Car Hire
New Jersey

If your plans are mostly Manhattan sightseeing, a car usually becomes a burden because of traffic and expensive parking, and you can reach the city by train or other public transport. Use a car only if you’ll be leaving the city for day trips or travelling with lots of luggage and multiple people. For a Manhattan-based trip, hiring a car from EWR is usually unnecessary.

A hire car can make sense if you’ll be moving around New Jersey for business, suburbs, or multiple stops where public transport isn’t direct. Just plan around rush hours and tighter city parking in downtown Newark. For Newark/NJ-heavy itineraries, hiring a car is generally beneficial.

The main challenge is congestion on major routes like the NJ Turnpike/I‑95 and local airport approach roads, especially during busy periods. Add tolls and occasional airport-area slowdowns, and driving can take longer than expected. For airport-area-only needs, hiring a car is usually optional.

Rush hours are typically around 7–9 am and 4–7 pm, when the Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike tend to be most congested. Weekends and peak travel days can also add delays getting into and out of the airport loop. To minimise stress, hiring is most beneficial when you can travel outside peak times.

Tolls are common around EWR and on major crossings and motorways, and many are cashless, so surprises happen if you’re not prepared. Ask at pick-up how tolls are handled (for example, whether a toll tag or billing programme is available) before you hit the road. If you dislike toll logistics, hiring a car for short urban trips is usually unnecessary.

Yes—EWR uses the AirTrain to connect terminals to the hire-car facilities, and it runs 24/7 and is free within the airport. Follow “Rental Cars” signs from baggage reclaim and take AirTrain to the correct stop for your company. If airport transfers are your main need, hiring is optional rather than essential.

At EWR, hire companies are split between AirTrain stops P2 and P3, so the right stop depends on which company you’re collecting from. Listen to onboard announcements and confirm signage so you don’t waste time backtracking with luggage. For a smooth start, hiring is beneficial only if you’re comfortable with the AirTrain transfer step.

Plan extra time for the AirTrain ride, walking, and potential counter queues—especially during weekends, Friday afternoons, and holidays when waits can spike. If you’re on a tight schedule, the pick-up process can feel slow compared with a direct train ride into the city. For time-sensitive Manhattan trips, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

Returns are generally manageable, but airport layouts can be confusing if you’re unfamiliar and some people find return areas hard to locate. Use your navigation app early and follow airport signage closely to avoid last-minute stress. For flight days, hiring a car is beneficial if you plan your return route and timing.

Yes—EWR has direct motorway access via the Newark Airport Interchange and major routes like the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and I-78. That makes it a practical jump-off for driving around New Jersey and beyond. For a New Jersey-focused itinerary, hiring a car is beneficial.

A compact or economy car is often easiest because downtown Newark parking can be tight and many public spaces are small. Larger vehicles can add stress when hunting for parking or fitting into garages. For city-based Newark stays, hiring is beneficial only if you need frequent driving.

A car can be useful if your day trips involve places that are inconvenient by train or require multiple stops, especially with a group. But for Manhattan-only touring, it’s usually more hassle than help due to traffic and parking. For NYC plus driving-heavy day trips, hiring is beneficial.

It’s usually not worth it because Manhattan driving is slow and parking is costly, and the Underground/subway and walking handle most tourist routes efficiently. Many travellers collect a car later (or return it early) to avoid paying to store it. For Manhattan sightseeing, hiring is generally unnecessary.

A hire car can simplify family logistics if you’ll do multiple stops, have pushchairs and bags, or need door-to-door convenience in New Jersey. It can be less practical if your entire trip is Manhattan-centric because you’ll still face parking challenges. For families based mostly in New Jersey, hiring is beneficial.

It can be, especially if you’re splitting costs among several people and heading to a destination not easily reached by a single train ride. Just factor in tolls and parking wherever you’re staying. For groups travelling beyond Manhattan, hiring is beneficial.

EWR can get very busy, and travellers often experience longer queues and higher demand during holidays and peak periods. That can slow down pick-up and reduce flexibility if you’re trying to change plans quickly. For peak dates, hiring is beneficial only if you truly need a car for your itinerary.

Early mornings before around 7 am and later evenings after around 9 pm are often calmer than midday and typical commuter peaks. Midday and weekends can still be busy depending on travel volume. If you can travel off-peak, hiring is more beneficial.

Yes, but travel times can vary widely, and it’s common for the trip to take much longer depending on traffic and route choice. A hire car is one of the more direct ways to reach these areas without juggling multiple transfers. For Long Island/Hamptons trips, hiring is beneficial.

EWR’s motorway access makes it a practical starting point for multi-state driving, especially if you’re doing a loop trip with multiple stops. Just plan for tolls and metro-area congestion on departure and return days. For regional road trips, hiring is beneficial.

Parking around downtown Newark can be harder, with smaller spaces and more competition, while suburban areas generally offer easier car parks and drive-up access. If you’re mostly in the suburbs, the car becomes far more convenient. For suburban New Jersey travel, hiring is beneficial.

If you’ll pay nightly parking and won’t drive much, the total cost can outweigh the convenience. A better strategy is often hiring only for the days you’re leaving the city area. If your hotel parking is expensive and you won’t drive daily, hiring is usually optional.

Yes—EWR has rail links via NJ Transit and Amtrak to Newark Airport station, and you can continue to Penn Station in Manhattan, often avoiding road traffic entirely. This is frequently simpler than driving into the city and paying to park. For Manhattan stays, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

For a weekend focused on Newark, Jersey City, or suburban stops, a car can save time and reduce transfers. For a Manhattan weekend, you’ll likely spend more time dealing with parking and traffic than enjoying the city. For a NYC-centred weekend, hiring is generally unnecessary.

It can feel hectic during busy periods because the airport layout is a loop with heavy merging and frequent slowdowns near terminal kerbs. Knowing your terminal and following signs early helps reduce last-second lane changes. If airport driving makes you uneasy, hiring a car is usually optional.

Yes—winter storms can bring snow and ice that slow motorways and make local roads more hazardous, and heavy snowfall can affect overall driving conditions. If you’re not comfortable driving in winter weather, consider alternatives for those days. In winter, hiring is beneficial only if you’re confident driving in poor conditions.

Seatbelts are required, and New Jersey also requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. In snowy conditions, you’re expected to clear snow and ice from the vehicle before driving. If you’re comfortable following local rules, hiring from EWR is beneficial for regional travel.

Yes—motorways like the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway can be posted up to 65 mph, while downtown areas are much lower (often around 30 mph) with slower local streets. The quick transitions mean you need to stay alert for signage. If you’re comfortable with city-to-motorway driving, hiring is beneficial.

Hiring at the airport is convenient for immediate departures but can be slower at pick-up times and leads you straight into tolls and congestion if you’re Manhattan-bound. If you won’t use a car right away, delaying the hire can reduce wasted parking costs. If you’re heading into NYC first, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

Friday afternoons are commonly busier in metro areas, and congestion can build on the routes leaving the airport and towards city crossings. If you must drive then, add buffer time so you’re not rushing. For Friday afternoon arrivals headed into NYC, hiring is usually unnecessary.

You should expect some walking because getting to the hire facilities typically involves AirTrain plus a walk through car parks or corridors to the counters and vehicles. With heavy luggage, that can feel like a hassle compared with a direct pick-up or train ride. If minimising walking is your priority, hiring is usually optional.

Yes, a car is one of the most straightforward ways to reach Shore towns on your schedule, especially if you’re carrying beach gear or travelling as a family. Just be aware summer weekends can bring heavy traffic on popular routes. For Jersey Shore plans, hiring is beneficial.

If heavy traffic stresses you out, the EWR area can be challenging at commuter peaks and during holidays due to motorway congestion and airport access slowdowns. Consider using trains for city access and hiring only for a specific out-of-town segment. For traffic-averse travellers, hiring is usually optional.

Yes—EWR is positioned well for quick motorway access, which can make short business loops efficient compared with stitching together public transport rides. Just plan pick-up and return outside rush hours when possible. For a New Jersey meeting day, hiring is beneficial.

Not usually, because EWR has a straightforward rail option to Penn Station that avoids traffic and parking costs. Driving may take longer once congestion and drop-off logistics are added. For a Penn Station-area stay, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

A car can help if you’ll be doing many stops across New Jersey, but for local Jersey City/Hoboken plus Manhattan, you can often rely on rail and PATH-type connections rather than parking a car. Keeping a car there can mean paying for garages and dealing with dense traffic. For Jersey City/Hoboken-based trips with NYC visits, hiring is usually optional.

Aim to arrive early enough to handle airport road traffic, fuel, the return process, and the AirTrain ride back to your terminal. Early morning can be less busy, but you still want a buffer to avoid missing check-in and security windows. For early flights, hiring is beneficial only if you’re comfortable with a structured return plan.

Bigger vehicles can be comfortable for people and luggage, but they’re harder to park and manoeuvre in dense areas like downtown Newark and especially in NYC. If most of your time is urban, a smaller car is typically easier and cheaper to manage. For city-heavy plans, hiring a large vehicle is usually unnecessary.

Yes—between airport rail links and NYC’s public transport network, you can do most trips without driving. Many travellers only consider a car for specific out-of-town segments. For a NYC-only trip using EWR, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

During bad weather, holidays, or major events, rideshare waits can grow and pick-up rules can be frustrating, so having your own car can feel more predictable. However, you’ll still face traffic and parking challenges once you reach urban areas. As a reliability back-up for regional travel, hiring is beneficial.

If your trip is Manhattan-centric, skip the car and use rail or rideshare as needed because parking and congestion are major downsides. If you’ll spend meaningful time in New Jersey or do multi-stop travel, a hire dramatically improves flexibility. Overall, hiring a car is beneficial for New Jersey itineraries and unnecessary for Manhattan-only stays.