A car for an evening in Williamsburg may call for a different plan than a wedding in DUMBO or a weekend departure from Park Slope. Share the occasion, passenger count and luggage needs so your inquiry can focus on the right body style and vehicle specification, not just a name on a list.
Brooklyn collection and delivery requests need an exact address and a workable handover point. Tell us about a building entrance, garage or venue contact, along with any planned travel into Manhattan or out to Long Island. Your concierge can discuss the available car and proposed arrangements before you commit.
Renting a luxury or exotic car in Brooklyn is easier than you might think, though there are some tricks to be aware of. As usual, the operator will check your licence, your age, and put a big deposit on your credit card. On top of the usual fees, it is worth exploring the insurance options the company offers, to be sure you are not on hook for damages or scratches. New York law has a big exception for younger renters.
Most exotic rental companies prefer not to rent to anyone below age 25, and some will demand you be 30 or older. You should have a licence held at least two to three years and a clean driving record. One important caveat is that your rent-a-car company is actually required by law not to deny your rental just because of your age, if you are 18 or older and insurance for your age group is available. They may only charge you for any extra insurance cost, if their insurers charge them more for covering a young driver.
Most luxury car rental places will only accept credit cards, and this is tricky. Your card must have a big enough available balance to cover the rental and the amount of a security deposit hold. The latter is much more for a supercar, often $5,000-$15,000. The operator will not charge the amount to your card, but your bank will automatically make it unavailable for spending until the operator releases the hold. If you return the car in clean shape, the hold will be released, and your card’s full balance will be available to you again. This typically happens within 3 to 7 business days, though your bank could make it up to 14.
Collision Damage Waiver
Insurance in New York is particularly complicated. New York caps the price of a collision damage waiver at only $15 a day if the car costs over $35,000 and up to $50,000 (MSRP). It sets no limit for cars worth more (which is most luxury and exotic cars). If you damage the car, note that your liability can be limited by law to the repair costs or the car’s market value whichever is less. Note that loss of use or administrative fees do not count.
Your personal insurance may not cover a rental car, depending on your state. But in New York it does, as long as you are an individual or married couple with fewer than five cars on the policy. The minimum property damage coverage for New York auto insurance is only $10,000. Your card issuer’s collision damage waiver may not explicitly cover high-end cars. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, NerdWallet reports, excludes more expensive vehicles including Ferraris, Porsches and other exotic cars.
When you pick up the car, start taking photos of everything, every exterior corner. Do not just look at the car, and do not rely on the rental operator’s condition report without your own record. You might not know if the (expensive) hubcaps are dinged when you are handed the car, but a photo of the wheels and tires from all sides might keep them from insisting you pay for damage you never did. Point out existing scuffs to be sure they go on the car’s condition report. Photograph the car’s fuel gauge, and its mileage too.
Supercars Sit Low to the Ground
Before you go cruising, check for speed bumps and driveway inclines and steep humps, even in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Supercars sit low to the ground, typically 4-5 inches. The car’s nose can scrape on the way up. Going slowly and braking before you get to the bump helps, and so does taking it at an angle. Front-bumper splitters get damaged most often, and replacing or rebuilding one will cost you $2,000-5,000.
Remember that New York City streets are sometimes narrow and low-headroom parking garages are everywhere. A Lamborghini Huracan is about 7.5 feet wide. If you have never driven something that wide, you might find yourself squeezing along narrow streets. Supercars are fast. Engine and throttle response is strong, with rear visibility in short supply. Check the mirrors constantly. Use the rear camera too. Use a light touch for the first hour or so of driving it, until you get used to the car’s acceleration. Many supercars come with multiple driving modes. Start in the least powerful, tamest mode, and move up to more aggressive modes as you get comfortable with the car.
If you are parking the car yourself, look for a spot to pull through, so you don’t have to back up. Even better, park farther away, in the most empty row. Walk that extra distance if you have to, in order to prevent the inevitable door-dings a high-end luxury car attracts when parked in a parking lot.
You will probably want to drive in Manhattan too. The $9 congestion toll at the 60th Street line for southern Manhattan, which is collected through E-ZPass at peak hours, is charged only once a day.
Call the Rental Company
So, you scraped the nose of the supercar on the way up the driveway, or you even scraped the wheel rim against the curbstone. Inspect the scrape or scratch. Then take photos of the damaged area and explain the damage to the rental company. Hiding your tracks never works. Within 72 hours, you or your insurer can ask to inspect the damaged car before it is repaired.
It is a worry you never have to think about when you drive your old but familiar car: what happens if it suddenly behaves differently, with warning lights or unusual noise? It is best to err on the safe side. Pull over, safely, and call the rental company. Most supercars don’t have a spare. If you get a flat, do not drive on it; call them too.
If you get a ticket, tell the company when you return the car. You can pay the fine, or you can fight it yourself. If you ignore the ticket, your rental company will often pay the fine and then try to get the money back from you, plus a fee.
When you return the car, you will want to confirm the fuel level is the same as when you left. You will want to use the correct grade of gasoline, typically 91 octane or 93 octane premium. If you come back later than scheduled, call the rental place, because many exotic car rentals charge a steep rate per hour for a late return. The rate can be $200 per hour to $500 an hour. The rental operator will do a walk-around of the car with you. Be candid about any scuffs, scratches or dings you might have picked up and be sure the condition report reflects the car’s condition.
If you rent a luxury or exotic car, it is supposed to be a thrill, not a nightmare. Be meticulous, take photos. And then drive carefully, lean on the mirrors, and let the car give you a little joy.
