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Schenectady car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car hire in Schenectady

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KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Schenectady

  • Car rentals in Schenectady will provide you with the flexibility and freedom you need to explore some of the city’s most popular attractions, including the Nott Memorial and the scenic Central Park Rose Garden. Head out on a leisurely road trip to one of the cities in the surrounding area, whether it be Albany or Saratoga Springs. With your own vehicle, you can even go to sights that are off the beaten path, including the Mohawk River State Park which is about a 20min drive from the city center.
  • If you’re interested in reserving car rentals in Schenectady, you can do so directly at Albany International Airport once your flight has landed. You’ll find the rental car center located directly next to the baggage claim in the Arrivals Terminal, with the fleets placed in the airport’s main parking garage. There are several rental car companies to choose from, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
  • The region has many pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, so make sure to pay particularly close attention when driving to avoid being in an accident. If you’re driving on a local highway, try to stay in the right-hand lane, as the left-hand lane is generally reserved for cars that need to pass. As Schenectady is a large city with many streets, it can often be difficult for those that are not familiar with the area to find their way. To prevent yourself from getting lost, you can add a GPS to Schenectady car rentals.
  • The state of New York often has high levels of rain and snow during the winter months, which can make the local roads more difficult than normal to drive on. If you find yourself driving during this weather, make sure to decrease your speed limit and add any necessary winter equipment to your vehicle. Highways 5, 7, and 890 are also known for having a substantial amount of traffic, so you may want to avoid being on these roads between the hours of 8-9am and 5-6pm.
  • Book your car hire in Schenectady at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Full-size hire cars in Schenectady are around 48% more expensive than other car types, on average
See more tips

FAQs about hiring a car in Schenectady

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Schenectady?

    To safely navigate through the area’s rain and snow, consider choosing a 4WD SUV for your car rental. Many of the streets and highways in the region are large, giving you plenty of room to drive this kind of vehicle. The extra space will also come in handy if you decide to go on a road trip, as you will be able to store any necessary luggage or recreational equipment.

  • What’s the speed limit in Schenectady?

    If you’re driving on a residential or business street in Schenectady, the speed limit will normally be a maximum of 25mph. When driving near a school, you can plan on it being 20mph. Local highways usually have a limit of 65mph, but this may vary depending on the exact stretch of road that you’re on. Larger streets that are in more remote parts of the city may have a speed limit of up to 45mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Schenectady?

    Downtown Schenectady has quite a lot of free street parking for drivers to take advantage of. If you’re unable to find a free spot, you can also park somewhere with a meter between the hours of 8am-6pm. If you are in a spot with a meter outside of these hours, keep in mind that parking is free. There are also some paid parking garages that you can choose from, such as the Schenectady Municipal Parking Garage.

  • What is the best car hire company in Schenectady?

    Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Schenectady are Dollar (7,8, 60 reviews), and Budget (7,7, 69 reviews).

  • How much is the price of fuel in Schenectady?

    The average price of fuel in Schenectady is R63,16 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between R758 and R1 011, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Schenectady?

    Full-size (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Schenectady.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Schenectady?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does a Full Size car hire cost in Schenectady?

    A Full Size car hire in Schenectady costs R1 842 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Economy car hire cost in Schenectady?

    An Economy car hire in Schenectady costs R718 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Schenectady?

    An Intermediate car hire in Schenectady costs R711 per day, on average.

See more FAQs

Schenectady car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

10,0

Wonderful

Read 1 review

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

8.0

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

1485 State St

+1 518 374 7890

Monday07:30 - 17:30
Tuesday07:30 - 17:30
Wednesday07:30 - 17:30
Thursday07:30 - 17:30
Friday07:30 - 17:30
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Nov 2021

KAYAK
Staff was super friendly and helpful!

1 out of 1

Hertz

6,2

Okay

Read 6 reviews

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.2

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.5

Value for money

6.2

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

1592 State Street

+1 518 372 5187

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Oct 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Harold was exceptional at the counter service! Car was ready, clean, and full gas tank. Joined their Gold Club!

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Sept 2022

KAYAK
Great car. Easy, convenient pickup and drop off.

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Dec 2020

KAYAK

Cons:

Car was dirty inside, a size smaller than I expected, tires were low and had me sliding in the rain, windshield wipers needed replacing, and it stunk of cigarette smoke.

6,0 Okay

Kristin, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The staff was nice

Cons:

I was not allowed to drop off at another location, even though I dropped off 3 days earlier than what I had paid for. Made what I needed to do much more difficult.

5,6 Fair

Anonymous, Aug 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff was friendly. Store seemed understaffed.

Cons:

My car smelled like old smoke. When I got out if the car after driving, my clothes had the same smell.

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Jun 2022

KAYAK
Travelers should be notified that gathering paperwork and pick up keys/car location are two separate places!

1 out of 2

National

8,1

Very Good

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Rd

+1 844 366 2648

Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

5,9

Fair

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

851 Old Albany Shaker Road

+1 877 283 0898

Monday05:30 - 23:5900:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Wednesday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Thursday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Friday00:00 - 00:0005:30 - 23:59
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday05:30 - 23:5900:00 - 00:00

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

No score available yet

Best rated

2 locations in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

1592 State Street

+1 518 372 5187

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

737 Albany Shaker Road

+1 518 464 7601

Monday05:30 - 23:59
Tuesday05:30 - 23:59
Wednesday05:30 - 23:59
Thursday05:30 - 23:59
Friday05:30 - 23:59
Saturday05:30 - 23:59
Sunday05:30 - 23:59

Filters

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Reviews

7,9 Good

Maxine, Jun 2021

KAYAK
Good customer service was given.

10,0 Wonderful

Sue, May 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

Yes!

Cons:

Not much!

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Mar 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

dropoff esy

Cons:

provide me with the car i asked for

5,6 Fair

S, Nov 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff remained professional and friendly in poor working conditions

Cons:

Leave the pick up inside the airport and have someone deliver the cars to the door or have a golf cart to take the customer out to the car, it is very difficult dragging all your luggage out to a garage not knowing where your going. A handicapped person (me) will not do it again because I have bad legs and was so sore and tired when I finally got in the car I should not have been driving especially a car I’m not used to. And no there was nobody around to offer help just a sign saying go outside where our staff is working in a dark dingy shack !

10,0 Wonderful

Tawanna, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Yes

8,0 Very Good

Anonymous, Sept 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Yes to both the questions. Staff was freindly.

Cons:

Car check over could have been done better. The driver's side mirror would not stay in place and I had to rely on the yellow warning lights on the mirror that a vehicle was near me at times.

1 out of 12

Alamo

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Show locations

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Rd

+1 844 366 2649

Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30

Filters

Reviews

6,0 Okay

Carolyn, Aug 2024

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
Rental itself was fine. I had an issue at the end of my trip—my flights home were changed, and I had to modify my plans and drop off the car at a different airport (Philadelphia instead of Newark). The agent was able to modify my itinerary, but I was charged a large additional amount to do this VERY disappointed, prob will avoid Alamo in the future.

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2024

Economy

KAYAK
All representatives were friendly and knowledgeable, the vehicle was excellent, and I never hit a single bump. I was even able to pick up and drop off a bit early.

8,0 Very Good

David, Jan 2024

Standard SUV

KAYAK
Process was easy out and easy in. Only problem was trying to update a discontinued email that was a struggle to update and still seems incorrect, so never received the final document.

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jan 2024

Economy

KAYAK
Great customer service on both ends. Price could have been lower, but it was a better deal than we found elsewhere.

10,0 Wonderful

Joanna, Dec 2023

People carrier

KAYAK
Excellent.

10,0 Wonderful

Gail, Aug 2023

Full-size SUV

KAYAK
Perfect vehicle for our trip, easy pick up and drop off

1 out of 3

Avis

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Road

+1 518 242 4440

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

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Reviews

2,0 Poor

Frank, Nov 2023

Economy

KAYAK
I was lied to, overcharged, and spent many days on hold with the horrible customer service in Albany. I will never rent from Avis again.

6,0 Okay

Greg, May 2021

KAYAK

Cons:

Staff needs to clean the cars inside and out before renting. I went inside a vehicle and it wreaked of cigarette smoke. It was disgusting. Another vehicle wasn’t clean on the outside.

2,4 Poor

Anonymous, Jun 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff at counter was friendly

Cons:

--Staff at counter was unable to be reached by phone. Drove 3 1/2 hours each way (NYC --> Albany) to drop off old rental and pick up a new one, then was told at counter that I needn't have made the drive in the first place and I could've just kept the original rental. --Car smelled of cigarettes. Was told to just write down the issue on my rental agreement. --Staff at counter was unable to be reached by phone a second time (and I called over 20 times). This became an issue when I had to extend my new rental. --Toll-free customer service was completely useless when I contacted them to voice my concerns. --In a word, Avis = terrible. I've been an Enterprise customer for 12 years, and I'm kicking myself for using Avis this time.

6,0 Okay

Anonymous, Jan 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Cons:

We had a reservation but there wasn't a car available. We had one option. A 15 passenger van.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Aug 2023

Premium SUV

KAYAK
Terrible experience! They gave us the wrong car. We paid for a full sized suburban and they gave us a midsize suv. When we called about the mistake they said they would refund at dropff and then we got there, they didn’t know how and said we needed to call. I was on the phone for 2 hours and never got done

6,0 Okay

Keisha, Feb 2023

Premium

KAYAK
Middle of a snowstorm my rental did not have windshield fluid so i had to purchase. Extremely dangerous.

Budget

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Road

+1 518 242 4450

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

4,0 Mediocre

Roger, Jan 2025

Economy

KAYAK
They rented all their cars to others due to a diverted flight. They ignored all the reservations people had made, including mine. I only got a car last minute, after waiting in line for over 30 mins, when a lady decided not to drive a huge Suburban, so I took that.

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Oct 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
I was charged a late fee that should not have beenn charged. Otherwise, good experience

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Sept 2024

People carrier

KAYAK
Easy pick up and drop off. Reservation was for a minivan but we got a Denali. Would’ve preferred a minivan because the trunk in the Denali was very small and a minivan trunk is great. Biggest problem was that the car absolutely reeked of marijuana. We thought it was the garage and drove away incorrectly assuming that. Tried to contact customer service when we realized it was the car, but it was late at night and they didn’t open until the next morning. They did offer a car exchange but we were an hour away at a family wedding and didn’t have the flexibility in our schedule to make the trip back to the airport.

4,0 Mediocre

Rob, Jul 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
When I checked in at the counter, the rep had me sign papers saying the car had a full tank. Once I arrived at the car, I noticed the car was only had a 1/4 tank of gas and the mileage did not match. I was in an extreme hurry to make an appointment and I did not have time to wait in line at the counter again because there were about 20 people in line. I have pictures of the gas tank and mileage to share if I can send to someone via email. I would just like to be refunded $35 to pay for that extra gas I had to buy because I returned it on a full tank. Again, I signed the original paperwork saying I would return in on a full tank because I was told the car was on a full tank. The fact the license plate matched the paperwork but the mileage was not correct tells me someone just made a honest mistake. Can I get a refund for $35?

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jun 2024

Standard

KAYAK
Pricey but the best price available. The Dodge Hornet Hybrid was (surprisingly) an excellent vehicle. The entire experience was great.

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Apr 2024

Standard SUV

KAYAK
The care had several flaws when I picked up I was afraid I'd be charged for (i did take pictures). They still haven't sent me a final bill.

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Schenectady

Locations in Schenectady

737 Albany Shaker Road

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

485 travellers who hired a car in Schenectady gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6.4

Car hire locations in or near Schenectady

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Good to know

Most popular car type

Full-size

When to book a car hire in Schenectady

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

Everything you need to know for your car hire in Schenectady

Schenectady car hire information

Pick-up locationSchenectady
Car types
Hire locations3
Airport locations0

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