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Driving is on the right side of the road.

All John F Kennedy Airport rental cars are automatic transmission.

Your local drivers' licence is required.

An International Drivers' Permit (or IDP) may be required, especially if your local drivers' licence is in a language other than the local language (you may inquire when you pick up your car).

New York Driving Stress Level: 7/10

Driving around downtown Manhattan is not for the fainthearted and only experienced drivers should consider driving through the main streets. Locals in New York are famous for their aggressive driving and overuse of the horn, with parking spaces being scarce to say the least. However, driving outside of the city is much less chaotic and can be rather scenic and enjoyable.

 

Tip: Paying for tolls when using a rental car:

Check with your rental car agency to learn about their company policy for paying tolls. Some rental car companies provide E-ZPass® transponder tags. In those cases, be sure you understand how to use the transponders and learn about any fees or charges. Fees vary among rental car companies regarding unpaid tolls, so it is important to find out the specifics in advance.

If your rental car company does not provide a transponder, or if you do not want to use a rental car company tag, you have two options:

• Pay the toll using cash
• Pay the toll using your own E-ZPass® transponder

  
  

If you have an E-ZPass® account, and decide to use your own transponder, we do NOT recommend adding the rental car license plate number to your account.

Car Rental Protection
Learn how to protect yourself when renting a car at John F Kennedy Airport.