Concord is a small city with a big calendar. On a weekday in May, the people on North Main Street include legislators, staff, advocates waiting to testify, school groups touring the State House and people with an appointment at a state agency. Many of them didn’t drive in from home. If you’re looking for a car rental in Concord, NH, you probably fall into one of those groups, or your own car has just let you down in the capital.
We’re a locally owned rental company with offices in Derry and Manchester, and Concord is one of the places we serve beyond our core towns. This guide covers how to get a car here, the drive up I-93, where to park downtown, and how to make the most of a trip to the State House.
The short version: We deliver to Concord at a higher rate than our local towns, based on distance and quoted when you book. Or pick up at our Manchester office near I-93 Exit 7 and drive about 20 miles north. Expect a toll at Hooksett, billed to you monthly. Downtown has three city garages and metered streets. Book State House tours ahead. Call (603) 661-2672 for a Concord quote.
Who rents a car for a trip to Concord
The capital draws a particular mix of drivers, and each needs something slightly different from a rental:
- People with business at the State House. Late spring is crunch time, as bills move between the House and Senate. If you’re testifying at a hearing, meeting your representative or working the building for an organization, you need a dependable car on a schedule that can change by the hour.
- Visitors from out of state. Consultants, association staff and anyone flying into Manchester-Boston Regional for meetings in the capital.
- Families and school chaperones touring the State House and spending the rest of the day in the city.
- Concord residents between cars. If yours is in the shop, a rental keeps the commute and the school run going.
- Students and summer staff working in Concord who are under 25 and turned away elsewhere. We rent to drivers 18 and up with no young-driver surcharge.
How to get a rental car in Concord
There are three ways to do it with us. Which one suits you depends on where you’re starting.
| Option | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery to a Concord address | Residents, hotel guests, offices | Concord is out of area, so delivery costs more than in our local towns. The rate is quoted at booking |
| Pick up in Manchester | Anyone flying into MHT | 1086 Candia Rd, near I-93 Exit 7 and minutes from the airport. Then head north on I-93 |
| Pick up in Derry | Visitors coming up from Massachusetts | 15 Central St, off I-93 Exit 4, on your way north |
Both offices are open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week. If a hearing runs late or your flight lands after hours, after-hours pickup and return can be arranged in advance at no extra charge. We don’t hand cars over at the MHT terminal. Our guide to getting from the airport to your rental explains how arrivals work.
The drive: Manchester to the capital on I-93
From our Manchester office, Concord is about 20 miles up I-93. On a clear morning it’s a straightforward run, but a few details are worth knowing:
- Hooksett tolls. The main Central Turnpike toll plaza sits on I-93 in Hooksett, between Manchester and Concord, with a ramp toll at Exit 11. Automated tolls on our cars are tracked and billed at the end of the month.
- Rush hour. Weekday commuter traffic between Manchester and Concord can slow the trip, so leave extra time for an early hearing or meeting.
- Phone down. New Hampshire’s hands-free law covers red lights and stop-and-go traffic too. See our visitor’s guide to New Hampshire driving laws.
- Going farther? Just south of downtown, I-89 splits off toward Lebanon and Vermont, while I-93 continues toward the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. If the capital is the first stop on a longer trip, tell us when you book so the mileage allowance fits the plan.
