As the biggest American city, Brooklyn, New York offers a lot of ways to get around, from taxis to the subway to good old-fashioned driving. Traffic is worst during rush hour and on Gridlock Alert Days.

From its live music and theater to its street art, Brooklyn is one of the most popular and lively boroughs of

New York City

. And with almost three million residents, there are also a lot of drivers on the road.

If you choose to ditch the subway and drive yourself around Brooklyn, we can help you figure out the best route. We’ll cover traffic conditions, local driving laws, and ways you can prepare for driving in Brooklyn.

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How to find cheap Brooklyn car insurance

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What is driving in Brooklyn like?

Even though Brooklyn, like the rest of the Big Apple, is a place famous for its rich culture and varied opportunities, it’s not known as a driver’s paradise. Out of 100 major American cities, New York was rated 96 for its traffic due to the high cost of maintenance and

car insurance

Here are some other elements to expect when driving in Brooklyn.

Roads

Brooklyn, like Manhattan, is generally laid out on a grid, with avenues running north-south and streets running east-west. However, there are some neighborhoods in every New York borough that are an exception to this rule, such as in Manhattan where Broadway cuts across Fifth Avenue in a diagonal. Overall, though, consistent grid patterns make it easier to navigate the city.

Parking

Parking in Brooklyn could be considered frankly nightmarish by some because the entire city of

New York

is a designated tow-away zone—meaning that if you’re caught in violation of any parking rules, you could be towed. If you’re visiting, or even if you’re a local, avoid being caught off-guard by carefully reading signs and following protocols.

New York also uses alternate side parking, a law that dictates which side of the street cars can be parked on based on the day of the week. This allows for efficient street cleaning, but it can also be annoying for drivers. The rules are typically suspended on major holidays.

Parking meter rates and regulations vary by location in Brooklyn. Rates typically run between $1.25 and $7.50 per hour for passenger vehicles, while commercial vehicle parking can range from $5.00 to $8.00 per hour. On Sundays, you can park at a metered spot for free.

Weather

Brooklyn is known for hot, sultry summers and cold, bitter winters, both of which can make driving complicated. Here’s what you can expect from the hot and cold seasons in Brooklyn:

Summer: The improved weather means more drivers and more tourists on the road. Temperatures can reach 84 degrees but rarely exceed 91 degrees.

Winter: Winter weather can make it dangerous to drive. Drivers are encouraged to check 511NY before traveling to receive real-time traffic conditions. State law allows motorists to use snow tires from October 16 to April 30.

MORE: How to find a parking spot in a city

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Traffic and transportation options in Brooklyn

As the biggest city in the US, New York is known for its traffic, and Brooklyn is no exception. However, you can avoid the worst of it by staying off the road during rush hour.

Here are the worst times to drive in Brooklyn:

8:00 am to 9:00 am: The morning rush hour in Brooklyn is brief, but frustrating for drivers.

3:00 pm to 7:00 pm: The evening rush hour in Brooklyn can go as late as 7:00 pm.

Gridlock Alert Days: These occur when the NYC Department of Transportation designates a day as having particularly heavy traffic and urges drivers to take other forms of transport.

You can tune in to

WCBS Newsradio 880

for traffic updates in Brooklyn.

Should I rent a car in Brooklyn?

Renting a car in a big city can be risky, since your chance of experiencing accidents, theft, and vandalism will increase from driving in a major metropolis. However, having a car can also make it easier to explore a new place, so it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons.

Since New York is known for having an exceptional public transportation system, as well as fleets of iconic yellow taxis cramming the streets, you probably don’t need to rent a car on your trip to New York. The subway goes almost everywhere and it’s likely to be less stressful than driving in an unfamiliar, busy, congested city. A single ride costs $2.75 and trains operate 24 hours per day.

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Crime rate in Brooklyn

The crime rate in Brooklyn will also affect your driving experience as well as your car insurance rates.

While the crime rate in Brooklyn is considerably higher than the national average, it’s not exceptionally dangerous either with a rate of 26 crimes per 1,000 residents. New York’s rate for property crime—which includes vehicle theft and vandalism—is 20 per one thousand people, giving you a one-in-fifty chance of being a victim of a property crime.

MORE:

Does car insurance cover car theft?

How to find car insurance in Brooklyn

Driving in Brooklyn isn’t always ideal, but it’s worth it to live in the heart of so much culture. If you want to ditch the subway and drive a car of your own,

Jerry

can help you find the best rates on insurance.

The app is easy to use: sign-up takes less than a minute and after you plug in your information you’ll receive dozens of competitive quotes from providers. Once you’ve picked a plan, sit back and let our team of expert agents take the wheel!

With the average user saving $887 per year, it’s no surprise that Jerry is the #1-rated car insurance app.

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