Hire cars in the USA

[Lord Tyrion]

It is very easy, don't worry. Driving an auto is a piece of cake, point and press. One thing to know, I was not told this and had to ask someone when the car would not start. To start most autos you will need to depress the brake and then turn the key or press the start button. To move the gear stick into drive, reverse etc you also need to depress the brake and then move it. Simple but not if you don't know. Florida is flat, the cars are smooth, people don't speed. Undertaking is allowed so be aware of what is going on around you and as D4S has mentioned you can turn right at lights if red as long as no car is coming. You feel a bit naughty first time you do it but after that you realise how good the system is.

When you go to put petrol in you have to pay before you fill up. You go to see the person in the booth, give them whatever cash you want to put in or they swipe your credit card for x amount. The pump cuts out when you hit the amount you have paid for or if you get full before then they refund you. If swiped, they only take what you have spent. First time I spent 5 mins trying to get the pump to work before going in to ask how it all worked .

My one practical tip. I am assuming that you are going with another adult, partner, wife, husband etc. If you are driving then get them to be in charge of signs and directions. Just you drive, let them navigate. Sounds simple but it takes the pressure off you and just lets you get used to driving and dealing with that. It is nerve racking at first, even when it is easy. Driving is Florida is as easy as it gets though, so don't worry. If you have managed Paris then Florida is a piece of cake.

 

[Cake]

yeah I've read that on a driving tips site.....will be interested to see how it works. I've driven twice to Paris, so have limited experience of being on the "wrong" side, but motorways are easy....local roads....we shall see.

First time I'll ever drive an auto. First time driving a LHD. Will have just done a 9.5 hour flight.........what could go wrong! I like the tip of chanting to yourself..... (drive on the right, drive on the right, drive on the right).

My 2 tips would be:

Don’t think drive on right, think about keeping things relative to the drivers side... so the middle of the road is on the same side as you (as the driver); when turning keep the driver side on the side closest the middle (so right turns are ‘tight’ and left turns are ‘wide’); should you encounter a roundabout (and they are springing up around the place) then keep it on the driver’s side of your car etc.

Also before you drive out of the rental place make sure you check how the parking brake works. I’ve had many cars in the US where the brake is a pedal that you push to apply then push again to release... that wasn’t the case one time, and pushing the pedal again just applied the brake a bit harder; there was a switch on the dash to cancel the brake. Almost got wiped out by a big truck as I was stopped in the lane trying to be able to get moving again.

 

[AMcC]

you can turn right at lights if red as long as no car is coming. You feel a bit naughty first time you do it but after that you realise how good the system is.

The one thing you need to be careful of is some junctions have signs saying no right turn on red, but other than that as long as it is safe to do so.

Also, if you stop at lights and you see a street name sign suspended above the road you are on, that is the road you are about to cross, not the one you are one. We got caught out that way first time there

 

[Dibby]

Having lived in the US before, things I would suggest if you have never driven there before.

1. As cake says, think in terms of drivers side, that way things are always the same. Turning to drivers side means crossing traffic. Turning passenger side doesn't etc..
2. Stop signs, you actually have to come to a stop. This was hardest to get used to, as it's inefficient, but you can be ticketed if you "roll a stop sign".
3 2-way stops, pretty simple really one road has priority and doesn't have to stop, the other road doesn't and has to stop until there is a safe gap to join the major road. Basically like a give way here, except you have to come to a stop even if clear.
4. 4-way stops, instead of roundabouts, most junctions that are not light controlled are these. The rule is simple, you take it in turns, based on the order you got to the stop sign. As a non-native, don't be an arse and race people to the stop sign.
5. Non marked junctions at malls, or broken traffic lights - people will treat these like a 4-way stop, rather than how Brits tend to treat them as a free-for-all, as above, don't be an arse.
6. During non-peak hours, traffic lights have another mode where either the red or amber light flashes. The red light flashing should be treated as a stop sign, the amber light is just a warning to let you know the joining road has a red flashing light. So basically these become either 4-way or 2-way stops.
7. Unless signposted that it is forbidden, you can turn right on a red in Florida. TO do this you treat it like a stop sign. You come to a stop, and then if clear, make the turn. Don't expect oncoming traffic to change lanes to help you do this, and don't pull out forcing them to do it.

Thing these are the biggies, but if I think of anything else, I will add it.

 

[clubchamp98]

It's actually very easy driving over there. As virtually all cars are autos all you have to think about is stop and go. Plus the roads are generally huge and they have one wonderful invention which is being allowed to turn right on a red light if it is clear to do so (check though as some states don't permit it but from memory Florida does)

Not all red lights
There are some you can’t, they usually have a sign just short of the lights to inform you of this.
The overhead lights will have a red arrow telling you not to turn until green.
Apart from that it’s very easy to drive there.
Get a sat nav as a wrong turn over there can mean a very long detour, everywhere is a lot farther than it seems.
If you need any golf advice just ask , we have been going to Orlando for 25 yrs.
Golfnow.com is good for cheap deals.

 

[clubchamp98]

yeah I've read that on a driving tips site.....will be interested to see how it works. I've driven twice to Paris, so have limited experience of being on the "wrong" side, but motorways are easy....local roads....we shall see.

First time I'll ever drive an auto. First time driving a LHD. Will have just done a 9.5 hour flight.........what could go wrong! I like the tip of chanting to yourself..... (drive on the right, drive on the right, drive on the right).

Best tip I got was put your golf glove on it feels very strange driving in it but it reminds you that you are in USA.

 

[clubchamp98]

My 2 tips would be:

Don’t think drive on right, think about keeping things relative to the drivers side... so the middle of the road is on the same side as you (as the driver); when turning keep the driver side on the side closest the middle (so right turns are ‘tight’ and left turns are ‘wide’); should you encounter a roundabout (and they are springing up around the place) then keep it on the driver’s side of your car etc.

Also before you drive out of the rental place make sure you check how the parking brake works. I’ve had many cars in the US where the brake is a pedal that you push to apply then push again to release... that wasn’t the case one time, and pushing the pedal again just applied the brake a bit harder; there was a switch on the dash to cancel the brake. Almost got wiped out by a big truck as I was stopped in the lane trying to be able to get moving again.

Most I have had do have a foot parking brake.
This is good advice treat big trucks with care they are huge in USA so just stay away from them.
When in your lane just stay there the traffic will just go around you don’t change lanes unnecessarily.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

If you need any golf advice just ask , we have been going to Orlando for 25 yrs.
Golfnow.com is good for cheap deals.

Happy for any advice/tips - I'm staying at Fantasy world resort, which is right next to Falcons fire golf course. Bear in mind that I'll be heading out by myself, so I'm not too worried about the quality of the course....just a few quiet hours smacking a ball around

 

[anotherdouble]

And when you come back and start driving again over here you will wish you were back driving in Florida with big clean roads, no potholes and decent signage

 

[AMcC]

And when you come back and start driving again over here you will wish you were back driving in Florida with big clean roads, no potholes and decent signage

The worst thing I find about coming back is in car parks and quiet roads when turning. I really need to think what side of the road I should be on

 

[clubchamp98]

Happy for any advice/tips - I'm staying at Fantasy world resort, which is right next to Falcons fire golf course. Bear in mind that I'll be heading out by myself, so I'm not too worried about the quality of the course....just a few quiet hours smacking a ball around

When you going?
We are going on 23 April.
The Disney courses are nice .palm my fav but magnolia is great also. Nice ranges and practice areas if you just fancy a hour on the green.
Falcons is ok.
Celebration golf club is very nice .
Couple of miles is Orange County National, stunning place worth the drive.
Harmony golf club 45 mins away great place to play.
How many games and how far are you willing to travel?
Try play early it’s to hot otherwise.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I find driving in Florida a breeze. First time we went, ;landed in bright sunshine, came out from the airport car park in the rental van with windows to meet a huge downpour and the surprise that many locals pull onto the hardshoulder on the main roads/freeways in such weather. Being a Brit, I carried on
I think Ive been about 5 or 6 times, and have had no issues. Just chill and drive relaxed, you will fit in just fine. They don't tend to have road rage like we do, they have handguns

 

[Lord Tyrion]

And when you come back and start driving again over here you will wish you were back driving in Florida with big clean roads, no potholes and decent signage

Herringbone car parking spaces that are big enough for pick up trucks, what a joy. So easy to drive in and out of, why oh why do car parks in this country not do the same?

 

[clubchamp98]

I find driving in Florida a breeze. First time we went, ;landed in bright sunshine, came out from the airport car park in the rental van with windows to meet a huge downpour and the surprise that many locals pull onto the hardshoulder on the main roads/freeways in such weather. Being a Brit, I carried on
I think Ive been about 5 or 6 times, and have had no issues. Just chill and drive relaxed, you will fit in just fine. They don't tend to have road rage like we do, they have handguns

This don’t be giving anyone the finger as you may get a shock.

 

[clubchamp98]

Herringbone car parking spaces that are big enough for pick up trucks, what a joy. So easy to drive in and out of, why oh why do car parks in this country not do the same?

Space! The place is huge.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

When you going?
We are going on 23 April.

10th July - going for 21 nights, I should play at least twice but hopefully 3 times. The heat/humidity/thunderstorms may play a big part in my decisions to play....we shall see, but yes it will be an early round!

I wouldnt want to travel more than 20 minutes or so, like I say....its more about a bit of time to myself and actually playing, rather than going "somewhere nice".

 

[Bunkermagnet]

10th July - going for 21 nights, I should play at least twice but hopefully 3 times. The heat/humidity/thunderstorms may play a big part in my decisions to play....we shall see, but yes it will be an early round!

I wouldnt want to travel more than 20 minutes or so, like I say....its more about a bit of time to myself and actually playing, rather than going "somewhere nice".

It takes longer than that to drive across the Disney main area.
The rain squals blow in, and blow out real quick in the afternoons. Everything dries real quick.

 

[clubchamp98]

10th July - going for 21 nights, I should play at least twice but hopefully 3 times. The heat/humidity/thunderstorms may play a big part in my decisions to play....we shall see, but yes it will be an early round!

I wouldnt want to travel more than 20 minutes or so, like I say....its more about a bit of time to myself and actually playing, rather than going "somewhere nice".

Ok there’s a nice nine hole on Disney called oak trail you can walk it .
It’s ok for a stroll ,kids can play with you.
Try golfnow.com for a deal on Disney courses be a shame not to play one .
Have a great hol.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Space! The place is huge.

Sorry, I set myself up for that. I really meant for the herrigbone style spaces, I love them and they are not space dependent just good sense. Bigger spaces over here would be logical as cars are wider now but I don't expect US style spaces.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

We went in August last year, daft time to go but we were restricted to then, and I decided not to play a round due to the heat, humidity and rain in the afternoons. I was happy with that decision, it would have been uncomfortable. Hopefully you will have more gentle conditions but if not then have a look out for Top Golf. It is a fancy driving range, American style. Good fun, a real family place. It is nowhere near as good as playing on a course but it can fill an hour or two and it doesn't matter if it belts it down, as it did when we were there.