Car Rental in Florida – Best Tips to Save & Biggest Mistakes

Petr Novk

For cheap car rental in Florida, you can use the rental companies right in the city you are going to visit. Generally speaking, airport rentals tend to be more cost-effective, as several companies compete with each other and the prices are lower. In my comparison, Florida was even the cheapest destination to rent a car in the USA.

Car Rental in Florida – Best Tips to Save & Biggest Mistakes

  1. How to Get the Best Price for Car Rental in Florida

    The price for car rental in Florida depends not only on the provider or the specific city of pick-up, but also on other points. Some of these can be surprising.

    🗓️ The Best Time to Make a Car Booking

    To write this article, I researched booking prices for dozens of dates. According to my findings, the price is lowest if you book one to three months in advance of the car pick-up date.

    For example, rental comparison site RentalCars offers free cancellations, which can serve as insurance in case the price drops.

    ⏳ Season Affects the Rental Price

    The more days you rent a car, the higher the rental price, which is logical. However, the rental price does not have to be the same on all days, in the summer months or around public holidays when the demand for rental cars is higher, the price may also increase.

    The rental fee is calculated for every 24 hours started. So if you rent a car at 10:00 one day, return it at 10:00 the next. If you set the return time at 11:00, you will pay an extra day per hour of rental.

    🗺️ Car Rental Locations

    Some rental companies are located near airports, while others, usually smaller, can be found in city centres or as part of larger hotels. Prices tend to be lower at airport car rental companies.

    When choosing a location, think about how you will get to the rental car. In some cases, it may be preferable to choose a slightly more expensive airport rental, eliminating the cost of travelling to the city centre.

    🏎️ Class of Rental Car

    Rental companies divide cars into several classes, which differ mainly in size, number of seats, equipment level and luggage capacity. The more kilometres you plan to drive, the higher the class.

    In general, the smallest economy cars are the cheapest, with only basic equipment. About 10% more expensive are mid-range and large cars, which already offer enough comfort for longer journeys. Very comfortable SUVs with a higher chassis are around 25% more expensive than economy cars. Premium cars and convertibles are up to 100% more expensive than the cheapest cars.

    The current demand and availability of each class has a significant impact on price. It is quite often the case that large cars are offered at the same price as those in the Economy class. In the table I have searched for the cheapest car rentals in Florida in 24 hours. Prices should be taken as a guide, for more accurate data do a non-binding calculation.

    Economy Large SUV Convertible
    Economy Car Rental Car Rental Medium or Large Size SUV Car Rental Convertible Rental
    from $33 from $33 from $37 from $46
    🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price

    🔞 Age of Drivers

    Drivers aged 21 to 24 years inclusive are subject to a surcharge of $16.00 to $37 per day of rental. The surcharge reflects the higher risk of damage caused by a young driver. The amount of the fee varies from rental company to rental company.

    For even younger drivers, rental companies will either not give the car at all or charge an even higher fee.

    ☂️ Insurance

    All rental cars in Florida include not only liability insurance (SLP), but also collision (CDW) insurance with zero deductible. Thus, in the event of causing an accident, the driver should not have to pay a dollar.

    When booking a car, read the rental terms and conditions carefully to make sure all risks are covered. These include, but are not limited to, theft of the car, damage to the tires or windshield. If these risks are not included in the insurance, I recommend adding them for an extra fee.

    🛰️ Accessories at Extra Cost

    The total rental price is affected by additional services at an extra cost. I recommend you pay extra for an additional driver to take turns with, especially on longer journeys. Should another driver drive the car who is not properly listed in the contract, the agreed insurance will not apply. The fee varies from rental company to rental company, and in Florida it usually ranges between $13.00 and $15.00 per day. There is also a maximum fee, for example for Avis it is $65.

    Rental companies also offer a ski rack, GPS navigation or mobile internet for an additional fee. From my point of view these services don’t make sense, you can get navigation and internet cheaper with Airalo for example.

    When travelling with children, it is worth buying a child seat or booster seat, usually available in several versions depending on the age of the child.

  2. Get the Current Price With No Obligation

    When arranging a car rental, never rely on the first Florida car rental counter you come across. It would be a very big coincidence if it is the cheapest in the final comparison. Instead, I recommend using a booking portal like RentalCars.com, which compares prices from more than 200 car rental companies around the world. What’s more, it offers customers a lowest price guarantee.

    For a no-obligation rental price calculation, I recommend using the following form. It compares the prices of all available rental companies in Florida, resulting in a lower price.

  3. Cheap Car Rental Brands in Florida

    Most visitors to Florida fly into Miami, the cheapest car rental companies are right at the airport’s MIA Rental Car Center. Free shuttles run from all terminals to the center. Specifically, ACE Rent a Car, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Royal, Sixt, and Thrifty are all based here.

    You don’t have to limit yourself to large airports when looking for a rental car, rental companies are common in small towns with a few thousand residents.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Fort Lauderdale

    Fort Lauderdale is a city on the east coast of Florida, and ACE Rent A Car, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Royal all have booths at the airport. Other rental agencies are located in the city centre.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Fort Myers

    Fort Myers is a town in the Cape Coral conurbation on the west coast of Florida. Car rental companies are concentrated at the local airport, with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Sixt offering their services there.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Key Largo

    Avis, Budget and Enterprise all have branches in Key Largo in South Florida. The rental companies are mostly located in separate buildings along Overseas Highway.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Key West

    Key West is the southernmost point of the continental United States, and Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty all have locations near the airport.

    Rental car counters are located in the arrivals hall and baggage claim area.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Orlando

    Orlando is bursting with car rental shops, with branches open at several hotels and near theme parks.

    There are a full dozen operating at the local airport, specifically Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty. Orlando Airport car rental agencies can be found in Terminal A on Level 1, Terminal B on Level 1 and Terminal C on Level 4.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Sarasota

    Sarasota is one of the most beautiful cities in Florida. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty all have branches in Sarasota. The rental car counters at Sarasota Airport are located in the baggage claim area, and the rental car garage is in a separate building within walking distance.

    ◻️ Car Rental in Tampa

    Florida’s third largest city offers the lowest car rental rates at local airport rental agencies. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty, among others, operate there. Tampa Airport car rental companies are located in a separate building, accessible from the arrivals hall via SkyConnect.

    Car Rental Rating
    Alamo Rent a Car Alamo Rent a Car 8.7/10
    Avis Car Rental Avis Car Rental 8.2/10
    Budget Car Rental Budget Car Rental 8.1/10
    Dollar Car Rental Dollar Car Rental 8.3/10
    Enterprise Rent-A-Car Enterprise Rent-A-Car 8.6/10
    Hertz Rent a Car Hertz Rent a Car 8.3/10
    National Car Rental National Car Rental 8.6/10
    SIXT Rent A Car SIXT Rent A Car 8.3/10
    Thrifty Car Rental Thrifty Car Rental 8.3/10
  4. Tips for the Best Road Trips in Florida

    1️⃣ Theme Parks in Florida

    Florida in two words, it’s beaches and parks. Both national and amusement, which are in abundance in the Sunshine State. They are concentrated around the city of Orlando in the central part of Florida, and there are plenty for younger children, older teenagers and adults. Perhaps the most famous is Walt Disney World and especially the Magic Kingdom with its typical castle straight out of a fairy tale. In short, something for children.

    Teenagers can try out the adrenaline-pumping Falcon’s Fury tower in Busch Gardens in Tampa, from which you can free fall 335 ft at speeds of up to 60 mph. Does that sound wonderful? And imagine that just before you fall, the seats turn so that you complete the entire fall facing the ground.

    2️⃣ National Parks in Florida

    If you prefer national parks, there are three to choose from in Florida. My personal favourite is the old Dry Tortugas fort, but you can’t get to it by car. You’ll have to pay for a boat or a plane, both of which will cause a decent dent in your wallet.

    The other national parks, Everglades and Biscayne, are both in South Florida and can easily be reached by car.

    3️⃣ Clearwater Beach

    Clearwater Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida with its white sand and crystal clear water. It is located on the Gulf of Mexico west of Tampa.

    Right on the beach, you can try a wide range of water activities including adrenaline sports. After dark you can go to Pier 60, where cultural events are regularly held.

    4️⃣ Kennedy Space Center

    TheKennedy Space Center is probably the most exciting place in the world for space fans. You can see space rockets and, if you’re lucky, experience a mission launch firsthand. At the visitor centre, you can meet an astronaut or experience a space flight simulation.

    5️⃣ The Dali Museum

    The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is home to one of the largest collections of works by artist Salvador Dali outside of his native Spain. The museum’s program mixes permanent and temporary exhibitions, some of which are interactive.

    Saint Petersburg is close to Tampa, and it takes 4 hours to get from Miami to the museum after driving 267 mi. Tickets and current opening hours can be found on the museum’s website.

Save on Car Rentals in the USA