For a lot of Florida holidays, renting a car is still the simplest way to travel. It gives you the flexibility to move between airports, hotels, theme parks, shopping areas and beaches on your own schedule, and it usually becomes more useful the moment your holiday stretches beyond one resort area.

The catch in 2026 is that the real price of car hire is often very different from the headline day rate. The best deal is usually the one with the clearest total cost, not the one with the lowest number on the first search screen.

When a rental car is worth it

Usually worth it: villas, Gulf Coast add-ons, beach hopping, outlet shopping, Kennedy Space Center days, multi-centre holidays and any trip where you expect to leave one resort area often.
Sometimes not worth it: short onsite-only stays where you can use hotel transport, rideshare and airport transfers instead.

If you are still deciding, compare this page with getting around Florida and driving in Florida.

What to check before you book

Who is actually supplying the car? Broker deals can be fine, but read the supplier terms too.
What insurance is included? Make sure the package clearly shows what is and is not covered.
How are tolls handled? This is a major Florida-specific question now.
What is the fuel policy? Full-to-full is usually the easiest to judge fairly.
What is the airport collection process? Some locations are in-terminal, some require a shuttle.
What happens with additional drivers, young drivers and one-way rentals?

The real cost of hiring a car

If you are asking about price, focus on the final payable total, not the advertised lead-in rate. Florida car-hire pricing now usually breaks into:

base rental charge;
taxes and airport/location surcharges;
insurance or protection products not already included;
toll usage and toll admin fees;
additional driver or under-25 charges where relevant; and
fuel or refill penalties if you do not return the car on the agreed terms.

That means a "cheap" booking can stop being cheap very quickly if the toll setup is poor or the included protection is weaker than you assumed.

Tolls: the question you should ask first

Florida toll roads are common enough that your toll setup matters almost as much as the rental rate. Before you leave the desk, ask the company to explain exactly:

whether the car has a built-in toll program or transponder;
when a daily toll fee applies;
whether you only pay on days you use toll roads or for every hire day; and
how missed tolls and admin charges are handled.

If your trip is based around Orlando, do not treat this as a minor detail. It is one of the easiest ways for a "good value" booking to become an annoying one. Read our toll roads guide before you travel.

Airport collection and return

Orlando International Airport remains one of the main collection points for UK visitors, but the exact process depends on the company. Some desks are more convenient than others, and return procedures matter if you have an early flight home.

Build in enough time on collection day for paperwork, photographs, child-seat fitting if needed, and getting used to a large automatic car before you tackle Florida traffic.

Car size: do not under-buy

Book for luggage and comfort, not just for the cheapest category label. Florida holidays often involve large cases, pushchairs, golf bags, shopping and theme-park gear, so a tiny car that looks fine on paper can become poor value once the boot is full.

Equally, do not pay extra for a large SUV unless you genuinely need it. For many couples or small families, the smartest buy is the category that comfortably takes your luggage without forcing you into an oversized upgrade.

Insurance and damage checks

Always inspect the car carefully before you drive away and photograph existing marks. Make sure any damage is recorded properly. The same applies on return, especially if you are doing an out-of-hours drop-off.

If the included cover is not clear, stop and sort it out before you leave. Florida car hire is rarely good value if you are still unsure what you are liable for.

Best-value strategy for most Florida visitors

Best for multi-centre holidays: book a clear inclusive package and plan tolls in advance.
Best for resort-heavy holidays: only rent for the days you really need to drive.
Best money-saving habit: compare the full final price from a few suppliers at the same airport and timings, not just headline lead-in rates from search results.

If your plan also includes hotels, compare parking before you book the room as well as the car. That extra cost can change the value equation, especially around the theme parks and premium resorts.

For the bigger-picture trip planning, also see Florida hotel information, getting to Orlando and driving in Florida.