Car Hire

America is the "land of the car" and public transport is
thin on the ground. Hiring a car is just about essential
if you want to explore Central Florida.

The car hire operation in Orlando is BIG business, thousands of cars are rented every week by domestic as well as overseas visitors.

The average American family plan a 5-7 day visit to Orlando. They spend most days at Disney with perhaps a visit or two to Universal studios. Their need for a car can be reduced by staying at hotels who offer a shuttle to the theme parks Conversely UK visitors are almost always in Florida for two or more weeks. - they want to strike further afield. Kennedy Space Center and the Florida beaches are less than an hour away by car. If you want to get the most out of your holiday a car is more or less essential

Car rental companies.
All the big names are in Florida.

Orlando International (MCO)
At Orlando International airport four companies have stands actually in the airport:--Avis, Budget,Dollar and National. There is very little to choose between them on price or service.

A free telephone call from the airport will connect you to 10 more companies who could work out cheaper.
Alamo is the biggest "off airport" provider. A call from the airport will summon their shuttle bus to pick you up and take you to their modern depot Sandlake Rd. (10 minutes away) Alamo are often the most economical choice. (Tel:0870 600 6655)

Orlando Sandford
The car hire companies are close at hand - a short walk from baggage claim to the rental offices (Dollar and Alamo are the biggest companies here)

Car Size

It is more or less impossible for me to advise you on the size of car that you need. It depends on what you are used to at home. If you usually drive a Volvo estate chances are that you won't be happy with a sub compact. The rental companies use American models and they each describe the cars slightly differently but the sizes are something like:

	Similar to	Approx. Capacity
Sub compact or Economic	Vauxhall Corsa
Compact	Vauxhall Astra
Intermediate or Midsize	Vauxhall Vectra
Full size	Vauxhall Omega
Convertible	Vauxhall Astra convertible
Luxury Minivan	Renaut Espace	x 5-7
Luxury Van	Ford Transit	x 12-15 x7

Boot sizes on American models are somewhat smaller than we are used to. Even though you will probably only have to do it twice you must be sure that you can fit both passengers and luggage into the car.

All Florida rental cars are automatic and have air-conditioning.

 

The "not so optional" extras.

The basic rental rates in Florida are very low - but don't be misled, the price you need to pay is quite a lot higher. The rental part accounts for only a small proportion of the true cost.

Here are the extras that you need to be aware of.

Collision (Loss) Damage Waver
The car comes with only the most basic 3rd part insurance, CDW is actually an "optional extra" but if you choose not to take it the rental company will insist on a credit card deposit of $1000-$1500 In other words you really need this insurance and they won't let you out of the door without it!

Supplementary Liability Insurance
This insurance protects you from any court-happy American that you might injure with your hire car! Not essential from the rental company's point of view but a valuable "peace of mind" addition.

Personal Accident and Effects Insurance
Covers your personal belongings. This is not really necessary if your holiday insurance is adequate

Taxes
There are a number of unavoidable local taxes.
Airport Operating tax
State taxes
Florida environmental tax
plus any other tax they might dream up between then and now!!

Fuel
The rental companies offer two options.
a) a full tank of fuel that you pay for up front.
This fuel is charged at about pump prices - it is in your interests to return it as empty as possible.
b) a full tank of fuel that you do not pay for at the baggage
When you return the car any fuel used is charged at an astronomical figure. It is in your interests to return it full.
I always choose to pay for the fuel up front because it makes returning the car much easier. If you opt for plan b you have to hang around whilst they take the car for refuelling and then pay what you owe. With option a - you just hand over the car and off you go!

Additional drivers/infant car seats
It will be necessary to pay extra for additional drivers.
Drivers under 21 are either not accepted at all or subject to large supplements
Florida law requires under 5's to be in a special car seat. I always see lots of them on the baggage carousals, many people people must take them from home.

 

 

Fly-Drive Car hire

Most airlines offer a fly-drive option where you buy a ticket and receive a "free" rental car. There are booking advantages to this