Car rental at JFK Airport
Land, collect, drive. What to expect between the arrivals hall and the driver's seat at John F. Kennedy International.
Getting to the rental cars
Rental operations at JFK sit outside the terminal ring. From any terminal you take the AirTrain to the rental company's stop and then a short shuttle, or in some cases walk. Allow 30 to 45 minutes from baggage reclaim to being in the car, and more during the evening international arrival bank when queues at the counters are longest.
Leaving the airport
Every route out of JFK involves tolls sooner or later. The Van Wyck Expressway is the main artery and it is reliably congested; the Belt Parkway is the better option heading east to Long Island. If you are driving into Manhattan, add the tunnel or bridge toll and, below 60th Street, the congestion charge. Take the transponder at the counter.
Is the airport the right place to rent?
Airport branches carry a concession recovery fee and a customer facility charge that city branches do not. Against that, getting to a Queens or Manhattan branch with luggage costs time and a taxi fare. The rule of thumb: for rentals of three days or more the airport premium is usually worth avoiding; for a same-day departure out of the city it rarely is.
| Airport code | JFK — John F. Kennedy International, Queens, New York |
|---|---|
| Getting there | AirTrain plus shuttle from all terminals |
| Allow | 30–45 minutes from baggage reclaim |
| Delayed flights | Add your flight number at booking so the vehicle is held |
| Alternatives | LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), or a city branch |