Car Hire in Florida

Driving in Florida: Essential Rules

• Side of the road: Florida drives on the right, the same as the rest of the United States.
• Toll roads and SunPass: Florida has one of the most extensive toll road networks in the country, including Florida's Turnpike and numerous expressways around Orlando, Miami, and Tampa. Tolls are collected electronically via SunPass, E-PASS, or toll-by-plate billing, and many toll points no longer accept cash at all. Confirm with your supplier exactly how tolls incurred during your hire are tracked and billed, since there's often no way to pay at the toll point yourself.
• Move Over law — Florida's version is broader than most states: drivers must move over a lane, or slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit if changing lanes isn't safe, for any stationary vehicle showing hazard lights — not only police, emergency, or roadside assistance vehicles. This was expanded in January 2024, so it now applies to any disabled vehicle pulled over with its hazards on.
• Texting and phone use: texting while driving is banned statewide as a primary offence, meaning an officer can stop you for it alone. Handheld phone use more broadly, including calls, is restricted in school and work zones specifically, rather than banned everywhere in the state — using a hands-free set throughout is the simplest way to stay clearly within the law regardless of zone.
• Left-lane law: on multi-lane roads, drivers in the left lane must move over for faster traffic overtaking from behind — lingering in the left lane rather than moving over is a specific, separately enforced offence in Florida.
• Headlights in rain: Florida law requires headlights to be switched on whenever windscreen wipers are in continuous use due to rain or reduced visibility, not just at dusk or after dark.
• Afternoon storms: particularly in summer, sudden, heavy thunderstorms are common in the early-to-late afternoon, especially across central Florida. Slow down, switch on headlights, and consider waiting out the heaviest rain rather than pushing through it, since visibility can drop very quickly.
• Hurricane season: the Atlantic hurricane season runs officially from June to November. During a storm approaching landfall, Florida activates contraflow lanes on major evacuation highways, reversing the normal direction of one carriageway to speed up evacuation. Follow official evacuation routes and signage if advised to evacuate, and never drive around a barricade into a flooded road.
• Seatbelts and children: seatbelts are required for the driver and all passengers regardless of age. Children under 3 must use an appropriate child safety seat; children aged 4 and above may use a seatbelt alone but must still be seated in the rear.
• No vehicle inspection: Florida does not require periodic vehicle safety or emissions inspections, so you won't see roadside inspection stops that exist in some other states.
• In an emergency: dialling *FHP (*347) from a mobile phone connects you directly to the Florida Highway Patrol, useful for reporting a breakdown, accident, or hazard on the road ahead.
• Driving licence: visitors can drive in Florida on a valid licence from their home country. An International Driving Permit is strongly recommended for EU licence holders and, depending on your supplier, may be required at collection — the original document is needed, as photocopies are not accepted. Your licence must have been held for at least one year.
• Minimum driving age: car hire suppliers set their own minimum age for renting, typically from 21, with a young driver surcharge common for those under 25 and some vehicle categories requiring drivers to be 25 or older — this is confirmed at the point of booking.

Some rural stretches of Florida's Turnpike and interstate network are signed higher than the figure shown here, particularly in less built-up parts of the state. Always follow the posted limit for the specific road you're on.

Florida Car Hire Insurance

Every car hire booked through eCarBookers in Florida includes the supplier's standard collision damage waiver (CDW/LDW) in the basic rate. Standard cover carries an excess — or deductible, in US terminology — the amount you would be responsible for in the event of damage. Excess amounts vary by supplier and vehicle class, and the exact figure is displayed clearly before you confirm your booking, so there are no surprises at the desk.

If you prefer to drive with no excess at all, fully comprehensive zero-deductible cover is available directly from your supplier when you collect the car in Florida. The cover comes from the hire company itself, not from a third-party insurer — so there is no separate policy, no paying the excess upfront, and no reimbursement claim to file once it has been added. Because your booking confirmation shows the standard excess that applies, you arrive knowing exactly what the cover replaces.

It is worth noting that certain situations fall outside standard cover across the car hire industry. Tyres, glass, underbody damage, lost or damaged keys, and a flat battery caused by driver error are typically not covered and may result in a separate charge if they occur. These situations are uncommon in everyday driving, but it is good practice to check your booking confirmation for the specific cover terms applicable to your hire, as scope can vary by supplier.

Toll charges sit outside the insurance and excess conversation entirely, but they're worth raising with your supplier at the same time you confirm your cover: ask exactly how SunPass or toll-by-plate charges incurred during your hire are billed, so an unexpected charge after your trip doesn't come as a surprise once you're home.

Popular Car Hire Locations

Florida is served through eCarBookers' wider US supplier network, with car hire available across the state. Orlando, with its dense concentration of theme parks and one of the busiest airports in the state, is the natural starting point for most visitors, while Miami serves as the gateway to South Florida and the Keys. Tampa and the Gulf Coast offer a quieter alternative to the busier east coast and central corridors, and Jacksonville is a practical base for road trips into north Florida and neighbouring Georgia. Dedicated city and airport pages for Florida locations are planned as the network expands; check back for direct links as those pages go live.