New: Tesla fleet integration Tesla Fleet Integration is here — launch your Tesla car sharing business.Learn more →

Peer-to-peer car sharing · Buffalo

Car sharing in Buffalo and Niagara

Levy is a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace for Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and the towns of Erie and Niagara counties. Owners list their cars, and drivers rent them for trips to the falls, game days in Orchard Park, and ski weekends in the Southern Tier. Hosts can create draft listings now. Bookings open when the marketplace launches.

Start your listing Get early access as a driver

Why it fits

Why car sharing works in Buffalo

For drivers

In Buffalo, 22.6% of households have no vehicle, according to 2020 to 2024 Census survey data (Census data via Census Reporter). Metro Rail runs a single line from downtown to the University at Buffalo's South Campus (NFTA), so trips to the suburbs, the falls, or ski country generally need a car.

The University at Buffalo, the largest public research university in the SUNY system, enrolled 30,400 students in fall 2025 (UB). Students and visiting families often need a car for move-in, breaks, and trips home.

For hosts

Buffalo Niagara International offers up to 100 nonstop flights a day to 31 destinations (BUF), and Amtrak brings trains from New York, Chicago, and Toronto. A host near the airport or a station can serve travelers who arrive without a car.

Winter is part of the deal here. You decide when your car goes out, including whether it goes out at all during a lake-effect warning.

Arrival and pickup

Getting to a car in Buffalo

Airports

Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)

Run by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority at 4200 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga (BUF). NFTA Metro routes 24 and 24L run to downtown Buffalo, and Route 78 runs express at rush hours (NFTA Metro); the one-way bus fare is $2 (BUF).

Rail and transit

Buffalo-Depew

About 10 miles east of downtown, served by the Lake Shore Limited, the Maple Leaf, and Empire Service (Great American Stations).

Buffalo Exchange Street

The downtown station, opened November 8, 2020, for Empire Service and the Maple Leaf (Great American Stations).

Niagara Falls, New York

Opened in 2016 for Empire Service and the Maple Leaf, which continues to Toronto (Great American Stations, Amtrak).

NFTA Metro Rail

Downtown to UB South Campus, free at the above-ground stations (NFTA).

Practical pickup areas

Cheektowaga and Depew

Both the airport and the Buffalo-Depew station are east of the city.

Downtown and Canalside

Exchange Street station and Metro Rail serve visitors staying downtown.

University Heights

Near UB South Campus, where hosts can plan around the academic calendar.

Popular trips

Where people drive from Buffalo

Niagara Falls State Park

The oldest state park in the United States, opened in 1885, with more than 9 million visitors a year (NY State Parks). It is open every day and free to walk in; parking runs $10 to $15 per car (Niagara Falls State Park).

Letchworth State Park

The "Grand Canyon of the East": the Genesee River drops over three major waterfalls between cliffs up to 600 feet high, with 66 miles of trails (NY State Parks).

Ellicottville and Holiday Valley

Holiday Valley opened in the winter of 1957-58 and has 13 lifts and 60 slopes and trails (Holiday Valley).

Bills games at Highmark Stadium

The new stadium in Orchard Park opened in 2026 with 60,108 seats (Governor's office). Parking passes must be bought in advance; on game day only accessible parking is sold (Buffalo Bills).

Chautauqua Institution

Founded in 1874 on Chautauqua Lake, with a summer season that ran June 27 to August 23 in 2026 (Chautauqua).

Old Fort Niagara and the Lockport locks

Old Fort Niagara sits in Youngstown (Old Fort Niagara). In Lockport, Erie Canal Locks 34 and 35 lift boats up the Niagara Escarpment (Discover Lockport).

Local driving notes

What to know before you drive in Buffalo.

Rules change. Check the linked official sources before a trip.

Lake-effect snow

More than half of Buffalo's snow is lake effect, peaking in December until Lake Erie freezes, and the Southtowns get much more than the Northtowns (National Weather Service). Normal seasonal snowfall is 95.4 inches (NWS), and bands can drop 2 to 3 inches an hour (NWS).

Travel bans

Officials close roads in severe storms, as in the December 2022 blizzard (NWS), and Erie County had a full passenger-vehicle ban in January 2024 (Governor's office). Do not drive during a ban.

Thruway and Grand Island bridges

The Thruway is cashless. The Grand Island bridges on I-190 charge a car $1.00 with a New York E-ZPass and $1.75 with other E-ZPass or by mail (Thruway rates). Tolls by Mail bills go to the registered owner with a $2.00 surcharge, and unpaid bills add late fees (Thruway).

Crossing into Canada

The Peace Bridge charges $4.00 with E-ZPass, and the Rainbow, Whirlpool Rapids, and Lewiston-Queenston bridges charge $6.00, all collected only toward Canada (Peace Bridge, Niagara Falls Bridge Commission). U.S. citizens returning by land need a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, or trusted traveler card (CBP), and CBP advises carrying written authorization for a vehicle that is not yours (CBP).

Hosts in Buffalo

Share your car in Buffalo

You set the calendar and the daily price, and you can keep the car home when a lake-effect band is coming.

Hosts near the airport, Depew, or downtown can offer pickup where travelers arrive.

Create a draft listing today, before bookings open.
Set pickup near BUF, an Amtrak station, or your home.
Block dates when a storm is in the forecast.
Describe your car's winter equipment in the listing.

Keyless handoff

On a connected car, drivers unlock with the app during their trip window, using the same technology as Levy Guestpass. You never have to meet anyone to hand over keys.

Automatic toll handling

Tolls from a trip are handled automatically, so you are not chasing drivers for toll bills weeks later.

Your calendar, your price

You decide when the car is available and what it costs per day. Block dates whenever you need the car.

Your price, nothing added

Drivers pay your price plus tax, with no Levy fees added on top. You keep 70%, 80%, or 90% of the trip price, depending on the protection plan you choose.

Hosting on Turo already? You can keep those listings and add Levy as another channel. See how it works for Turo hosts.

Start your listing

Not ready to list? Tell us about your car.

We will email you when bookings open in Buffalo.

Host a car in Buffalo

Earn from your car in New York. It takes a minute, and you can create your listing right after.

Drivers in Buffalo

Rent a car in Buffalo from a local owner

Land at BUF or step off the train, pick up a car from a local owner, and head to the falls, Letchworth, or Holiday Valley. Sign up for early access and we will email you when Buffalo cars can be booked.

Cars near the airport, the Amtrak stations, and UB where hosts offer them
App unlock on connected cars
Thruway and Grand Island tolls handled automatically

Bookings are not open yet. Sign up and we will tell you when cars in Buffalo can be reserved. How renting will work.

Get early access in Buffalo

Rent cars from local owners across New York. Sign up and we’ll tell you first when bookings open near you.

FAQ

Car sharing in Buffalo: common questions

More answers for hosts and drivers are on the New York car sharing FAQ.

Can I rent a car from a Buffalo host yet?

Not yet. Hosts can create draft listings now, and bookings open at launch. Sign up and we will email you.

Can I drive a shared car across the border into Canada?

Check the listing's trip rules and Levy's terms before you plan a crossing. You will need an accepted document to return to the U.S., such as a passport, passport card, or enhanced driver's license, and CBP advises carrying written permission for a vehicle you do not own.

Should I drive during a lake-effect storm?

Follow the National Weather Service and local officials. Erie County has issued full travel bans in severe storms, and driving during a ban is not allowed. Hosts can block dates when a storm is forecast.

How are Grand Island bridge tolls handled on a shared car?

They are cashless: $1.00 with a New York E-ZPass and $1.75 otherwise. Levy matches tolls to trips automatically, so the driver pays their trip's tolls, not the host.

Can I pick up a car near Buffalo Niagara International Airport?

If a host near the airport offers it; NFTA Metro buses also serve the terminal.

Where do I park for a Bills game at the new stadium?

Buy a parking pass in advance. On game day, only accessible parking is sold at the stadium.

New York car sharing

New York car sharing For hosts How hosting works For Turo hosts For drivers How renting works Car sharing FAQ

Nearby regions

Car sharing in Rochester Car sharing in Syracuse

Sources

Levy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Turo. Turo is a trademark of its owner. Tolls, parking rules, and park reservations change; confirm with the official source before you drive.

New York notices

NOTICE: New York State Law prohibits the following practices by peer-to-peer car sharing program administrators based upon race, color, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sex, marital status, residence or geographic location, income, sexual orientation, genetic predisposition or age: (1) refusal to allow participation in a peer-to-peer car sharing program; and (2) the imposition of any additional charge (except in certain instances where the shared vehicle driver is under the age of 25). In addition, it is unlawful for any peer-to-peer car sharing program administrator to refuse to allow participation in the program to any person solely on the requirement of ownership of a credit card.

Leased or financed car?

If your vehicle is leased or financed, you may need more insurance. If your vehicle is subject to a lease or loan, you may need additional insurance coverage, including motor vehicle physical damage coverage (collision and comprehensive), to share it through Levy. Check your lease or loan agreement and ask your insurer. For insurance questions, contact the New York State Department of Financial Services: (800) 342-3736, www.dfs.ny.gov.