Renting a supercar in New York usually does not mean a trip to a rental counter. Instead, you will choose your dream car online and take delivery of it directly at your Manhattan hotel or other location in the city. This varies by company, but you will usually be introduced to a professional driver or concierge who will meet you where you asked to be met, and will hand you the keys.
When you ask for a quote, make sure to ask for delivery.
Some companies also deliver out of the immediate area of New York City. You may find it worth paying extra to take delivery in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, the Hamptons, northern New Jersey or the private jet terminals. If you need the car at a home or a hotel in New Jersey, the Hamptons, or farther away, you would typically pay more for delivery.
Keep the Whole Trip in Mind
As a rule of thumb, you would generally want to book at least 48 to 72 hours beforehand. You can, of course, book close to when you need the car, but you will be at the mercy of availability. When you choose the car, keep the whole trip in mind. Some cars, like small ones and 2-seaters, can be easier to drive through Manhattan, but may not have room for the luggage.
If you fly in to New York on your way to driving a supercar, you can ask the company to arrange for airport pickup, or arrange for pickup at the hotel of your choice. It’s just like picking up the rental yourself, except that you get the car when you walk outside the terminal. You can give the driver your flight information. This lets the company track your progress and work around any changes to arrival time. The driver may choose to leave for the airport about 90 minutes before you land. This gives a buffer against expressway traffic, leaving the gate late, and other delays. Just as importantly, the driver will wait in the cell phone lot and only pull up to the curb when you have collected your bags and are ready to go. Consider a cab ride out to the rental company’s lot against a car waiting for you as you walk out of the terminal. If you have a very busy day after you land, the convenience of taking delivery at the curb could be worth the price.
In the real world, people’s plans change. Flights land early or late. Meetings run long. The company that provides your supercar may be able to adjust the time and place of delivery, the length of the rental, and the time and place of return. Ask about the company’s policy on these situations before you rent.
The Curbside Handoff
By the time the car gets to the curb, it should be clean, with its tires, wheels, fluids, systems checked. At the moment of delivery, you will be expected to show your driver’s license. As a rule, your paperwork is prepared beforehand. So usually all that’s left is your signature and a discussion of any damage that is already on the car when it is delivered to you. You will be asked to sign an agreement that protects everyone’s interests, and you may also have to provide proof of insurance. You will get a detailed walkthrough of the car, including all controls and other features. Before you get going, ask all your questions. Don’t wait until you get on the highway to familiarize yourself with the various drive modes.
During the handoff, the representative will show you the condition report. This is a list of any existing marks or scratches, so that you won’t be blamed for them when the car is returned. Go over the condition report with the rep and the car itself. If it is wrong, ask the driver to make the correction in front of you. The curbside handoff typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
As for the license you show, visitors from other states or foreign countries may drive in New York on a valid license from their home location. Foreign visitors do not need to get an International Driving Permit, but it could be handy to have. Get your IDP from the government agency that handles drivers licenses in your home country, before you leave to visit the US.
As for proof of insurance, in most cases you will be responsible for the insurance. The liability minimum starts at $25,000 for injury to one person. Make sure you have at least this much coverage on your policy. Ask your insurance company to confirm your coverage over the phone.
A handoff in a New York garage or hotel parking lot does not present much of a problem. If the handoff happens on the street, as sometimes happens in Manhattan, time is money. New York City law bans idling an engine for more than three minutes, and one minute when the car is next to a school. Switch the engine off and let it sit while you go through the walkthrough with the driver.
The company that brings the car to you will typically place a security deposit hold on your credit card. The amount will vary, but you can expect about $2,500 at some companies. In addition, you will be billed later for tolls, congestion charges and other fees that are billed to the car’s license plate.
Giving the Car Back
You ask the company to pick it up, call the driver when you are ready, and the driver will pull up in front of the hotel and collect the car. You can also have the car picked up at your home or office address, or at the airport. The driver will take note of any differences between the initial walk-through and the final condition of the car. Discuss any damage, and make sure there is no disagreement.
New York law requires that a claim for damage must rest on a car inspection at return. You or your insurer get 72 hours after the incident report to ask to inspect the car. The law does not allow the company to charge loss-of-use fees.
Decide what the plan is beforehand. You will need your driver’s license and insurance information. Inspect the car for problems as soon as you get it.
