Best Cheap Car Rentals NYC
July 17, 2015 7:46 AM Subscribe
My usual car rental strategies in NYC are falling apart! I need new help.
Looking for cheap ideas for renting a car for a weekend or week in/around NYC, usually going to Boston/NH.
It used to be that in Brooklyn I would rent from All-Car. But that has now become an Enterprise and the rates are insane! Is there a cheapo local car-rental place people like? Preferably South Brooklyn, not Williamsburgh/Greenpoint?
Or for longer trips I'd take the Metro North to New Rochelle to rent from Hertz in the train station. But it looks like that location has closed. Is it a new agency? Other ideas?
Contributing factors: wife and child, so not just me and a backpack trying to go somewhere.
It used to be that in Brooklyn I would rent from All-Car. But that has now become an Enterprise and the rates are insane! Is there a cheapo local car-rental place people like? Preferably South Brooklyn, not Williamsburgh/Greenpoint?
Or for longer trips I'd take the Metro North to New Rochelle to rent from Hertz in the train station. But it looks like that location has closed. Is it a new agency? Other ideas?
Contributing factors: wife and child, so not just me and a backpack trying to go somewhere.
Taking metronorth to Stamford or New Haven also works- it's metro north and gets you well out of the way of NYC traffic and part of the way to Boston right off the bat, but the return time on Sundays is 4pm sharp and can be a bit painful if you miss it. (I recommend the New Haven one, since it's easier to make the return time on the way back). If you have more than 2 people, it usually comes out to cheaper than the bus between metronorth tickets+ car rental. 2 people it's kind of debatable if it's worth it.
In NYC there is no cheap option anymore. (if there ever was)
posted by larthegreat at 8:16 AM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
In NYC there is no cheap option anymore. (if there ever was)
posted by larthegreat at 8:16 AM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
We just rented a car out of NYC for the July 4th holiday, which was even pricier than usual.
Our group got a hotwire deal out of LGA, but that meant getting to the airport, no easy feat from S Brooklyn - on BOTH ENDS OF THE TRIP. for me, the added hour+ each way just couldnt justify the decreased costs. We're headed northward later in the summer and considering doing the same metro-north to out-of-city rental plan because its fairly convenient.
when it comes down to it for short trips (a day to a few days) ive found biting the bullet and paying zipcar the 160 bucks a day is sometimes cost competitive and WAY easier (the fact that there is a zipcar lot across the street from us vs having to take the subway to go get the car and home from the drop off is a big plus).
My always-applicable car rental advice is Costco if you have a membership - you save 25-35% off rates and its just through the regular major national car rental companies (you can select which one if you have preferences).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:21 AM on July 17, 2015
Our group got a hotwire deal out of LGA, but that meant getting to the airport, no easy feat from S Brooklyn - on BOTH ENDS OF THE TRIP. for me, the added hour+ each way just couldnt justify the decreased costs. We're headed northward later in the summer and considering doing the same metro-north to out-of-city rental plan because its fairly convenient.
when it comes down to it for short trips (a day to a few days) ive found biting the bullet and paying zipcar the 160 bucks a day is sometimes cost competitive and WAY easier (the fact that there is a zipcar lot across the street from us vs having to take the subway to go get the car and home from the drop off is a big plus).
My always-applicable car rental advice is Costco if you have a membership - you save 25-35% off rates and its just through the regular major national car rental companies (you can select which one if you have preferences).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:21 AM on July 17, 2015
Best answer: We ended up using Enterprise out of Hoboken, due to its easy accessibility on the PATH train from Manhattan. Much cheaper, though a slight hassle factor getting out of Hoboken to head north. I'd take it over the airport options again, probably.
posted by moedym at 9:46 AM on August 18, 2015
posted by moedym at 9:46 AM on August 18, 2015
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There's also Courier Car on 37th between 9th and 10th. Their customer service is good and they always have cars. Only catch is that they don't give unlimited mileage; I do believe that they give around 500 free miles for a weekly rental and then it's something like 15 cents a mile after that, so that's something to keep in mind. (I'm kinda guessing on the free mileage; it may be a bit more than that, so you'd have to give them a call.)
posted by holborne at 7:54 AM on July 17, 2015