Car Hire Newark NJ

Car Hire

Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, forming part of the greater Metropolitan New York region. It is located west of Manhattan Island (downtown New York) and Jersey City. Although not as well-known as other more popular areas of Metro New York, Newark is an important shipping, air and rail hub. Port Newark is, in fact, the largest shipping port in all of the East Coast. It is also an interesting destination, with several historic and cultural sites as well as beautiful parks.

Who to Book With
A long list of car rental companies can be found within Newark. Five car hire firms can be found in Newark International Airport: Dollar, Avis, National, Hertz and Enterprise. Those in town include Payless, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Action, Value, Advantage and Rent-A-Wreck. Choosing can be confusing, so comparing the offers online prior to arrival is definitely a good idea.

Best Time to Go
As with many parts of New York, Newark has a humid subtropical climate. Winters are cold and usually see a few inches of snow, while summers can be hot and very humid. Spring is a great time to visit, especially around May when conditions are cool but pleasant.

Need to Know Essentials
When you pick up your car hire, you need to show the following documents:

- A driving licence from your country of origin or an International Driving Permit (if the licence is in a language other than English)
- Valid proof of identity
- The credit card used when the car was booked

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
Several highways pass through Newark connecting the different towns and cities of the area to this transport hub. Interstate 280 (I-280) runs northeast to southwest along Newark’s western limits while I-78 takes vehicles from Jersey City to Newark, passing Newark Airport. The New Jersey Turnpike is also a useful road for those coming from Manhattan and Jersey. Streets in Newark follow a grid pattern and major roads branch outward. The major roads are usually named after the places to which they lead.

More tips and information on driving in the United States can be found in our guide to the USA.

Transport

Newark is a big transport hub, so those visiting the city will not run out of options when it comes to commuting inside the city and to outlying destinations. Newark Penn Station is the transport hub for practically every mode of transport in the city. Buses and trains of various lines and coverage areas all stop here.

Trains
The main train station in all of Newark is the Newark Penn Station, located east of the downtown off McCarter Highway. Amtrak trains, NJ Transit services, the Newark Light Rail and the PATH Newark-World Trade Centre rapid transit all stop at this station. The abundance of connections here has done away with the need of owning cars, so most Newark residents do not own a vehicle.

Taxis
Metered taxis go around the streets of Newark. When in downtown, it will be easy to hail cabs from the street. Outside of downtown, however, you will need to call a cab or book online. Garden State Taxi, Newark Taxi Service and EWR Taxi are just some of the companies that serve Newark.

Buses
Newark’s central rail terminal, Newark Penn Station, is also the city’s main bus hub. NJ Transit buses and Greyhound offer services from here to places within and outside Newark. Those travelling south to Washington DC, Philadelphia and Baltimore, or north to Boston, can also board a BoltBus bus from Newark Penn.

Exploring

There are many interesting attractions and sites within Newark, the second-largest city in the Metro New York area and one of the oldest settlements in the US. Historical and cultural sites can be found here, alongside museums, art galleries and sports and performing arts centres. For daytrips from Newark, visitors can also venture out to the more provincial areas of the region, to beaches, parks and small towns.

Recommended Drives

Liberty State Park - This is a great getaway for visitors in the Metro New York area, and certainly for those staying in Newark. From Newark, drivers can take the McCarter Highway to get onto the I-78. The park has riverside promenades with benches offering stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Visitors here can also take boat trips to historic sites such as the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

Coney Island - This is one of the best-known attractions in the New Jersey. It has a big amusement park, one of the first in the US, and a beach area. It is located in Southern Brooklyn; to get here, take the I-95, continuing east along the I-278.

Rockaway Beach - This is another beach area located farther east towards Queens. This long stretch of sand fronting the Atlantic Ocean is a popular destination in the summer for people living in the city.