Driving in florida??

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Hi all,

I hope this is the right place to post here - we are going to florida with 2 young children and think our best bet is to drive.

Can anyone give us any tips and advice from renting a car to driving over in America.

We have a blue badge. Can that be used over there, or do we need to apply for a local disability permit?

Thank you

I live in the USA.
Driving standards are much lower than the UK, it is a very easy to get a license.
The roads are wide and easy to drive for the most part.
In Florida they have lots of road tolls so pay for the toll option when you rent your car.
Your car will almost certainly be an automatic.

I can't imagine you could either use a blue badge or get a local disability permit but I haven't tried to do either.

Just make sure you know how a box junction works, remember that you can usually turn right on a red light and people will pass on either side of you on a freeway.

You will pick up a rental car at the airport. Check if they offer disability badges or coverage. Tolls in Florida so have change or a card ready. There are lots of straight roads in Florida that are easy to drive. When in doubt just ask a local.

I have driven 1000s of miles in the States, including Florida, and its so easy. Automatic car, wide roads, no roundabouts. You can go right on red on many junctions (like a left turn here), and don't pass a stationary school bus.

Are you going to stay at Disney or a private villa? I've not driven in Florida since becoming disabled. I do know if you stay at a Disney hotel you get free parking at the hotel with your badge.

There's at least one roundabout in Florida 😁 not even the Americans know how to use it though.

I always rent from Holiday Autos - best prices.
As regards tolls where are you going ? If you are flying into Orlando you can get a hang tag from machines in the airports now there.

www.visitortollpass.com/

Do NOT take the toll package as you end up paying a fortune even if you are not using it. If you are going in through Miami then this option does not exist but opt for the " if you go through a toll you pay the fee and a day charge" and then try to avoid toll roads. It's easier in the South of Florida.

Do not take a GPS from them. They take a fortune. Something like 170 dollars. Either buy one on e bay or buy one at Walmart or Best Buy. We have our own. Cost about 80 dollars.

I don't know about disabled, sorry.

Oh and as regards the hire car excess buy a policy from questor-insurance.co.uk/buy-insurance/car-hire-excess-insurance. Don't buy any of their upgrades, excess medical and all the extra they try to con you into.

Blue badge fine to use in Florida - was in Orlando in August and no problems at all.

Driving in Florida is a piece of piss compared to the UK. Big long wide roads, and junctions are pretty easy, and you can turn right on a red light unless there's a sign telling you not to. I-4 is a bit of a nightmare at rush hour, but no worse than any of the motorways here. Some places won't accept a UK blue badge, so you'd be better getting a temporary disabled tag from the local county office, either Orange or Osceola County depending on where you're staying.

Merging onto a motorway can be interesting, the on ramps are very short, but most people already on the motorway make space for people merging on

stop signs are v important, you must completely stop and take turns with the others already there

If a school bus (bright yellow or car/van with sign on roof) has orange lights flashing everyone will be slowing ready to stop on BOTH sides of the road. Once the red lights are flashing then everyone HAS to stop on BOTH sides of the road as the dc will just run across the whole road without looking (because they are allowed to). This includes double carriageways and divided roads..the only exempt roads for this rule are basically the motorways

Everyone drives much slower and more calmly except in major cities like NY and Boston

The road signs can be a bit interesting, so make sure you have a phone plan that can allow you data to use a Maps app..you can connect your phone to the rental car with a USB cable and then the Maps will come up on the car screen

Here is the link for disabled parking for Florida ..it the US it just gives you the right to use a disabled parking space, not to be able to park just anywhere like the UK. If you leave Florida, the rules will be different

www.flhsmv.gov/motor-vehicles-tags-titles/disabled-person-parking-permits/disabled-person-parking-permits-for-florida-visitors/

I live in Florida. Driving here’s easy. But you’d know that already, since you claim to have been here “every year” www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5254459-im-so-annoyed-at-myself-recommendations-please?reply=141441651

Yes, I've been every year, but I've never hired a car. I've always used taxis or ubers - what a weird confrontal comment for no reason 😅

But thank you, everyone else :)