Quick Summary:
- Use your hotel address in New York if you are staying there.
- If visiting friends, their residential address can work with matching ID.
- Your home billing address is often required for card verification.
- Bring passport, licence, and booking details to avoid desk delays.
When you arrange car hire as a tourist in New York, the address field on the rental car agreement can feel surprisingly important. Many visitors assume they must have a US home address, but rental desks deal with tourists every day and usually have clear, practical ways to record your details. The key is understanding that the agreement may capture more than one address, for example a local stay address for contact purposes and a permanent home address that matches your driving licence and payment card records.
Below is a straightforward guide to the address options that are typically acceptable for tourists, what New York area rental desks usually require, and how to avoid common check-in delays.
Why rental desks ask for an address
Rental companies use an address for a few routine reasons: identity verification, payment security checks, and a contact location if something needs to be posted or followed up later. For international customers, the desk generally expects a permanent address (your home address) and may also record a temporary local address (your hotel or accommodation) while you are in the US.
The address that matters most is normally the one tied to your identity and payment method. If the address you provide at the counter conflicts with your driving licence or cardholder details, the agent may ask extra questions, request more documentation, or in some cases require a different card.
Acceptable address options for tourists in New York
In practice, most tourists have three realistic options for the “address” line on the agreement. The best choice depends on what the desk is trying to capture and what you can support with documentation.
Option 1, Use your home address (recommended as the primary address)
For most travellers, your home address is the safest default to give when a form asks for “Address” without specifying “local address”. It is the address that appears on your driving licence (or is associated with it) and is often the address your card issuer holds for verification.
When a New York rental desk asks for your address, they are frequently asking for your permanent address, even if you are collecting the car at an airport and will never drive to that address. Using your home address can reduce friction if the agent needs to confirm details quickly, especially when processing an international licence and passport.
Tip: enter your home address consistently across your reservation, any pre-check-in step, and what you tell the desk. Small differences in formatting are fine, but do not switch to a different address unless asked.
Option 2, Use your hotel or short-term accommodation address (common as a local contact address)
If you are staying at a hotel, serviced apartment, or official short-let, the hotel address is usually acceptable as a local contact point. Some desks like having a New York area address on file because it gives them somewhere to reach you during the rental period.
Hotels are familiar to rental agents. If asked for a “local address” or “where you’re staying”, provide the hotel name and full street address, including the postcode. Keep your booking confirmation handy in case they ask for it, especially if you only have the address memorised.
This is particularly common when you are collecting outside Manhattan, such as near major airports where many visitors start their trip. If your trip begins via New Jersey, you may see policies geared to airport travellers when arranging car rental at Newark Airport (EWR).
Option 3, Use a friend or family member’s address (works, but be careful)
If you are visiting friends or family and staying at their home, their address can be appropriate as your “local stay” address. It can also look more stable than a hotel if the desk is trying to understand where you will be during the rental.
However, you should still be prepared to provide your permanent home address as well. The address on the agreement should not imply that you reside in the US if you do not. If an agent suspects you are presenting a US address as your permanent residence while holding an overseas licence, it can trigger extra questions.
Use this option when you genuinely are staying there, and be ready to share the host’s phone number if the desk requests a local contact.
What New York area rental desks usually require at the counter
Requirements vary by company and location, but rental desks around New York commonly ask for three things connected to the address question: a reliable form of ID, a payment card that passes verification, and a consistent reservation profile.
1, Your driving licence and passport must match you, not the local address
For tourists, your passport and driving licence are the core identity documents. The address you provide does not need to be printed on your passport, but it should make sense in combination with your licence and your travel situation.
If your driving licence shows an old address, do not invent a new one at the desk. Use the address associated with your licence or your current official home address, then clarify if asked. Consistency and honesty matter more than having something “nearby”.
2, Payment card verification often relies on your billing address
Card checks may rely on your billing address, the address your card issuer has on file. For that reason, when the counter agent asks for an address while processing the card, they usually want your billing address, not your hotel.
This is a common point of confusion: your booking might list a hotel address, but the desk may still ask for your billing address during payment. If you only know the hotel address, you can get stuck while searching for the exact billing format. Before you travel, confirm what address your bank has for your card, especially if you moved recently.
3, A local address may be requested as a practical contact detail
Some desks will add a local address to the agreement because it helps if there is a question about parking tickets, tolls, vehicle issues, or lost property. If you do not yet have your hotel details, explain that you are in transit and provide your first-night accommodation if you can. If you genuinely do not have a local address at pick-up, your permanent home address is usually enough, but expect a few extra questions.
Airport desks and address expectations in the New York area
Many tourists collect cars at airport locations, and airport desks are generally the most accustomed to international visitors without a US residential address. You still need to provide an address, but the process tends to be routine if your documents are in order.
If you are flying into JFK, you might compare operators and desk processes at Hertz car rental at New York JFK or Thrifty car rental at New York JFK. If your arrival is via Newark, you may see similar address fields and check-in steps when looking at car rental in New Jersey at EWR.
Even within the same brand, different desks may phrase the question differently. One agent may say “home address”, another may say “billing address”, and another may simply say “address”. If it is unclear, ask which one they mean, permanent home, billing, or where you are staying tonight.
How to fill the address section correctly, step by step
If you want the lowest-friction approach, use this order of operations when completing your reservation online and when speaking to the desk.
Step 1: For “Address” on your traveller profile, use your permanent home address, ideally the one linked to your driving licence and bank.
Step 2: If the form asks separately for “Local address”, “Hotel”, or “Address in the US”, enter your New York accommodation address.
Step 3: At the counter, if the agent is processing your card and asks for address details, provide your billing address first. If they ask where you are staying, provide your hotel or friend’s address.
Step 4: Keep the phone number portion consistent too. Use a number you can answer during the trip. If you have a UK or EU number, that is usually fine, but a US SIM can make contact easier if there is an issue.
Common mistakes that cause delays
Mixing addresses between documents. Switching between hotel and home address depending on the question can look inconsistent if the agent is entering one address field. Clarify what kind of address they need before answering.
Using a random Manhattan address. Some travellers copy an address from an online map just to complete a form. That can backfire if the desk asks follow-up questions, or if it is obvious you do not have any connection to the location.
Forgetting your hotel postcode. US addresses often require a ZIP code. If you cannot provide it, the agent may have to look it up, which slows things down at busy times.
Card billing address mismatch. If your bank still has an old address, verification can fail. Update your bank profile well before your trip, and travel with a backup card where possible.
What to do if you do not have a hotel yet
If you are arriving in New York without your first accommodation confirmed, use your permanent home address for the agreement and explain that your local address is pending. Most airport desks are used to last-minute changes, especially for road trips that start immediately. Once you check in to your accommodation, keep the details available in case you need to contact the rental company later.
Does the address affect tolls, tickets, or charges?
It can. Tolls and tickets are often handled electronically, then billed later using the renter information on file. Having a correct permanent home address and a reliable email is more important than having a perfect local address, because post-trip correspondence generally goes to your home contact details.
That said, always review your agreement before you leave the counter. Confirm that your name, licence details, and contact information are accurate, and ask for corrections immediately if something is wrong.
FAQ
Do I need a US address to hire a car in New York as a tourist?
Usually not. Most desks accept an overseas permanent home address, and may additionally record your hotel as a local contact address.
Should I put my hotel address or my home address on the rental agreement?
If the form is unclear, use your home address as the primary address. Provide your hotel address when asked where you are staying in New York.
What if my driving licence shows an old address?
Use the address tied to your official records and be consistent. If asked, explain that the printed address is outdated and provide your current permanent address.
Can I use a friend’s New York address even if I’m not staying there?
It is better not to. Use your permanent home address and your actual accommodation address to avoid confusion or extra verification questions.
Will the desk check my address against my payment card?
They may. If the agent is processing payment, they typically want the card billing address, so knowing it exactly can prevent delays.
