Car Rental in Orlando

• Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld are miles apart, and shuttles don't connect all of them.
• Families can bring car seats, strollers and groceries without juggling rideshares.
• The Atlantic and Gulf coasts are both within about 90 minutes.
• Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach are an easy day trip.

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• School holidays, spring break and Christmas–New Year are peak demand.
• Minivans and large SUVs sell out first in busy weeks.
• Airport fees at MCO vs. hotel and I-Drive branches.
• Car class and rental length — weekly rates often cost less per day
• Driver age — drivers under 25 usually pay a daily surcharge
• Optional extras such as damage waivers, toll programs and child seats

• A valid driver's license, held for at least a year at most companies. Visitors can usually rent on their home license; if it isn't in English, carry an International Driving Permit or official translation alongside it.
• Minimum age is 21 at most major companies, and drivers under 25 pay a daily young-driver surcharge. New York and Michigan require companies to rent to drivers from 18, with surcharges.
• A credit card in the main driver's name. Some locations accept debit cards with extra checks — often a return travel itinerary at airports, a larger deposit or a credit check.
• International renters should also bring a passport.

More detail: What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car? · What Is the Minimum Age to Rent a Car in the USA? · Can You Rent a Car With a Debit Card? Rules & Tips · International Driving Permit (IDP) — Do You Need One and How to Get It

• Collision and loss damage waivers (CDW/LDW) are optional. Before you accept one at the counter, check whether your own auto policy or a credit card benefit already covers rental cars — many do, with conditions.
• Liability cover varies by state and company. Supplemental liability (SLI) raises the limit and is worth considering if you don't have a personal auto policy, including as an international visitor.
• A security deposit is held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned and checked. It can take several business days to disappear from your statement, and holds are larger on debit cards and premium cars.

More detail: Do You Need Insurance to Rent a Car? · What Is a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)? · How Much Is a Rental Car Deposit? How Holds Work

• The main airport road, SR 528 (Beachline), and roads like SR 417 and SR 408 are toll roads, mostly cashless. The rental company's toll program covers them, usually with a service fee.
• Theme parks charge for parking per day, and many resort hotels charge nightly for parking. Budget for both.
• Full-to-full is usually the cheapest fuel policy: you collect the car full and return it full. Prepaid fuel only saves money if you return the tank nearly empty, and refueling charges on a car returned short are well above pump prices.
• Airport rentals include airport concession recovery fees and facility charges on top of the rate. State and local rental taxes apply everywhere.
• Other common extras: additional-driver fees, young-driver surcharges, toll-program charges, one-way drop fees, child seats and late-return charges. Read the rental terms before you pay so you know which charges are included and which are added at the counter.

More detail: Car Rental Fuel Policies Explained — Which One Should You Choose? · Hidden Car Rental Fees — The Complete Guide to What to Watch Out For · How are tolls and traffic fines handled? · Can someone else drive the car?

Leaving MCO

Most routes from the airport use the SR 528 or SR 417 toll roads. Taking the rental company's toll program is usually simplest.

I-4 traffic

I-4 is the main road between Disney, Universal and downtown, and it's often congested. Leave extra time at park opening and closing.

Summer storms

Afternoon thunderstorms are common from June to September. Slow down in heavy rain and keep headlights on.

Park parking

Arrive early for the best spots and take a photo of your parking row — the lots are enormous.

• Kennedy Space Center

  ~50 mi · ~1 hr

  Rocket exhibits, and launches from Cape Canaveral if your dates line up.

• Cocoa Beach

  ~55 mi · ~1 hr

  The closest Atlantic beach to Orlando, with a surf-town feel.

• Tampa & Clearwater Beach

  ~85–105 mi · ~1.5–2 hr

  Gulf Coast beaches and Tampa's museums and Riverwalk.

• St. Augustine

  ~105 mi · ~1.75–2 hr

  The oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the US.

• Miami

  ~235 mi · ~3.5–4 hr

  South on Florida's Turnpike to South Beach and the Keys.

Distances are one-way and approximate; drive times assume normal traffic.

• How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Orlando?
• Orlando Airport Car Rental (MCO)
• Minivan Rental
• How do I add a child seat, GPS or other extras?
• Car Rental Fuel Policies Explained — Which One Should You Choose?