Florida Car Hire FAQs: Answers for UK Holidaymakers
Benefit from our 20+ years of Florida car hire experience. Browse our most frequently asked questions below to find everything you need to know before securing your next rental.
Planning your American road trip but unsure about how the local rental process works? Our Florida car hire FAQs are designed specifically to give UK holidaymakers complete clarity. If you need a deep dive into specific topics, check out our comprehensive guides on Florida car hire insurance for UK holidaymakers, securing a zero deposit Florida car hire, or arranging your Florida car hire with a debit card. Otherwise, browse our expert answers below to ensure you have all the information you need for UK holidaymakers driving in Florida, from the moment you land to dropping off your keys.
Our FAQs
Welcome to our Florida car hire knowledge base, designed to give UK holidaymakers complete clarity before they fly. To find the exact information you need without digging through every accordion, use our interactive search facility below:
Step 1: Click or tap inside the "Search FAQs" box opposite (above the first FAQ).
Step 2: Type a keyword or short phrase (e.g., debit card, child seat, insurance).
Step 3: The list below will automatically update to reveal only the matching answers.
If you have any additional questions, please let us know.
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No, you do not need to pay a deposit. Smarter Car Hire Florida operates a strict zero-deposit, book now and pay later policy specifically for UK and European holidaymakers.
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Yes. Smarter Car Hire Florida provides completely free cancellations on US car rentals up to 48 hours before your scheduled vehicle pick-up time. Cancellations made within 48 hours of pickup incur a fee of 50% of the total booking price, capped at £50. Failure to collect the vehicle without prior notification is treated as a no-show. No refund applies in a no-show situation.
All cancellation requests can be processed in one of three ways. You can use the cancel option in your account area, alternatively you can either contact Smarter Car Hire Florida direct by telephone or WhatsApp on 01325 808123 or by email to [email protected]. Full cancellation terms are set out in Section 8 of the booking conditions. Please note, requests to cancel cannot be made through the car hire provider.
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Yes, Smarter Car Hire Florida includes fully comprehensive insurance with zero excess as standard. This ensures UK & European drivers have no out-of-pocket financial liability if the vehicle is damaged or stolen, with absolutely no hidden fees.
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Yes, all seven of our suppliers accept debit cards, but each applies its own conditions, and two of them (Hertz and Thrifty) run a credit check that can occasionally affect UK visitors. Every supplier requires a confirmed return flight ticket at the desk. Read our full debit card guide for the supplier-by-supplier breakdown before you travel.
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Yes. A valid full UK or EU/EEA photocard driving licence is accepted by all seven of our suppliers. Old-style UK paper licences require an International Driving Permit (IDP). If your licence is not in English, you must obtain an IDP before travelling and present it together with your licence at collection.
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Yes. Smarter Car Hire Florida provides a 24/7 UK-based telephone support — before, during and after your hire. Whether you need help before booking, have a question at the airport or encounter a problem during your holiday in Florida, a UK-based team member is available by phone at any time on +44 (0)1325 808 123
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Our SmartTrack system handles this automatically. If prices fall after you book, SmartTrack automatically rebooks your vehicle at the lower price before cancelling the original — whilst also retaining your booking reference. You will receive an email confirming exactly how much you have saved. There is no requirement for you to take any action, we do it all for you. This saves you time and money compared to many other Florida car hire companies which require you to check and request this yourself.
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As early as possible — typically 6 to 12 months ahead for peak travel periods or as soon as you have confirmed your flights. Due to the use of dynamic pricing, Florida car hire prices fluctuate a lot, so early bookings often secure the best starting rate. Because Smarter Car Hire Florida requires no deposit, there is no financial risk to booking early. SmartTrack then monitors prices for the entire period, automatically rebooking if a lower rate is found.
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Yes, you can add child seats to your Florida car hire at the time of booking, and they will be available for collection at the rental counter. Please note that the cost of these additions is payable at the time of collection. Florida law requires approved child restraint for all children under the age of five. Seat availability cannot be guaranteed without pre-booking, and all associated costs are payable at the time of collection.
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Visitor Toll Pass™ is currently only able to serve customers who are picking up and dropping off a rental car at the Orlando International Airport.
Visitor Toll Pass™ currently works with the following rental car companies located in the Orlando International Airport:
Alamo
Avis
Budget
Dollar Rent A Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Hertz
National
Payless Car Rental
Sixt Rent A Car
Thrifty
We Track Your Price So You Don't Have To
We monitor for price drops and automatically pass the savings onto to you