Renting a car in Florida as a Canadian: licence, insurance and roads

Your licence

Visitors to Florida who drive must carry a valid licence issued in their name by their country of residence, so your Canadian licence is enough. Florida's licence agency does not list an International Driving Permit as a requirement. Hertz asks that your licence has been held for over one year.

Hertz rents to drivers aged 20 and up at most US locations (18 in Michigan and New York, 19 in Alabama and Nebraska, so Florida follows the age 20 rule). Renters under 25 pay a young renter fee of US$19 per day and cannot rent premium or specialty vehicles. You need a valid debit or credit card, and some neighbourhood locations require a credit card.

Only CAA issues International Driving Permits in Canada. It costs $32 including tax, lasts one year, and is only valid with your Canadian licence.

Insurance: what to check

• Insurance is mandatory in most US states. The Government of Canada advises checking with your insurance agent that your existing coverage is valid or enough for where you will drive.
• Canadian credit-card rental coverage pays for damage to or theft of the rental car. It does not cover third-party liability (damage to other people's cars or property) or personal injury.
• To use your card's coverage you must decline the rental company's collision damage waiver and pay with that card. Most cards cover rentals up to 48 days (some only 31), and trucks, vans and luxury or exotic vehicles are usually excluded.
• For liability cover you need your personal auto policy or a policy sold by the rental company.

Roads, tolls and parking

• Many Florida toll roads are cashless. SunPass and E-PASS transponders work on all Florida toll roads, and rental cars are tolled by licence-plate recognition.
• Rental-company toll programmes charge a fee on top of the tolls. SunPass lists: Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty US$14.99 a day, Avis/Budget/Payless US$12.99 a day (or US$64.95 a week), and Enterprise/National/Alamo US$4.95 a day only on days tolls are used (maximum US$30 per rental).
• At Orlando International Airport (MCO) you can pick up a free Visitor Toll Pass. You pay only the tolls, with no daily fee. It is available only at MCO and only if you travel round trip through the airport.
• Road conditions in the United States are similar to those in Canada.

Staying safe on the road

• Florida law requires seat belts for drivers and all front-seat passengers and for all children under 18. Children ages 0 to 3 need a child seat, ages 4 to 5 need a child seat or booster, and children should ride in the back seat until age 12.
• Most states ban text messaging while driving.
• Traffic laws can vary from state to state, so learn the local rules before you drive.