Insurance will be included in your standard car rental package.  However, it is best to check that your travel insurance covers you against personal injury whilst using your rental car, otherwise additional personal injury cover is available at the car hire desk.

We have found from personal experience, as well as from what rental guests tell us, that the car hire agents upon your arrival at the rental desk, will encourage you to upgrade to a larger car.  We believe the agents earn commission if the customer upgrades, and we stick to what we have already booked beforehand.  Drivers under 25 will generally find car hire is more expensive.

When collecting your car from the parking lot, it is a good idea to check for any dents or scratches and, if you find any, return to the agent and report it to make sure details are recorded.  You don’t want to find you have been charged extra for any damage, when your credit card statement arrives after you return home.  It is also a good idea to check that there is a full tank of gas. 

Don’t forget to carry your driver’s license and car rental papers with you at all times when using the car.

The car will be an automatic, left hand drive, as driving is on the right hand side of the road.  Sometimes at first glance you may think there is no handbrake – some cars have a foot pedal under the dashboard instead.  It is best to check you are familiar with the controls before taking the car out on the road, and it is advisable to use the air-conditioning and keep windows shut to keep flying insects out.  It is usual that car doors will automatically lock as you start driving – you will hear the ‘click’.

Always concentrate, especially when re-entering the highway again after having parked up at stores, attractions, gas stations or restaurants, that you are driving on the right – it could easily slip your mind!

Road signs (at intersections) will indicate the road you are crossing over.  You can turn right on a red light if it is safe to do so, unless there is a sign stating ‘No Right Turn’.   

Even road numbers travel east/west, and odd numbers north/south.  Keep a few quarters 25 cent coins, in the car for use at tollbooths.  Sometimes they are unmanned and you need to throw the coins into a collection basket. 

Interstate 4 often has heavy traffic in places, and it is best to allow plenty of time for returning to the airport for your flight home.  Stick to the speed limits – a particular ‘Hot Spot’ for on the spot speeding fines, is on the approach roads leading to the airports.

We have found when driving on Interstate 4, there is only one exit that comes up on the left.  This is when travelling east, you will exit at Kirkman, if you want to go to Universal Studios.  You should then keep to the nearside lane.   All other exits we have seen have gone off on the right hand side.

Sometimes driving on Interstate 4 you can get into a right hand lane which you have to turn right on, so if in doubt it is best to keep in the middle lane.

The law states that when a yellow school bus stops on the road, you must also stop, and cannot pass it.  You must wait until it starts moving again.

Also, if emergency services are attending to a breakdown or accident, you must leave one lane between yourself and the vehicles involved.

In the event that you have an accident, it must always be reported to the Police, as an accident report number must be given to the car hire company for their insurance purposes. 

The possession of any ‘open’ containers of alcohol is strictly against the law, both for the driver and passengers of the car.  All drink must be kept in the trunk (boot)

Strict fines will be imposed