Renting a Car in Florida

Although it is possible to holiday in Florida without a car, you do ideally need one to get around.

When you rent a car, check precisely what is included; otherwise, you may have to pay additional insurance premiums on arrival, which can run into hundreds of dollars. With the move away from a cash option to electronic collection at toll plazas, you need to be sure exactly what sort of provision your rental company has for toll collection if you plan to use any of Florida’s toll roads.

If you travel to Florida on a ‘fly-drive’ package, you will often be given free car hire as part of the deal. Note there is no such thing as free car hire! We have seen families at Orlando airport suddenly discovering that they cannot afford to take their ‘free’ rental car.

Most US car rental companies have offices in Europe, or you can buy them online.
In our experience, the best option is to go for one of the inclusive packages that includes all necessary insurance and indemnities and a petrol tank. Also, consider having one or more additional drivers on the policy.

You should check with the individual Car Hire companies about their terms and conditions. This is only a guide, and each company may apply different policies.

Driving Licence

Generally, you need to be 21 before you can hire a car, and of course, you must hold a full driving license, which you need to produce when signing the agreement. If you are under 25, you will probably have to pay an additional premium.

In the past, if your driving license was not written in English, you needed an International Driving Permit. A law was passed on January 1, 2013, stating that all overseas visitors required an International Driving Permit, but following a couple of months of complaints from international driving organizations, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles did an about-turn, and the law was repealed.

Type of Car

When deciding on the car size you need, consider the amount of luggage you and your group will be taking with you. Four adults will fit in a compact or medium-sized car, but you will not get four large suitcases in the boot (trunk).

The hiring companies will indicate how big a car you need depending on the size of your party and the mix of adults and children.

Nearly all cars are automatic and have air conditioning. Most tend to be saloons (sedans), but you can also rent SUVs, minivans, and convertibles.

If the type of car you booked is unavailable, the rental company should upgrade you to the next-size (more extensive) model without charge.

At Orlando International Airport, some rental companies, such as Dollar or Alamo, do not preallocate you to a specific car. You go to the parking garage and find the line with the vehicle size you rented. You can then choose exactly which car you would like to drive. This is great if you want to drive different types of vehicles. You can also sit in a car and decide if it is suitable before making up your mind.

Other companies like Budget and Avis may offer you a choice of model, and then you have to go to a specific bay number to collect the car.

Traveling with Children

When traveling with small children, you must consider how they will be restrained in the car.

From June 2014, all children up to the age of 6 must use some form of “child restraint device,” such as a booster seat or a five-point harness. Safety experts recommend that children up to 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall use a booster seat.

If you are renting a car with small children, then make sure you either bring the appropriate seat with you or ask the rental company to include it.

Leaving the Airport

Before you leave the airport, there are two things you need to do.

Firstly, check the car for defects such as scratches or dents and let the operator at the gate know; otherwise, you might be charged for damages upon your return.

Secondly, make sure you know where you are going! The last thing you need is to find yourself lost late at night in a strange part of town.

Some sites give you detailed driving instructions from the airport to your destination, or you can rent a satellite GPS navigation system.

Taking a Car Out of State

If you plan on going a bit further afield, perhaps driving up into Georgia, make sure you have unlimited mileage and that the hire company is okay with you taking the car out of state.

Also, ensure the car does not have temporary license plates, as the police forces in other states may stop you (some brand-new vehicles are rented out before their proper license plates have been issued).

Amtrak Auto Train

If you live in the Northeastern United States, you can even take your car on the Amtrak Auto Train to avoid the long drive south.