Renting a car in Florida? Your complete guide

How old do you have to be to rent a car in Florida?

The minimum rental age in Florida is 25

If you’re planning to rent a car in Florida, be aware that the minimum age to rent a car is 25. This applies to most car rental companies and car rental locations across the state. It’s also important to note that some companies may have additional age restrictions or limitations. So be sure to check with the specific company before renting a vehicle.

For those who are under 25 in Florida, there are still options available. Some rental companies offer special rates for young drivers, called a young driver fee. These rates or additional charges may be higher than the standard rate. In addition, some rental companies may require a co-signer or an additional deposit if you’re under 25.

To rent a car in Florida under the age of 25, here are a couple of considerations:

• Check with your university or college for benefits and potential car rental discounts. Even if you’ve graduated, you may be able to use alumni discounted rates and waive underage driver fees.
• Use a site such as DiscoverCars to rent with nontraditional rental car companies. The bigger named companies may offer additional fees to rent under 25, but if you rent with a locally owned rental car company, they may be willing to waive those fees for your business. Especially if you can prove that you’re a safe driver.
• Use your membership with USAA for car rental fee waivers. Note to be a member of USAA, you need to be current or former military, their spouse, or a child of a current or former military.
• Use peer-to-peer rentals such as Turo, Getaround, or Zipcar. They have tiered underage driver fees.

Is it worth renting a car in Florida?

In short, yes. Unless you are staying at one of the theme parks and do not plan on venturing off the property, a car is necessary to get around. Walt Disney World has an excellent bus system and getting to and from the park is easy. Universal Studios is pretty compact and also offers buses.

However, for everywhere else, it is a good idea to get a reliable car.

Florida has a limited public transportation system. While there are buses and trains that go between the bigger cities, it can be difficult to discern what goes where. Plus, smaller beach towns such as Daytona Beach will not have a major public transportation system.

What is required to rent a car in Florida?

a valid driver’s license from your home state or country

When renting a car in Florida, you must present a valid driver’s license from your home state or country. Your license must be valid for the duration of your rental, and it must be in English.

The license must also include your photograph.

If you are an international visitor, you may need to present a valid international driving permit in addition to your regular license. If you fail to present a valid license, you may not be able to rent a car.

present a credit card when renting a car

Renting a car in Florida requires you to present a valid credit card. This will be used to secure the rental and cover any additional fees that may be incurred during your rental period. All major credit cards are accepted by most car rental companies.

You must have a valid credit card with enough available credit to cover the cost of the rental, as well as any additional fees that may be charged. It is important to check with the car rental company before renting to make sure they accept the type of credit card you plan on using.

The credit card also acts as a form of identification, so make sure you bring the same credit card with you that was used for the reservation.

The credit card must have your name on it, and must be in the same name of the primary driver. If you have someone else driving the rental car, their name must also appear on the credit card.

Finally, keep in mind that some car rental companies will put a hold on your credit card for an estimated amount, which can be more than the total cost of your rental. This holds true especially if you’re renting luxury or larger vehicles. To avoid this, make sure to ask the car rental company what their policy is in regard to holds on credit cards. This is also why you may not want to use a debit card.

Do I need to buy rental car insurance in Florida?

Most car rental companies offer insurance, but you may already be covered by your own insurance policy.

If you’re renting a car in Florida, it’s important to understand your insurance options. Most car rental companies offer basic insurance coverage for their vehicles, but you may already be covered by your own car insurance policy or credit card. Before you rent a car, make sure you have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, including any applicable insurance requirements.

Your personal auto insurance policy may cover you when you rent a car in Florida. However, many policies only provide liability insurance coverage and not collision or comprehensive coverage. Be sure to check with your insurer to determine what coverage you have for rental cars.

Your credit card may also provide coverage when you rent a car. Certain cards may provide collision coverage, depending on the specific card and issuer. Before you book a rental car, contact your credit card company to determine whether they offer rental car coverage and what types of protection they offer.

If neither your personal auto insurance policy nor your credit card provides sufficient coverage for your needs, you may need to purchase additional insurance from the rental agency. Be sure to read the fine print in your rental contract before signing any contracts and be aware that additional coverage can be expensive.

What are the traffic laws in Florida?

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the local traffic laws before driving in Florida. If you are from other states in the United States, many of the laws will be similar.

Drivers in the Sunshine State are required to abide by all state laws, which include keeping your speed within the posted speed limit, wearing your seatbelt, and not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, drivers must stop at all red lights and yield to pedestrians. Texting while driving is also illegal in Florida.

It’s also important to be aware of certain laws with posted signs, such as no right turn on red. When turning right at an intersection with a red light, you must come to a complete stop before making the turn.

Know that when you’re passing another vehicle, you must use your turn signal at least 100 feet in advance.

When it rains in Florida, as it often does, do not turn your hazard lights on. This is an outdated “rule of the road”. Plus, it can even result in a ticket. Your hazards lights are for true hazards. Turn your lights on, and fog lights on if you have them.

Children age 5 and younger are required to be in a car seat.

Lastly, it’s illegal to tailgate another car in Florida.

Toll roads in Florida with Rental Cars

Driving a rental car on Florida’s toll roads can be a great way to get around the state quickly and easily. All rental car companies in the state offer options for using their cars on toll roads.

One of the most common ways to pay for tolls while driving a rental car is by signing up for a SunPass account. SunPass is a prepaid toll program that allows drivers to make automatic payments on toll roads across the state of Florida.

If you are planning to use toll roads while driving your rental car, it is recommended that you sign up for a SunPass account prior to starting your journey.

An E-ZPass may be a better option as it works in Florida and other states, including most of the Northeast, South, and Midwest.

Rental car companies in Florida also offer “toll pass” or “toll tag” programs that allow customers to pay tolls electronically. These programs are convenient as they allow you to avoid the hassle of stopping to pay for tolls every time you pass through a toll plaza. In fact, if you don’t have exact change, most toll booths are not staffed anymore and you’ll get a toll by plate. With rental car companies in Florida’s toll pass program, you can simply drive through the toll plaza and the toll will be automatically deducted from your rental agreement for an additional charge or convenience fee.

However, it is important to note that these programs may come with an additional fee which is charged directly to your rental agreement. This fee covers administrative costs, processing fees, and other charges associated with using the toll pass or tag.

Before renting a car in Florida, be sure to ask the rental company about their policies regarding toll roads. This will help ensure that you are aware of all applicable fees and charges associated with driving on the state’s toll roads.

Texting and Driving Rules in Florida

Texting and driving is illegal in the state of Florida. This means that any driver who is operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway is prohibited from manually typing or entering text into a wireless communications device. This includes, but is not limited to, text messages, emails, instant messaging, and browsing the internet.

In Florida, texting and driving is considered a primary offense. This means that law enforcement officers can pull you over if they observe you texting while driving. Plus, if you are pulled over for another reason, and an officer observes that you are texting while driving, they can still issue an additional citation.

Violations of the texting and driving law can result in a $60 fine for the first offense, and three points may also be added to your driver’s license.

It is important to remember that even though it is legal to talk on a cell phone while driving in Florida, it must be on a hands free device. This is part of the overall distracted driving laws.

As with all laws pertaining to the operation of a motor vehicle, it is best to familiarize yourself with the rules before getting behind the wheel in Florida. The state of Florida is committed to promoting safe driving practices and will enforce any violations of the law accordingly.

Florida Car Rental Discounts

Renting a car in Florida doesn’t have to break the bank. There are a variety of discounts and special offers available to help you get the most out of your vacation without stretching your budget. From weekly rental discounts to loyalty programs, here’s a look at some of the ways you can save when renting a car in Florida:

• Weekly Rental Discounts – Many car rental companies offer discounted rates for weekly rentals. This is a great way to save if you plan on keeping your rental car for seven days or more. Be sure to check with the rental company for their specific rates and conditions.
• Loyalty Programs – Many car rental companies have loyalty programs that offer discounted rates and other benefits for frequent customers. You may be eligible for discounts and other perks when you join a loyalty program.
• Promotional Codes – Promotional codes can be found on websites such as RetailMeNot, Groupon, and HotDeals. By entering these codes during checkout, you can often find discounts on car rentals in Florida.
• Government Discounts – Government employees may be eligible for discounts on car rentals in Florida. To take advantage of these offers, you will need to show proof of government employment.
• Military Discounts – Military personnel may qualify for discounted rates on car rentals in Florida. To receive a military discount, you will need to present a valid military ID at the time of pick-up.
• Senior Citizen Discounts – Senior citizens (age 55 or older) may qualify for discounted rates on car rentals in Florida. To receive a senior discount, you will need to present proof of age at the time of pick-up.

Be sure to ask about additional discounts when you are booking your car rental in Florida. You may also want to consider bundling your rental with other services, such as airfare and hotel accommodations, for added savings.

Even if you’re not renting a car in Florida for a week, you could still rent for 7 days and return early. It’s worth to check in case it’s less than your 5 or 6 day rates.

List of Car Rental Companies in Florida

Start your search with Discover Cars. From here you can add in additional discounts offered by memberships such as AAA and AARP. This is one of the ways I use to find cheap car rentals in Florida. You can filter by the lowest rates or if you want a larger vehicle. You may be surprised that some large vehicles, especially in areas that cater to families, have the best rates.

From here you can choose car rental in Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key West, and many of the small cities around Florida. You can also choose your type of car. Want a convertible sports car to take a road trip through the Florida Keys? You can find that!

How much does renting a car in Florida cost?

It depends on your location and the amount of time you’ll be renting a car. For example, a car rental from one of the Florida airports, such as the Orlando airport, will be less than neighboring areas. The airport deal in more rentals daily, and therefore can offer better discounts.