Yes, you can have an exotic car delivered to or from JFK, LaGuardia or Newark. The trick is that the car, the handoff and the way you use it all need to work from the same playbook. Start with sharing an accurate flight number and airline, and if applicable the private aviation terminal you’re using. Then confirm your passenger and luggage count and say where you’re going after the airport. Have your return location handy, especially if you’re picking the car up at one airport and dropping it off at a different one.
Along with your airline and flight number, give your scheduled arrival time, and if you know it in advance the terminal. Tell the desk how many passengers you’re expecting, how many bags you’re packing, and a phone number to use to reach you. Mention any oversized bags you’re packing - but don’t make snap decisions about a car’s luggage space based on a photograph.
Each car has its own layout for passengers and bags. Even if a car’s listed it may not be available for your dates. Don’t say it’s “just a couple of weekend bags”, be an engineer about it. If you have more bags, consider a second car to carry them with its own driver; it isn’t automatic, and the charge is confirmed when you book.
Pick-up and Drop-off
Curbside handoffs are complicated by the fact that some airports don’t allow it. Others do, some of the time. For an early-morning departure, a late-night arrival or a pick-up or drop-off for a party that requests contactless service the car may wait nearby, in an approved parking area serving your terminal. If you’re expecting a curbside handoff, confirm the details before you land. If you’re renting a car contact-free you’ll need to give your driver’s license and insurance, your payment details, and sign paperwork in advance.
Don’t show up to pick up a reservation with a GPS address in hand. In an active, busy airport things change. At JFK, curbs are for active pick-up and drop-off only, no parking by terminals. Unattended cars may be towed at the owner’s expense. At LaGuardia, your driver can’t wait at the curb until you come outside with your bags; it’s a moving aisle, not parking. If you have someone meeting you, each airport has a free cell phone lot to help them out. JFK’s sits by the JFK Expressway, fewer than five minutes from all terminals. Newark’s has over 100 spaces next to the P4 garage; LaGuardia’s is off-airport on 94th Street.
If you’re flying private, you can’t get a car close to your plane without the right approvals. The airport and FBO (the fixed-base operator serving your aircraft) both have to approve planeside delivery. If not, have the car ready to go at the closest permitted spot at the FBO. All this takes longer to arrange than you may think, so plan in advance. Tell your contact the airport, the FBO, the tail number and arrival time.
If you need to make changes - or if your flight changes before or after your trip begins - don’t leave the driver wondering, call as soon as you know. If you tell the desk that the flight is now tomorrow, don’t be surprised if the car assigned tomorrow isn’t the same as the one assigned for the evening of your original date.
How Much It Costs
Your quote tells you how much it costs, and confirms how to pay for parking the car. Parking charges at airports are yours to pay and vary by location and length of stay. In New York State, a short-term car rental is subject to a 12% tax on top of sales tax. In New Jersey, your rental adds $5 a day for the first 28 days.
New York’s regulations ban rental firms from turning you away if you’re 18 or older and insurance is available. Any age surcharge cannot exceed the actual cost of insurance. New York law keeps you from getting hammered on a deposit or card hold for possible damage. Whenever an authorized driver damages a rented car, New York State caps their liability for the damage at no more than the lower of the cost to make reasonable repairs or the car’s fair market value before the damage, minus salvage value after the damage. Loss-of-use fees or administrative fees for repairs are prohibited in New York State. The specifics of the terms can be complex, especially if you use your own insurance. This is the sort of detail that isn’t in the listing, so verify it in advance.
