New York State car rentals

Full-size (Nissan Pathfinder or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in New York State.

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in New York State are Alamo (8.1, 61 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.9, 139 reviews), and Avis (6.5, 110 reviews).

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

Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in New York State are Brooklyn (50% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in New York State) and Buffalo (50%).

Anyone looking to explore various parts of New York State should consider car hire. Having a hire car in this region gives you the chance to see parts of the state that are not easily accessible by public transportation. Better still, car hire companies in the state offer a wide variety of options to suit travellers’ needs and budgets. This way, you can explore the state and the surrounding areas with ease and optimal convenience.

The traffic laws require drivers to drive on the right-hand side of the road and pass other vehicles carefully on the left. One can be permitted to pass on the right only in necessary and safe circumstances. Drivers must follow the posted speed limits; if no limit is posted, you should drive no faster than 55 mph on highways and 30 mph in built-up areas. It is generally best to refer to road signs for the allowable speed in any given section. In addition, drivers travelling slower than 40 mph are advised to use their hazard lights. It is against the law to use a mobile device when driving in New York State, and there’s zero tolerance for drunk driving, so you should keep your BAC below 0.08%.

In New York, anyone over 18 years of age may hire a car as long as they present a valid driver’s licence and insurance. However, individuals between 18 and 24 years of age will likely need to pay an extra young driver fee, depending on the hiring company. As an Australian, you’ll only need your home driver’s licence and passport to hire a car in New York for up to three months from the date of entering the country. An International Driver’s Permit might be recommended if your licence is not in English or if you are planning to use the hire car for more than three months. Note that, when driving from New York to the neighbouring states, the licence requirement for a foreign visitor might change. To avoid challenges with the authorities, ensure you have an international driving permit alongside your valid driving licence. For your translation to be valid, it must include your official names as they appear on your identity card or passport, your date of birth, the category of cars you are qualified to drive and your foreign driver’s licence number.