{"id":537,"date":"2018-06-11T08:25:37","date_gmt":"2018-06-11T08:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"\/magazine\/?p=537"},"modified":"2022-03-22T10:29:26","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T10:29:26","slug":"why-rent-a-car-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/travel\/why-rent-a-car-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Rent a Car in New York City?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The idea of renting a car in New York<\/strong><\/a> might seem a little crazy. But with some foresight, and by arming yourself with knowledge about the city streets, driving a rental car in New York is possible. And the best part is that you can see parts of the city and the surrounding area that most visitors never will.<\/p>\n

It is, however, important to note that a car rental might not be the best way for everyone to get around New York. If you are only in the city for one or two days and not planning on leaving Manhattan, it is perhaps better to walk or use public transit. But families or business travellers wanting to go to other boroughs or somewhere outside of New York City’s confines should consider renting a car from Sixt<\/a><\/span> in Downtown New York. It also makes sense to rent a car if you are planning to visit other popular attractions such as the Niagara Falls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Looking down 6th Ave. in Midtown Manhattan<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What to Know Before You Drive<\/b><\/h2>\n

Parking<\/strong> is probably one of the most difficult parts of driving in New York. You have several options including parking garages and lots, metered street parking, and free street parking. That last one is rare, and mostly found in neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.<\/p>\n

Parking garages<\/strong> and lots in Manhattan are convenient, but expensive. Generally if you park in a garage that is part of a multi-location company, rates will be lower. If possible, also avoid garages in touristy neighborhoods like Times Square where the parking costs are higher. Parking garages in Midtown Manhattan charge between $7 and $20 per hour depending on the location. Metered parking will cost you $3.50 per hour in Manhattan south of 96th St. You can pay via credit card, coins or with the ParkNYC app.<\/p>\n

Tolls<\/strong> are also common on roads in and around New York and adding an EZ Pass transponder<\/a><\/span> to your car rental is a good idea. This saves you time at toll points and means you also don’t have to worry about having cash on you.<\/p>\n

And the last thing you should have for your car rental? GPS<\/strong>. This is crucial for staying on top of traffic situations (and there will be traffic situations in New York!) and finding the fastest routes. You can also add this to your Sixt car rental when you book online<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

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5 Places in New York <\/b>to See in a Sixt Rental Car<\/b><\/h2>\n

Having a rental car in New York gives you the chance to see parts of the city that are not easily accessible by public transportation. Here are some places worth a day trip.<\/p>\n