Once you're in the city, most people find that they don't need a car, because you can easily take taxis or the subway to get where you're going. Plus, the cost of parking your car adds up quickly, especially if you'll be visiting for several days.
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Although the convenience of a car is hard to beat, trains free you from the costs and hassles of urban parking. They usually deliver you straight to city centers. Train travel, with its spacious seats and room to get up and walk around, is more relaxing and comfortable and the view is usually better.
Whether you're staying within mainland Manhattan or traveling to the burrows and beyond, there are tons of subways, buses, taxis, trains, and ride-sharing services that can get you where you need to go.
You can drive in New York State with a valid driver license from another state or country. You don't need to apply for a New York State driver license unless you become a New York State resident.
Driving in NYC can be a stressful and time-consuming experience, and New Yorkers on average spend more than 100 hours per year in traffic. But that's not the worst in the world, or even the U.S. Anyone who drives in New York City knows how stressful and frustrating the traffic jams can be.
During weekday morning rush hour, traffic in Manhattan is heaviest between 7 and 10 AM, with Midtown being the most congested area. Congestion then eases up somewhat between 10 AM and 4:30 PM before rush hour resumes from 4:30 to 7 PM. On weekends, traffic is generally lighter than on weekdays.
Ownership is lowest in Manhattan, where only 22 percent of households own a car, while ownership is highest in Staten Island where cars are owned by 83 percent of all households.
New York is the only city in the United States where over half of all households do not own a car (Manhattan's non-ownership is even higher, around 75%; nationally, the rate is 8%).
The toughest times to travel in and out of Manhattan are between 8-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. If you can, try to avoid rush hour or consider some alternate routes. Some of the roughest routes will take you to the Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge, or the Lincoln Tunnel.
Cars, NYC Taxis, and other private and for-hire vehicles are not allowed in Central Park without authorization. The major crosstown Central Park transverse roads at 97th, 86th, 79th, and 65th Streets are still open to motor vehicles.
The best place to park when traveling to New York City is at the North Bergen Park & Ride bus station in New Jersey. The price to park for 24 hours is $10.00. The price includes one adult round-trip ticket bus transfer into and out of New York City.