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Car hire in New York City with Hertz
New York City is the kind of place where a simple plan can turn into a longer day once the streets get involved.
One day might be Midtown with Central Park, while another might push out into Brooklyn or Queens for a different pace. What surprises most visitors is not mileage, but how quickly time gets consumed by bridge and tunnel approaches, one-way grids, and the stop-start feel of dense blocks.
Booking a car in New York City through Hertz keeps the day flexible.
You control the timing. No watching the clock for transfers. No dragging luggage or shopping bags through stations when plans shift. With a Hertz car rental in New York City, you can build the day around what you actually want to do, not what the next connection allows.
Pickup locations in New York City
- 48th Street East - Midtown between 1st and 2nd Avenue
- Jamaica- New York City - Sheltair Aviation (Private Flights Only)
- Greenwich Village - Between 7th Avenue and Bleecker Street
- Brooklyn - Williamsburg HLE
- West 83rd Street - 157 West 83rd Street
- 34th Street - Midtown between 8th and 9th Avenue
- Paramus - Route 17 North HLE
- 55th Street West - Midtown between 6th and 7th Avenue
- Lafayette Street - Between East 4th and Astor Place
- New York City JFK Airport
- Newark - Newark AB HLE
- New York City Laguardia Airport
- Nanyuki - Nanyuki Highway
- Rector Place Battery Park
- East 76th Street - 332 East 76th Street
- Flushing- New York City - SheltAir Aviation Services (Private Flights Only)
- East 12th Street - 21 East 12th Street
- Queens - Long Island City HLE
Benefits from day one.
Join 
for free.
- Up to 10% off the base rate on rentals in select countries
Up to 10% discount applies to base rates in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Benelux. 5% applies for the rest of the world. The discount applies to the base rate quoted (excluding taxes and any other charges). It does not apply to affiliated rates or rates that are already discounted.
- Add your spouse as a second driver without an extra fee
- Earn points redeemable toward free rental days and upgrades
Points are earned on per day time and mileage charges only. Free rental days cover base rate (time and mileage) only. Taxes, optional extras and any other fees are excluded. One-car-class upgrade applies to Compact, Intermediate, Standard & Full-size rentals with a maximum upgrade to a Premium. Additional terms and exclusions apply
- Skip the counter and go straight to your car
You can skip the counter once your membership is activated after your first rental. Available at select locations only.
Benefits from day one.
Join 
for free.
- Make travel feel golden with Hertz Gold+
Ready to get more from every drive? Hertz Gold+ is our free loyalty program that turns everyday car rental into rewards. Get instant perks and seamless pickups.
- Skip the line, choose your ride, and go
Skip the rental counter at selected locations – just head to your car and go. At selected US rental locations, you can also choose from a wider selection of cars, including exclusive vehicles for top-tier members.
- Earn points to redeem for free rental days
Earn free rental days with every booking. The more you rent, the faster you unlock elite status.* *Points are earned & redeemed on the base rental rate only. Taxes, fees, & options are excluded. Additional terms apply.
- Share the drive for free
Add your spouse or partner as an additional driver for free.
Driving guide: car rental in New York City
Parking Information
- Icon Parking - 58TH & 7TH PARKING LLC (Midtown Manhattan) is an easy option when you’re renting your Hertz car hire around Midtown sights, Central Park’s south edge, and the core shopping and theater areas. This garage can hold up to 63 vehicles, and it also lists valet service plus EV charging facilities.
- Brookfield Place Garage - 250 Vesey St is a 24-hour parking garage that can hold up to 371 vehicles. It also lists parking and valet services across its two lots, which keeps the arrival and pickup process simplified in an area where roads can feel dense and one-way heavy.
- Atlantic Center Garage (Downtown Brooklyn) is a useful base for a car rental in New York if you want to spend time around the Brooklyn neighborhoods and you want a reliable place to leave the car while exploring the city. This garage is listed with 650 parking spaces and also has 10 EV charging stations.
Key Roads in New York City
- FDR Drive (Manhattan east-side corridor) A key route for moving along the east edge of Manhattan and positioning for bridges and uptown or downtown moves. It can be efficient when traffic flows, but it is timing-sensitive, so building a buffer helps if you are heading toward bridge approaches.
- West Side Highway (Route 9A) A major north–south corridor on Manhattan’s west side that is useful for positioning between Midtown, downtown, and waterfront areas. It often feels simpler than cutting through internal avenues, especially when your goal is to make one clean move, park, then walk.
- Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278 / BQE) A major connector when you are moving between Brooklyn, Queens, and bridge routes back toward Manhattan. It is a road where congestion can build quickly, so it is best treated as a planned move rather than a casual short hop.
Electric Car Hire
If you want a greener way to travel, booking a Hertz electric car hire can work well in New York City because most days naturally include long parking blocks. You drive into a neighborhood, leave the car, and explore on foot, so charging can happen while you are already parked.
Hertz supports EV use by making it easy to choose an electric car model that fits your trip. It’s a straightforward way to cut tailpipe emissions while keeping the flexibility of car hire in a city where plans change fast.
Charging Points
New York City features 2,049 public EV charging ports within 15 km (Level 2 and Level 3 combined), and the city has also rolled out 98 curbside Level 2 charging ports across the five boroughs through its DOT program.
As New York City continues to move towards the usage of low-emission vehicles, Hertz also supports the shift by offering a range of electric cars for rent.
You can hire an electric car rental with Hertz that fits the trip, keep your routing simple, and treat the car as a flexible way to move between planned zones.
Congestion Charges
If you’re getting a car hire in New York City, plan around Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone. It covers most local streets and avenues at or below 60th Street. That includes busy areas like Times Square (below 60th), Chelsea, SoHo, Tribeca, and the Financial District.
Here’s the simple rule:
- If you stay on FDR Drive or the West Side Highway (Route 9A), you are not charged.
- The moment you exit onto local streets inside the zone, the toll applies.
What this means in real life: keep your driving intentional, especially since you have booked a car for a specific time period. Try to cover one part of Manhattan, park once, and do the rest on foot for a few hours. The drives that get expensive are usually the unplanned ones: quick hops, wrong turns, and last-minute reroutes. Pick a clear parking spot and stick to a deliberate route, and the day feels much calmer.
Getting from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Philadelphia Downtown
Philadelphia is a popular onward drive from John F. Kennedy International Airport if you are starting your journey in New York. If you collect your booked rental car at JFK, you can follow a direct interstate-led route south into Philadelphia and continue into the downtown area on local roads.
- Start at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and follow signs toward the main airport exits.
- Take the route via Lefferts Boulevard to join I-95 S.
- Follow I-95 S toward Philadelphia and take exit 22 for Callowhill Street.
- Continue on Callowhill Street and follow local signs toward Philadelphia Downtown.
Getting from New York City to The Hamptons
For a full-day trip when you want a change of pace from the city, and you’re comfortable with a longer drive. Check the car you booked for all the necessities like fuel levels before starting this adventure.
- Start in New York City and head east, following the main routes that connect to Long Island.
- A commonly used approach is to stay on the primary eastbound corridor, then continue on the main routes toward your target Hamptons town.
- Follow on-road signage as you get closer so you can choose the most practical entry and parking option without rushing.
Why Hertz?
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Found a lower rent? We’ll match it and give 10% off of that base rate.
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A quick guide to New York City
The Plaza Hotel
768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019, United States
An iconic Fifth Avenue stay known for its classic New York feel and its Central Park–side location. It suits trips built around a park morning, a museum block, and Midtown landmarks, with fewer cross-city moves. You can typically choose it for the full-service experience, including an on-site spa and signature dining experiences like afternoon tea.
The Dominick
246 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, United States
A practical downtown option in SoHo that works well for neighborhood wandering, shopping streets, and Hudson-side waterfront time. It’s known for skyline-facing rooms and a resort-style setup that includes a seasonal outdoor pool and a full-service spa. This is a relaxing pick when you want a proper reset between heavy days.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
60 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
A Brooklyn-centered stay known for waterfront skyline views and a sustainability-led approach. It fits trips where you explore Brooklyn locally, then do one focused Manhattan block before returning for a calmer evening. You can book it for amenities like the rooftop pool and the hotel’s eco-forward positioning, which pairs nicely with a slower, walk-heavy itinerary.
Katz’s Delicatessen (Lower East Side)
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
A classic Lower East Side deli known for old-school New York sandwiches, especially pastrami on rye and other deli staples. It fits best into a downtown walking day because it works as a proper sit-down reset when you have already spent a few hours on foot.
Joe’s Pizza (Greenwich Village)
7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
A quick slice spot known for classic New York pizza, the kind that keeps the day moving without turning lunch into a long stop. When you have booked a car with a plan in mind, this pizza place falls neatly between sightseeing blocks in Greenwich Village, SoHo, or around Washington Square. A great place when your schedule is tight and you want something familiar.
Levain Bakery (Upper West Side)
167 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023
A bakery stop known for its thick cookies and simple café-style grab-and-go options, which makes it a useful snack break during Central Park and Upper West Side loops. This is an easy add-on when you are staying in one main zone and want a dependable stop along the way.
Central Park
59th St to 110th St, Manhattan, NY, United States
Central Park is the city’s biggest reset button, with long walking paths, lakes, bridges, lawns, and viewpoints that make it easy to spend a full block of time outdoors. It’s known for landmarks like Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields, and the open lawns that feel surprisingly quiet once you get a few minutes away from the entrances. It can be busy around this area so, when you rent a car, do have a time slot in mind.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
The Met is one of New York’s flagship museums and a major reason people build a full day around the Upper East Side. Inside, you’ll find everything from ancient Egyptian galleries and classical sculpture to European painting. Pairing it with a Central Park walk works well, since you can stay in the same area and drive your rental car around to explore New York City the best way.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a waterfront stretch built for skyline views, river walks, and slower sightseeing that feels very different from the pace of Midtown. It’s known for its promenade views toward Lower Manhattan, photo spots near the bridge, and green spaces that make it a good break between busier attractions.
Rent an electric car in New York City
Looking for a greener way to explore New York City? Hertz offers electric car hire at New York City, making sustainable travel easy and convenient. Choose from the latest EV models and enjoy a smooth, quiet, eco-friendly drive with zero emissions. Experience the future of driving.
Plan your road trip now!FAQs about car hire
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