Arriving in Florida after a long flight and being given a strange car to drive in unknown surroundings can be daunting as we found out on our first visit to Orlando; we took an hour to leave the car park! However, after half an hour on the Interstate we felt we had been driving in Florida for years and negotiating our way around the Florida highways became an enjoyable part of the holiday. Here are some driving tips from the rental firms for your safety and enjoyment. We apologise if some of the tips seem obvious, but reading this page would certainly have helped with our first experience of driving in the US.

Drive on the right!
Don’t forget that in America, they drive on the right hand side of the road! That’s an important point to get into your head right from the start!
The times when you are more likely to make a mistake are when you are tired, when you first set off in the morning and when you are turning or pulling out of a driveway or garage/gas station. Take special care to concentrate at these times.

The car
All the rental cars are automatic so you don’t have to worry about changing gear but sometimes the handbrake is different to what you may be used to in the UK i.e. a foot pedal under the dashboard.

You need to put the gear level on “P” to start the car and to put the car in “D” for drive, you also have to depress the main brake pedal. You probably won’t be able to take they keys out of the ignition unless you put the car in “Park” first. Make sure you understand the controls of your rental car before you drive away from the airport and if in doubt, ask!

Some rental cars lock the doors for you automatically when you reach a certain speed so don't wonder what is happening! If your car doesn't do this for you, it is wise to lock them yourself manually.

Keep your windows closed as this helps your air conditioning to work properly so that you stay cool and it also keeps bugs out of the car. Turn on the fan with the A/C button. Don’t worry if a small pool of liquid forms under the car - it’s condensation from the A/C unit. Power steering is standard and most cars have cruise control which lets you set the desired speed and take your foot off the accelerator.

Documentation
If you are the driver make sure you carry your driving licence and car rental documents with you at all times. You may be asked to show your documents on the spot by a Police officer. If you are pulled over by an officer, stay in your car and let the officer approach you. Do not under any circumstances get out of your car.

If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident or are bumped from behind in a deserted or dark area and there is likely to be minimal damage, indicate to the other driver to follow you. Drive to a populated area (a garage/gas station is ideal) before you get out of the car. Make sure that you follow the instructions on your rental agreement and inform your car rental company if you have an accident.

Parking
If you are parking, try to find a lit area or park under a light, if you can. During the day it is wise to try and find a shaded area in which to park otherwise your car will be roasting when you return. Always park with the front of the car into the parking spot (do not reverse in).

Don't leave valuables, jackets, or maps etc inside the car. Make sure that you put these in the boot (trunk). Don't leave your camera in your car as the heat inside when you return may have ruined your film. Never leave kids alone in the car.

Driving
Like at home, there are speed restrictions which are sometimes enforced by radar. Make sure you are under the speed limit or you risk an on-the-spot fine. Note that some roads also have minimum speed restrictions.

When you approach a traffic light, if you want to turn right and the lights are on red, then you are allowed to turn (provided that the road is clear of course!). In the evenings, you may see traffic lights flash amber or red constantly, if this is the case, then the person who approaches with the flashing amber has right of way, but has to be careful in case somebody goes through on red, and visa-versa if the lights are red.

I have yet to see a roundabout, but they do have a 4-road give-way, which in reality works the same as a roundabout – the rules are not biggest wins (although it may look that way), but the first to arrive, goes first.
Whenever you come to a T-junction, always come to a complete stop before making your manoeuvre.

Yellow school buses have special rules in the USA. If a school bus stops, all traffic must stop in both directions until the school bus moves off.
If you are driving in the opposite direction to a school bus on a dual-carriageway, you don't have to stop.

If it rains, it is compulsory in Florida to turn on your headlights at the same time as your windscreen wipers. If there is a storm and you have difficulty seeing the road ahead, pull over and stop until visibility improves.

The drink driving laws in Florida are extremely strict and driving after drinking will invalidate your rental car insurance too. You are not allowed to have alcohol in your car unless it is locked away in the trunk.

Car seats
The car rental employees will not help you to fit car seats. Because there are so many different types available which vary from what we were used to, we found installing car seats very stressful after a long flight. Many families choose to take their own car seats - you are used to fitting them, you know they are safe and the children will feel more at home.

Fuel
At American petrol or “gas” stations always use unleaded fuel and to activate the petrol pump first lift the lever underneath the petrol nozzle. You may have a choice of attendant or self-service and you do not tip the attendant but you do pay slightly more. Some pumps allow you to pay by credit card without having to go into the cashier’s office and most gas stations will require you to pay in advance at night.

Our tips

• The car parks in Disney and Universal are huge and a lot of rental cars look the same! Every night Disney staff drive embarrassed families around looking for their car! Invest in a car aerial novelty toy - this will help you identify the car. Make a note of your registration number (don‘t leave it in the glove compartment!) and also make a note of where your car is parked - all the car parks are themed and the rows are numbered e.g. Mickey 121. Memorise it, text yourself, write it on your hand or best of all - tell the kids, because they will remember it!
• The boot size of American cars tends to be smaller than the British equivalent. You will not get seven adults plus all their luggage in a 7-seat people carrier!
• Double-check that you have your driving licence before you leave home - without it you will simply not be given a hire car.
• Be firm with the car hire company check-in clerk; they may push you into having extras like car upgrades that you don’t need.
• The Beeline Expressway (528) and Greeneway (417) are both toll roads, so keep some change in the car. Toll booths attendants are reluctant to change notes above $20.
• Your car hire company should provide you with a basic map of Orlando - insist they give you one because they make a big point of this in their literature. Try to familiarise yourself with the main roads and route in advance.
• Road names are displayed at every junction hung underneath the traffic lights suspended above the road. This is the road you are crossing and not the road you are travelling on.

Finally, remember to enjoy driving in Florida - it’s part of the whole US holiday experience.