Is It Illegal To Warm Up Your Car In New York?

It's Winteresque in New York, and we all know the drill:

Start the car... let it idle a bit, and hope the frost clears off before you hit the road. But could that daily warm-up routine actually be against the law?

Warming up your car has its perks—many drivers believe it reduces engine wear and improves fuel economy. And for older cars, that’s pretty accurate!

But newer engines? Not so much.

Experts say most modern vehicles only need about 30 seconds of idling before they’re good to go, and anything more might be doing more harm than good.

Prolonged idling wastes fuel, pumps harmful chemicals into the air, and, ironically, may damage your engine over time.

Here’s where things get interesting: New York has strict anti-idling laws that limit idling to three minutes in most areas and even less in places like school zones. This is probably so surprising to hear because who actually sticks to that rule???

These regulations aim to cut down on emissions and curb the habit of excessive idling. So, if you’re still letting the car idle for five, ten, or fifteen minutes each morning, you actually might be breaking the law without even realizing it.

So, is warming up your car in winter illegal?

If you’re sticking to New York’s time limit, you’re in the clear, which is great news for everyone who likes starting their morning commute in a warmed-up car.

It is illegal for you to leave your car running and idling if it is unattended. § 1210

If you’re letting it idle past that three-minute mark, you could be risking a fine, although it's very rare to actually get penalized for this unless you're obstructing something or your car is standing somewhere it shouldn't be.

Turns out, keeping it short isn’t just good for the environment—it’s also good for your wallet.