Hiring a car service in New York City on New Year’s Eve is doable, but requires planning. You should book your car in advance; you cannot hail them on the street. No one drives into Times Square that night, but your driver can drop you off on 6th or 8th Avenue and you can walk in.
Black cars, limousines and app cars can’t take street hails. They can’t even pick up unbooked passengers in Manhattan below East 96th and West 110th; a driver who does can face a $500 fine. So book a car by phone, on the company’s website or, if you have it, through the app.
Closed to Traffic and Pedestrians
Everything’s different on New Year’s Eve. Here’s how it went in recent years: Seventh Avenue was closed to cars between 42nd and 48th Streets as early as 4 a.m., including the side streets between 43rd and 48th. Around 11 a.m., Broadway and Seventh Avenue were closed to cars between 38th and 59th Streets. Then around 4 p.m., 6th and 8th Avenues closed to traffic and pedestrians. Police cordon off blocks northward as they fill. As usual, this year’s plan might change, so check it before you book.
Around 6 p.m., the ball is raised above Times Square. It drops at 11:59 p.m. Aim to arrive a few hours earlier than usual — 4 p.m. at the latest — so the driver can drop you before 6th and 8th Avenues close. Book far in advance, and then call a day or two beforehand to double-check.
New Year’s Eve party destinations in Times Square must be accessed from either 6th or 8th Avenues. (6th for destinations east of Broadway, 8th for west.) No one crosses Broadway or Seventh Avenue after the streets close. Get out at the closest cross street on Sixth or Eighth Avenue. There’s access for businesses along 42nd Street at 40th and Eighth.
Viewing Areas
If you want to watch the ball, you need to get into one of the viewing areas, entering from Sixth or Eighth Avenue at 45th, 49th, 52nd or 56th Streets. Once the streets are closed, around 4 p.m., the only way to cross Sixth or Eighth is via the pedestrian crossings at 41st, 44th, 47th, 50th, 54th or 57th Streets.
Get your directions from the venue; call your host to find out how to get in and where to have the car drop you off. The viewing areas open at 3 p.m. They fill up first come, first served. Leave to get food and you won’t get back. If you book dinner at a restaurant, remember you can’t just walk out to see the ball. Private parties in hotels and restaurants require tickets in advance. Standing out on the street is free.
The organizers recommend public transit as the best way in. Skip the always-slammed Times Square/42nd Street stop and walk from nearby stations. The 50th Street station is bypassed until about 12:15 a.m.
So why hire a driver for your night out? In licensed for-hire vehicles for ten or more, like stretch limos and party buses, passengers can drink. It’s the state’s open-container law. But it’s illegal to drink outdoors anywhere in New York City. Police seize the bottles.
There’s also another reason. In New York a blood alcohol content of .08 or more is DWI. A first offense can mean up to a year in jail. So leave the car keys home.
When you book, keep in mind the New York State congestion surcharge, an extra $2.75 per non-shared trip for for-hire vehicles in Manhattan below 96th Street. It usually shows up as an extra item on your bill.
When the car lets you out, you might be outdoors for hours in below-freezing temperatures. Dress in layers and wear a hat and windproof coat. All bags must be searched, and backpacks, large bags and umbrellas aren’t allowed. There are no portable restrooms.
On the day itself, get text updates. Text NEWYEARSEVE to 692692 for Notify NYC alerts on weather, road closures and traffic delays, or NOCHEVIEJA for Spanish. Pass along what you learn from Notify to your driver.
Arrange with your transportation provider in advance for a pick-up location. It will be best to avoid congested areas for pickup and drop-off points.
