Car hire in Orlando for UK drivers
A car is often the cheapest way to get around Orlando for a family. The counter is where budgets go to die, so here's how to avoid that.
Quick version
- Check whether CDW/LDW and liability are already in your UK booking before buying extras at the counter.
- Standalone excess insurance bought in the UK is usually far cheaper than the counter add-on.
- Prefer the free-to-reserve Visitor Toll Pass at MCO and decline the rental company's toll programme.
- Expect a credit-card deposit hold; under-25s often pay a young-driver surcharge.
- Not hiring? Compare Uber, Lyft and Waymo instead.
Not hiring? Compare Uber, Lyft and Waymo instead — and open both Uber and Lyft before you book.
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Insurance jargon, decoded
| Term | What it means | Skint tip |
|---|---|---|
| CDW / LDW | Collision or Loss Damage Waiver: covers damage to or theft of the hire car | Check whether your booking already includes it |
| SLI / LIS | Supplemental Liability: covers damage to other people and property | UK-booked "fully inclusive" deals often include it. Check before you go |
| Excess | The amount you pay if something happens | Standalone excess insurance bought in the UK is usually far cheaper than the counter add-on. See MoneySavingExpert's comparison MSE |
At the counter
- Bring your UK photocard licence and passport. For Florida rules for visiting drivers, see FLHSMV. Florida law lets visitors drive on a valid licence from their home country Florida Statutes 322.04, and VISIT FLORIDA says you don't need an International Driving Permit VISIT FLORIDA. Rental companies set their own rules, though. Alamo, for example, only asks for an IDP if your licence isn't in English. Check your hire company's terms.
- Expect a deposit hold on a credit card in the main driver's name. Amounts vary by company and by how you pay. For example, Alamo at MCO asks for a $400 deposit if you don't have a ticketed return flight, or $850 for luxury and specialty cars Alamo MCO terms. Check your own company's terms. Last checked 19 Oct 2026.
- Drivers under 25 usually pay a young-driver surcharge. For example, at Alamo MCO all drivers must be 21 or over, and drivers aged 21–24 pay $25 a day and can only hire certain car classes Alamo MCO terms. Other companies differ. Last checked 19 Oct 2026.
- Say no politely to upgrades you didn't plan for.
Tolls: the bit that catches Brits out
Many Orlando motorways are toll roads, and some toll points are cashless. Rental companies offer their own toll programmes, which often come with daily fees. The Visitor Toll Pass from the Central Florida Expressway Authority is free to reserve. You pay a $10 deposit through the app, which goes towards your tolls, and you're charged the lowest electronic toll rate. You collect it at MCO, hang it on the mirror, return it when you fly home, and decline the rental company's toll programme. If you don't return it, there's a $10 fee. Visitor Toll Pass FAQ CFX FAQ
It's only for round trips through Orlando International Airport (MCO).
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Driving differences
- Drive on the right, and go anticlockwise round roundabouts.
- You can turn right on a red light after a full stop, unless a "No right on red" sign says otherwise VISIT FLORIDA. The Florida driver handbook has the full rules FLHSMV handbook.
- Fuel is sold by the US gallon, and pay-at-pump machines can ask for a ZIP code that UK cards don't have. Pay inside instead.
Last checked: 19 Oct 2026