For first-time visitors to Orlando, the thought of driving on American roads can be somewhat daunting – and to be fair it is a little different – but ultimately you will put the brakes on these fears if you follow our simple guide!

Getting Your Car

1) You must be 21 or over in order to drive a hire car in Florida – but be wary, drivers of 25 and under are commonly charged a lot more – much like newer drivers back in the UK.

2) The majority of vehicles you will drive will be automatics.

3) Make sure you choose the right size and type of vehicle for you and your family or group. Different size vehicles are given names:

• Economy or subcompact – Think Vauxhall Corsa size

• Compact – A small saloon such as a Ford Focus

• Midsize or Intermediate – 5-seater vehicle such as a Toyota Corolla

• Fullsize – Typically the size of a Ford Mondeo

• Minivan – Around the size of a Renault Espace

• Premium, Luxury, Convertible, SUV – More upmarket options

4) Bear in mind that with all vehicles, such as a minivan, it may have seven seats, but that doesn’t mean that it will fit seven people in with all the luggage!

5) Wear your seat belt – like in the UK, it is illegal not to. Under fours must use a child seat, with kids of four and five required to use a booster or a child seat – depending on their size. Children under the age of 12 should be on the back seats.

Rules of the Road

• Open containers of alcohol are illegal, as is drinking and driving.
• You must come to a complete halt at ‘stop’ signs – police do lie in wait, ready to catch out those not adhering to them. If you come to a junction with multiple stop signs, the vehicle which reaches the white line first has priority – irrespective of those who may have been waiting longer in queues!
• You can turn right on a red light – providing it is clear and safe to do so, and there are no signs advising otherwise.
• Speed limits – obey at all times! With unmarked police cars driving around as well as cops parked up at the side of the road in wait – it really isn’t worth the risk. Take it easy – you are on holiday after all!
• Undertaking is legal, so expect to be passed on either side by faster-moving vehicles.
• When parking, make sure you park in the direction of the traffic flow.
• It is illegal to park within 10ft (3m) of a fire hydrant or a drop kerb. You also cannot park in front of a kerb painted yellow – these are for emergency vehicles.
• Reverse parking is discouraged, as number plates are on the rear and the police need to see them.
• U-turns are not allowed in built-up areas and places which have solid lines down the middle of the street.
• Florida operates a ‘Move Over’ policy – this means on larger roads that if you see a police car on the hard shoulder, and you are in the lane next to it, you must move into an adjacent lane – or slow right down if this isn’t possible. On two-lane roads you must slow down to 20mph below the speed limit, and when on roads with a speed limit of under 20mph – you must stick to 5mph.
• Headlights must be on from sunset to sunrise by law, as well as during rainy or foggy spells.
• Orange flashing lights indicate school zones – here you cannot overtake a school bus in either direction when it is unloading and has its hazard lights on.

Traffic lights

The majority of accidents involving tourists occur at traffic lights as they differ greatly from other countries.

GREEN (solid) – Go - but only if the junction is clear. Give way to traffic and pedestrians. If turning left, wait for a gap in oncoming traffic to complete the turn.

GREEN (arrow) – Go - you have right of way!

AMBER (solid/arrow) – Prepare to slow down.

AMBER (flashing) – You may move forward with caution. It is used at, or just before, dangerous intersections, or to alert you to a warning sign such as a school crossing or sharp curve.

RED (solid) – Stop! At most junctions, after stopping, you may turn right on red if the way is clear. Some junctions display a "NO TURN ON RED" sign, which you must obey. 

RED (flashing) – A flashing red light means the same thing as a stop sign. It is used at dangerous junctions.

In the Event of an Accident

Irrespective of the severity – from small dings all the way up to major collisions – pull over and contact the police. They must be notified before you can move on, and a full police report will be required by car hire firms. If you are on the I-4 highway, raise the car’s bonnet and wait for a police patrol vehicle to assist you. You can also alert the Florida Highway Patrol. For breakdowns, refer to your car hire agreement. Always ensure you have your documents (car hire agreement, insurance and driving licence) to hand. Not only is it useful when something like this happens, it is also the law to have them with you.

Out and About

You might find that with the wider, straighter roads and calmer pace, driving in America isn’t as difficult as you think! Driving ‘on the other side of the road’ is a lot easier when you are going the same way as everyone else!

There are a few toll roads in Florida, but generally you’ll only experience them when going to and from the airport. To make things easier, keep handy a stash of quarters (25 cent coins), as they are cash only. Blue lanes are for those with the correct change, with booths on the green lanes providing change.

The main attractions are spread out across Orlando, so in order to guarantee you get there in the quickest time possible, invest in a sat nav, or hire one directly from us at Debbie’s Villas.

When you need to refuel, go inside to pay the cashier, before filling up.

When at junctions, the name of the road you are about to cross is on the sign suspended overhead, not the road that you will join at the other side.

Exits on highways can be on either side of the road and you don’t always get much notice.

Never park on the grass when in villa communities – you will most likely damage the sprinkler system. Your vehicle could also be towed away.

As you can see, with the exception of the traffic lights and reverse parking, it is very similar in principle to driving in the UK. Most of it can sound daunting, but once put into practice, it should feel much more natural.

What did you think of our guide? Do you think we have missed out something important? Have you driven in Florida and wish to share your expert tips? Get in touch using the usual social media channels.