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Car
Hire Companies
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Below
is a car hire company you may find useful.
Please
phone Roger on 0800 9531 263
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CAR
HIRE
To maximize
the enjoyment of your holiday in Florida, a car is essential. If you want the
freedom to explore everything that Florida has to offer from the various theme
parks of Orlando to the beaches on both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
Driving is probably the best way to travel in and around Florida it can also
be a real pleasure, the roads are wide, well made and have well signposted routes,
cheap petrol and expansive highways.
Below is a typical example of vehicles that many hire company's offer.

Rental Insurance Terminology Explained
- LDW Loss
Damage Waiver protects you for any damage to the rental vehicle as a result
of a collision.
- CDW Collision
Damage Waiver protects you against damage to the rental car (including theft
and vandalism) regardless of who is at fault.
- EP Extended
Protection, provides you with Third Party Liability coverage usually for amounts
up to $1 million (check amount of cover with hire Co) for accidental death
or injury to you and your passengers should you be hit by a negligent, uninsured,
under insured or hit and run motorist.
- SLI Supplementary
Liability Insurance increases your basic Third Party Liability cover provided
with a rental, up to a general maximum limit of $1 million (check amount of
cover with hire Co), which covers litigation that is common in the US.
If this is your first visit to Florida,
or never driven here before, you may find the following information useful.
Hire
Information
- In order
to satisfy most rental requirements, drivers must be in possession of a valid
UK or EC drivers licence (a photocopy is not acceptable), together with a
return air ticket to Europe and a major credit card in their name. An International
Driving Permit is not acceptable.
- Be aware
of cancellation charges in the rental terms & conditions details. If your
journey is delayed for whatever reason, beyond the start date of hire, you
may lose your rental of the vehicle with no recourse to a refund. Consequently
if you are delayed, notify the rental company for an amendment of your pick
up date, they normally charge a small fee for this arrangement (£15
approx).
- Drivers
of rental vehicles must be at least 21 years old. There is normally an extra
charge made for drivers under 25.
- You will
be asked to present your driving licence and a major credit card for inspection
when you pick up the rental vehicle on your arrival.
- It is
important not to drive without adequate car insurance in the US.
- If you
purchase insurance or extras (e.g. car child seats) locally, you may be subjected
to certain charges and taxes.
- For your
own peace of mind we suggest you pre-book before travelling which should include
your taxes, then relax knowing you have paid these costs in advance.
- Unless
you need to upgrade your vehicle on arrival at the pickup point, it may be
wise to politely refuse the offer of an upgrade the salesperson will try to
get you to take. Remember the sales people work on commission, upgrades or
alterations to your original contract can be expensive when carried out locally.
- Make
yourself familiar with the car before you leave the car hire pick up point,
check with the staff if you do not understand the controls or operation of
the vehicle. Inspect the car for any noticeable damage and report it prior
to leaving.
- All hire
cars tend to be automatic, for those not used to automatic transmission, you
will not be able to take the keys out of the ignition unless the gear selector
is in the 'park' position. Likewise the gear selector needs to be in the 'park'
position before you can start the car.
- Always
carry your driver's licence, proof of insurance and hire details when using
the rental vehicle, (you may be stopped by a Patrol Officer and asked to produce
them).
- You will
only be provided with one set of car keys by the hire company, if you find
this worrying, you can get spare keys cut at DIY stores (Home Depot) or many
of the supermarkets (Wall-Mart) for a few $'s.
- All hire
cars will have air-conditioning as standard, when in use it is essential to
have all windows closed for efficient operation.
Florida State Driving Laws (guidance
notes only)
- Consuming
alcoholic beverages while driving is prohibited. Driving while intoxicated
is a serious offense and you may be jailed if caught.
- You are
not allowed to carry alcohol inside the car it must be placed in the boot/trunk
when transporting.
- Keep
to the speed limits; fines are very expensive and doubled in construction
zones. Speed limits are generally lower than in Europe and are strictly monitored
by the local police, the limit is generally between 55 - 70 mph on rural highways.
- If you
are involved in an accident you must immediately telephone the police and
obtain a police report.
- All persons
in the front seats must utilize the safety belt restraints, all children under
16 must use seat restraints, and all children under 5 must be in an approved
child restraint seat and be securely fastened.
- Headlights
(dipped) must be turned on when your windshield wipers are on during rain.
Headlights are also required in fog, darkness and poor visibility.
- Whenever
a school bus (painted yellow) carrying children stops in front of your vehicle
you are required to stop, it will generally have red flashing lights and display
a stop sign at the rear left hand side of the bus. You must stop whichever
direction you are travelling in unless the bus is facing the opposite direction
and there is a minimum of a 2 metre medium or wall separating the lanes of
transport as in some dual carriageways.
- Unless
otherwise sign posted you can turn right on a red light at a junction after
coming to a full stop, yielding to pedestrians and no traffic is coming from
your left.
- When
approaching a junction with a red flashing traffic signal, come to a full
stop, you may then proceed with caution if the way is clear to do so. If instead
a yellow flashing traffic signal is observed, slow down, you may then proceed
with caution again if the way is clear to do so.
- All drivers
are required to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic at intersections.
- Traffic
in the US always travels on the right hand lanes. The law does not permit
vehicles to travel off the paved portion of the roadway for any reason.
- You can
overtake, or be overtaken on the inside or outside lanes.
Traffic
Tips
- Inter
state Highways have red, white and blue signs. The Principal routes have 1
- or 2 - digit numbers. Even numbered routes run east - west, odd numbers
run north - south.
Ring roads - called loop or beltways - have 3-digit numbers, the first digit
being an even number. They circle or bypass cities.
- If you
take toll roads, you will need some change to pay the tolls, as some of them
are unmanned.
- Do not
reverse into a parking space, as the registration plate is only on the back
of the car.
- Plan
where you are going, keep a map in the car. Write down the route before you
depart. Do not stop at night in a dark and unfamiliar place to ask for directions.
Drive round until you find the main highway.
- Do not
leave money or any other valuables on show in the car.
- If your
car is struck from behind, proceed to a well lit area prior to getting out
of your vehicle to inspect the damage, and then only when you are comfortable
that it is safe to do so.
- There
are no service stations on the Freeways but there's usually one near the exit.
Some exits on the Freeways are on the left.
- When
approaching or cross over a junction, you may notice a suspended road name
sign; this is the name of the road you are crossing, not the road you are
on.
- There
are no traffic roundabouts in the US.
- Some
of the Major Attractions have very large car parks, remember to write down
the exact location, most rental cars look alike after a long day sightseeing.