Car Hire in New York

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating in New York, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes benefits that no other company can match:

• Free liability coverage starting at US$ 300,000 in case of an accident (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: recover up to 5% of the reservation's total value for toll charges incurred during your hire period
• Premium travel medical assistance providing up to US$ 150,000 in coverage for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of a medical emergency, excluding pre-existing conditions
• No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification

All of this comes at no extra cost, ensuring a fully protected car hire experience and peace of mind throughout your trip in New York.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in New York are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.

On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter in New York charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.

The only costs outside this guarantee are:

• Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
• Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)

At New York JFK International Airport, all hire car brands operate from a single consolidated facility reached via the free on-airport AirTrain.

• After collecting your baggage, follow the signs inside your terminal to the AirTrain station.
• Board the AirTrain and ride to Federal Circle (Station C). The journey takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes, and the AirTrain runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• At Federal Circle, follow the Hire Car signs to your brand's counter. All major partners including Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, Dollar, National, Payless, and Thrifty are located here.
• Present your booking confirmation, physical driver’s licence, passport, and a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name to complete check-in and collect your vehicle.

The AirTrain segment between terminals and Federal Circle is free of charge. Allow at least 25 to 45 minutes from baggage claim to driving away, and more during peak travel periods. Elevators and escalators are available at each station for accessibility.

To pick up a hire car in New York, you must present all of the following physical documents at the counter. Digital copies are not accepted.

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name. If your licence is not in English or uses a non-Latin alphabet (such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic), you must also carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it.
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID.
• A physical major credit card with the main driver’s name printed on the card, used for the authorisation hold.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United States).

The IDP is a translation document only and cannot replace your original licence. Obtain it in your home country before travelling to New York, as it cannot be issued abroad. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold at New York hire counters.

Yes, toll roads in New York are almost entirely cashless. Cash payment lanes have been eliminated at most major crossings, including bridges and tunnels operated by agencies such as MTA Bridges and Tunnels.

All hire vehicles in New York come equipped with an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system. When you drive through a cashless toll, the charge is recorded and billed to your credit card, often days or even weeks after you return the vehicle.

At the New York pickup counter you will typically have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: approximately US$11 to US$26 per hire day, covering all toll usage during the hire period.
• Pay per use: the hire company charges the actual toll amount plus daily or administrative processing fees each time you pass through a toll.

If you have a personal E-ZPass transponder, you can inform the counter representative at pickup and ask them to deactivate the vehicle’s default toll device to avoid duplicate charges. Tolls in New York can be significant, particularly around New York City bridges and tunnels, where individual crossings can cost US$15 to US$25 or more each way.

Yes, New York City’s congestion pricing applies to hire cars entering the designated Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan.

The zone covers most of Manhattan south of and including 60th Street, down to the southern tip of the island. Key details for renters in New York:

• The fee is US$8.99 plus applicable taxes per day, charged once per calendar day regardless of how many times you enter and exit the zone.
• Cameras automatically detect vehicles entering the area. There are no traditional toll booths.
• You can travel on the FDR Drive or the West Side Highway (Route 9A) without being charged, as long as you do not exit onto local streets within the zone.
• This congestion charge is separate from bridge and tunnel tolls and is not covered by insurance or hire protection packages.
• The charge is processed through the hire company’s toll billing system and will appear on your post-hire statement.

If you plan to drive into central Manhattan during your New York hire, Budget for this daily fee in addition to any bridge or tunnel tolls you may incur.

All bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire. Given that New York has some of the highest toll exposure in the United States, with individual bridge and tunnel crossings costing US$15 to US$25 or more and a daily congestion fee for driving in central Manhattan, this benefit can provide meaningful savings.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after your New York hire:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle.
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your confirmation number.
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll invoice or statement showing the charges paid.
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for the booking.

The refund is issued to the original payment method and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. Note that toll programme service fees and traffic fines are not eligible, only actual toll charges.

Yes, drivers aged 18 and older can hire a car in New York. New York State law requires hire companies to rent to any licensed driver aged 18 or older, which makes it one of the few places in the United States where drivers under 21 are eligible.

However, important conditions apply:

• A young-driver surcharge (also called an underage fee) is added to the daily rate for drivers under 25. This fee varies by partner and can be significant, so Budget for it in advance.
• Vehicle class restrictions apply. Most hire partners in New York limit drivers under 25 to smaller categories such as Economy, Compact, Intermediate, and Compact SUV. Premium, luxury, full-size SUV, minivan, and convertible classes typically require the driver to be at least 25.
• All standard requirements still apply: a valid physical driver’s licence, a major credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit, and any required documents such as a passport or International Driving Permit.

If you are between 21 and 24 and booking with Avis or Budget, a special underage fee waiver may be available for travellers from Latin America and the Caribbean on eligible Hola Car Rentals rates. Check your booking confirmation to see if this applies to your New York hire.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your New York hire, but the process must be completed in person at the pickup counter.

Requirements for adding an additional driver in New York:

• The additional driver must be physically present at the counter at the time of pickup.
• They must present a valid physical driver’s licence and a passport or government-issued photo ID.
• If their licence is not in English or uses a non-Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit is also required.
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement.
• The additional driver must meet the minimum age requirements. In New York, drivers aged 18 and older are eligible, though a young-driver surcharge may apply for those under 25.

Check your booking confirmation before arriving. Some rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. If not included, fees vary by partner: Avis, Budget, and Payless charge approximately US$13 per hire day (capped at US$65); Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar charge approximately US$13.50 per day (capped at US$189); Alamo, National, and Enterprise charge approximately US$15 per day. Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s protections during your New York hire.

Hiring a car at a New York airport involves several location-specific fees and taxes on top of the base rate. These charges are among the highest in the United States and can add 20% to 30% or more to your total cost.

Common fees and taxes at New York airport locations include:

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): charged by hire companies to recover the cost of operating at the airport, often up to 20% of the base rate at JFK and LaGuardia.
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): typically US$4.50 to US$5.69 per hire day, covering the cost of the consolidated hire car facility.
• New York City vehicle hire tax: approximately 5% applied to the base rate plus fees.
• New York State sales tax: approximately 8.875%.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the New York pickup counter. If your confirmation states that taxes and fees are included, you should not be billed separately for those items at the counter. Off-airport New York locations, such as midtown Manhattan branches, typically do not carry the airport concession fee and can be more economical for longer hires.

Most bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be especially useful if an unexpected situation arises during your New York trip, such as a medical emergency or a flight cancellation on your way home.

Core benefits typically included are:

• Travel insurance with medical coverage for up to 5 passengers.
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident in New York.
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline.
• Flight cancellation insurance.

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important limitations to be aware of:

• This benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada.
• Pre-existing medical conditions are excluded.
• This coverage does not replace CDW/LDW for damage to the hire vehicle or LIS/SLI for third-party liability.

Always review your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your New York hire.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not always mandatory to hire a car in New York, but it is strongly recommended in several situations and required in others.

• If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic (Russian), an IDP is required. Without it, the hire counter in New York may refuse to complete the hire.
• If your licence is in English or uses the Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly mandatory. Some hire partners in New York may still request one as a translation aid.
• The IDP is a translation document only. It must always be carried alongside your original physical licence and cannot replace it.

If you think you may need an IDP for your New York hire, obtain it in your home country before travelling. Organisations such as AAA in the United States issue IDPs only to holders of a U.S. licence, so international visitors cannot obtain one after arriving in New York. Bring both your original licence and the IDP to the pickup counter, along with your passport and booking confirmation.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to hire a car in New York. The card is used to place a temporary authorisation hold at the pickup counter, and debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or digital wallet cards are not accepted for this purpose.

Key requirements for the credit card at New York hire counters:

• The card must be physical. Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted for the deposit hold.
• The driver’s name must be printed on the card and must match the hire agreement.
• The card must have sufficient available credit to cover the security hold, which is typically US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles in the United States, though the exact amount is set by the hire company at the counter.
• Even if you prepaid your New York booking in full, you must still present a physical credit card at pickup for the hold.

It is advisable to bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined. Also, notify your bank before travelling to New York to prevent fraud blocks on in-person or international transactions.

The standard fuel policy for hire cars in New York is Full to Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

How to follow the Full to Full policy correctly during your New York hire:

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the gauge and odometer.
• During the hire, use the correct fuel type as shown in the vehicle. Wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy.
• Before returning the vehicle, refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive.
• Keep the fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address as proof in case of any dispute.

If you return the vehicle in New York with less than a full tank, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone.

When hiring a car in New York, two main types of cover are worth understanding before you arrive at the counter.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers damage to the hire vehicle itself from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your booking confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving in New York. Not all U.S. states require hire companies to include state-minimum liability cover, and New York is a high-traffic environment where liability exposure can be significant. Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding Liability Insurance Supplementary (up to US$300,000) to your New York hire.

Common exclusions to be aware of:

• Prohibited use such as driving under the influence, off-road use, or unauthorised drivers voids both CDW/LDW and liability cover.
• Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered. Add all additional drivers at the New York pickup.
• Tires, undercarriage, and roof damage are often excluded from standard CDW/LDW.

Always review your booking confirmation and the hire agreement at the New York counter to confirm exactly what is included and what deductible applies.