the base of the tower lies a skating rink that is typically open from October through April. But before any of that, make sure you get the all-important selfie in front of the famous bronze sculpture of Atlas in the foreground of the International Building.
- Statue of Liberty: As recognisable as Big Ben, Ayers Rock and the Eiffel Tower, New York's famous Statue of Liberty has topped the city's list of attractions since its inauguration in 1886. Standing 152 feet tall, this magnificent copper statue was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. Besides taking the elevator right to the very top, visitors can enjoy a walk around Ellis Island and explore the Immigration Museum where thousands of immigrants were processed before entering the USA in days gone by.
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