New York City driving guide

With its bright lights and famed avenues, driving in New York City can be daunting. But with a few tips and tricks, navigating the Big Apple can be easy and practical. We’ve put together a guide to one of our favorite cities to get you navigating these iconic streets like a pro.

Whether it’s something so good they named it twice or the fast-paced hustle of the ‘New York minute’, NYC’s reputation precedes it. But these broad strokes aren’t enough to capture the appeal of New York.

The best way to understand what makes New York City tick is to take to the streets. And what better way to cover some serious ground than by car?

In this guide:

• Driving rules in New York City
• Speed limits in New York City
• Toll roads in and around New York City
• New York City’s driving license requirements
• Parking in New York City
• Electric car charging in New York City
• Quick driving tips for New York City
• Frequently asked questions

Driving rules in New York City

Being the most densely populated city in the States means there are stringent driving rules to keep everyone safe. You may be familiar with some of these rules, but it never hurts to refresh your memory. We’ve compiled some of the key driving rules for NYC below.

• Pay attention to road signs - Not all streets are the same and, for some, the rules change depending on the time of day. For example, you might find you’re unable to make a left turn at certain times. However, everything you need to know should be clearly signposted.
• Don’t block the box – Another road sign you’ll probably see reads ‘Don’t block the box’. This refers to staying out of the intersection once the traffic light changes. If you find yourself ‘blocking the box’, you could not only aggravate other drivers but land yourself with a heavy fine.
• Avoid using your cell phone when driving – If you’re caught using your cell phone while driving, whether texting, calling or anything else, you can be fined on the spot.
• You can’t turn right on red – Unlike other cities you may have driven in, you can’t make a right turn on red lights in NYC. Signs will notify you if you can turn right on a red light, but the default is to wait for green.

Speed limits in New York City

Like any city, New York speed limits vary depending on where you’re driving. Most streets within the city have a maximum speed limit of 25mph. But anything faster, or slower, should be well signposted.

If you’re planning a trip to or from the city, you may want to bear in mind the following speed limits on the roads:

Toll roads in and around New York City

You’ll find that New York City toll roads are primarily on bridges and tunnels travelling into the city. If you’re staying in the city, you shouldn’t have to worry about toll roads when driving.

All New York toll roads are cashless or unmanned and require a small removable transponder to pay your toll. Toll booths in New York are managed by E-ZPass and transponders can be obtained online.

Holland Tunnel

Connecting Hudson Square and Lower Manhattan with New Jersey, Holland Tunnel is part of Interstate 78.

From: Lower Manhattan

To: Jersey City

Cost for car: $12.75 to $14.75 with E-ZPass (based on time of travel), or $17 without.

Cost for truck: $35 to $40 with E-ZPass, or $46 without.

How to pay: Payment for Holland tunnel is paid when entering New York City from New Jersey. All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

George Washington Bridge

The world’s busiest bridge in terms of motor vehicles, this busy stretch of road crosses the Hudson River, connecting Fort Lee, New Jersey with the top of Manhattan.

From: Washington Heights, Manhattan

To: Fort Lee, New Jersey

Cost for car: $12.75 to $14.75 with E-ZPass (based on time of travel), or $17 without.

Cost for truck: $35 to $40 with E-ZPass, or $46 without.

How to pay: Payment for George Washington Bridge is paid when entering New York City from New Jersey. All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Lincoln Tunnel

Running beneath the Hudson River, the Lincoln Tunnel takes drivers from Weehawken, NJ to Midtown Manhattan.

From: Midtown Manhattan

To: Weehawken

Cost for car: $12.75 to $14.75 with E-ZPass (based on time of travel), or $17 without.

Cost for truck: $35 to $40 with E-ZPass, or $46 without.

How to pay: Payment for Lincoln Tunnel is paid when entering New York City from New Jersey. All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge

The RFK Bridge was formerly known as the Triborough Bridge, as it links three NYC boroughs – Queens, Manhattan and The Bronx.

From: The Bronx/Queens/Manhattan

To: The Bronx/Queens/Manhattan

Cost for car: $6.55 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

Cost for truck: $11.84 with E-ZPass or $20.35 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Hugh L. Carey Tunnel

Better known as the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel is an NYC tunnel that travels beneath the mouth of the East River. Opened in 1950, it remains the longest underwater tunnel you can drive through in the States.

From: Brooklyn

To: Manhattan

Cost for car: $6.55 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

Cost for truck: $11.84 with E-ZPass or $20.35 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Queens-Midtown Tunnel

Connecting Queens and, you guessed it, Midtown, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel takes you beneath the East River. Did you know it was first driven through by President Franklin Roosevelt?

From: Queens

To: Midtown Manhattan

Cost for car: $6.55 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

Cost for truck: $11.84 with E-ZPass or $20.35 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

New York State Thruway

A major road that stretches from NYC out into the wider New York state. Connecting the Bronx with Yonkers, Albany and Syracuse, the road continues west until it reaches Buffalo and Niagara Falls. 

From: The Bronx

To: Niagara

Cost for car: The cost of using the toll roads on the New York State Thruway are determined by how far you go and the toll booths you pass.

For example, driving from New York City to Yonkers will cost you $1.19 with a New York E-ZPass, $1.37 with a non-New York E-ZPass, and $1.54 for a Toll by Mail.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Verrazzano Narrows Bridge

Connecting the two boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn, Verrazzano Bridge travels over The Narrows, the last stretch of water between the Hudson and the Atlantic Ocean.

From: Brooklyn

To: Staten Island

Cost for car: $6.55 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

Cost for truck: $11.84 with E-ZPass or $20.35 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Throgs Neck Bridge

As part of I-295, Throgs Neck Bridge crosses the East River and runs between The Bronx and Queens.

From: The Bronx

To: Queens

Cost for car: $6.55 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

Cost for truck: $11.84 with E-ZPass or $20.35 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Henry Hudson Bridge

Spanning the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, Henry Hudson Bridge connects the Bronx with Manhattan. One of the many bridges that connect Manhattan with the wider New York City, Henry Hudson Bridge connects you to Inwood at the northern tip of Manhattan.

From: The Bronx

To: Manhattan

Cost for car: $3 with E-ZPass or $7.50 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Marine Parkway Bridge

Marine Parkway Bridge, or to give it its full title, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, connects Queens’ Rockaway Peninsula with neighboring Brooklyn and has become an iconic sight in the south of the city.

From: Rockaway Peninsula

To: Brooklyn

Cost for car: $2.45 with E-ZPass or $5.09 without.

Cost for truck: $5.92 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge

East of Marine Parkway Bridge, Cross Bay Bridge directly connects the Rockaway Peninsula with the rest of Queens and crosses over Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

From: Rockaway Peninsula

To: Howard Beach, Queens

Cost for car: $2.45 with E-ZPass or $5.09 without.

Cost for truck: $5.92 with E-ZPass or $10.17 without.

How to pay: All payments are cashless and paid through E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.

New York City’s driving license requirements

You can drive using a license from any state or even another country in New York. An International Driving Permit can be useful if your license is in a language other than English.

Read more on our New York State Driving Guide.

Parking in New York City

Parking in New York can be tricky at times, but there are plenty of parking spots spread throughout the five boroughs.

Many New York parking lots offer a valet service, allowing you to drop off your car and continue your day. You may also find that parking lots (especially in popular areas) will require you to book a time slot. There are several sites that allow you to find available parking lot spaces and book online.

We’ve selected a handful of parking spots across the city as examples of what you can find.

GMC Parking

This underground parking garage is typical of the parking lots you’ll find in Manhattan. Covered and valet serviced, this particular lot is on the southwest edge of Central Park, near Columbus Circle.

Location: 209 W 58^th Street, Manhattan, New York City, NY 10019

Cost per hour: $35

How to pay: You can reserve a parking space online via their website or a third party. Alternatively, you can pay in person.

Dime Building LAZ Parking

Considerably cheaper than Manhattan, this Brooklyn parking lot can be found in the trendy Williamsburg neighborhood. With valet services and a covered garage, it’s open every day, 6am-11pm.

Location: 262 South 4th Street Brooklyn, New York City, NY 11211

Cost per hour: $10

How to pay: Parking spaces can be reserved online via their website or a third party. Alternatively, payments can be made in person.

In & Out Parking JFK

This open-air parking lot in Queens is close to the JFK Airport and comes with valet parking and on-site staff. The lot is open 24/7 and offers an airport shuttle, making it a popular spot with frequent flyers.

Location: In & Out Airport Parking, 178th Place, Queens, NY 11434

Cost per hour: $12

How to pay: Reservations can be made online via their website or a third party. If you prefer, you can pay in person.

MPG Parking

Set in Fordham in the Bronx, this undercover garage is wheelchair accessible, open 24/7 and always has staff on site. Close to some of the Bronx’s most famous attractions and the world-famous Little Italy, this can be a great place to park up before exploring this exciting borough.

Location: 2519 Creston Ave, The Bronx, NY 10468

Cost per hour: $8

How to pay: Parking spaces can be found online via MPG’s website or using a third party. They also offer the option to pay in person.

Parking Systems Plus @ Staten Island Municipal Garage

Close to the Staten Island Ferry, this parking lot makes it easy to drop off your car and travel across the Bay, past the Statue of Liberty and into Manhattan on foot. It also has 5 EV charging spaces available.

Location: 54 Central Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301

Cost per hour: $2.75 for first hour, then $3 for every extra hour.

How to pay: Pay at the toll when you arrive.

Street parking in New York City

Street parking is possible, but the prices and duration allowed vary depending on where you are.

Ranging from $1.25 to $7.50 an hour and with maximum stays of one to 15 hours, parking on the streets of New York City may not be the most reliable option if you want something long term for your stay.

New York City parking app

While you can make meter payments with cash or a card when you park on the streets of NYC, you can also pay via New York’s free app, ParkNYC.

You can use the app to pay for metered parking across the city and it comes with additional benefits. With the app, you don’t need to find a meter or display a ticket, and you’ll get alerts before your time expires.  

Electric car charging in New York City

If you’re driving an electric car in NYC, you’re not alone. EV ownership has more than doubled across the city and with the number of charging ports increasing, running an electric vehicle has never been easier.  

While curbside charging may still be an issue for some drivers, New York City is creating PlugNYC – an accessible network of chargers that should allow drivers to charge their electric vehicles. You can find more information on the availability of electric car chargers in NYC online.

Quick driving tips for New York City

• Keep an eye on taxis – NYC’s iconic yellow taxis can stop to pick up drivers suddenly and re-enter traffic just as quick.
• Patience is a virtue – Major streets can be busy, especially at rush hour, but plan and you should be fine.
• Watch out for bikes – Cycling is popular in NYC so remember to be extra careful around bike lanes.
• Read the road signs – Everything you need to know when driving in New York can be found on street signs, so make the most of them.
• Use modern technology – GPS devices can make navigating the streets of NYC that little bit simpler.

Frequently asked questions

How do I avoid traffic in New York City?

Here are some of our top tips for avoiding traffic in NYC:

• Traffic updates can save you from entering congested areas. Both radio and GPS can pick out the best routes.
• Avoid roads that are undergoing construction, as these can become easily congested.
• Travel outside of rush hour, especially in Manhattan. This can be between 8am and 9am in the mornings, and from 3pm to 7pm in the evenings.
• If you know you’re going to encounter traffic, plan to leave earlier than you normally would.

Can you turn right on red in NYC?

No, you are not allowed to turn right on a red light when driving in New York City – unless there is a sign stating otherwise.

Is it faster to walk or drive in NYC?

It depends on where you’re going but generally speaking it’s faster to drive, especially if you want to explore more than one borough. Rush hour in New York tends to be between 8 - 9am and 3 -7pm, so avoid these hours if time is of the essence.

It’s easy to explore this vibrant one-of-a-kind city behind a steering wheel. You’ll see the best sights, find new attractions and discover the city as you make your way to your destination. If you’re planning on travelling out of the city, consider reading our New York State driving guide for everything you need to know.

Get ready for your trip to New York City

Explore the very best of New York City with our other handy guides.

• Best hotels in New York City
• Best things to do in New York City
• New York’s neigborhoods