All the car hire sites seem to add on expensive insurance options - does anyone know if these are really necessary or are they usually covered in a normal travel insurance policy?

Many thanks

John

Some car hire companies charge a "user fee" each time you use the SunPass. Can make a 25 cent toll a bit on the expensive side.

While in Orlando I found my Sat Nav available, Punched in avoid tolls And never went on one after that, chose quickest or shortest and you can have the best of both worlds, I wouldn't drive in the states with out one, But I did take my own Garmin with me, I use it every day and if you have never used one it can get a bit confusing, Practice helps a lot.

Alan

Hi

Has anyone booked car hire with Budget from Sanford Intl, is the Budget office at the airport or do you have to get a shuttle to it, have seen a car through Floridacarhire with Budget but underneath Budget logo it says fast track - does anyone know what this means.

Thanks
Bev

We used Dollar rentacar about a month ago on our family holiday to Orlando. When we collected our car from Sanford airport, it was recommended that we purchase a Sunpass for use on the toll roads. The cost of this was 5.95 dollars per day plus tax, which at the time we thought was a good idea. This allowed us to travel down to Kissimmee to collect our Villa keys without having to stop or worry about not having any change to pay the tolls. The only other time that we used the toll road was when we returned to Sanford airport 2 weeks later.

In reflection, I think that we wasted our money in buying this pass as we only used it on 2 occasions.
If I had known, I would not have purchased the pass and used Interstate 4 instead to get to and from my destination. I think that the car hire companies make money from selling these passes, knowing full well that you will not use them much.

Other than this small issue, I would still use them again for car hire if I returned to Orlando.

Suzanne

Used the Budget "Fast Track" at Sanford a couple of months ago. To use it you need to send yor driving licence details (photocopy) and details of your credit card to the company you are renting the car through. When you get to Sanford go to the Avis desk, show yor credit card, complete the paperwork and then over to the multi storey to pick up the car.
If you do not opt for the "Fast Track" then it is a short wait for the bus (10-15mins) and a 10 minute ride to the off airport Budget office...which is usually quite busy.
The "Sunpass" is generally a waste of money unless you are traveling during the rush hour. Just keep some change handy in the car. Most toll booths give change.

Thanks Busdriver that's really useful, did you hire your car through floridacarhire.net or another hire company. Do you have to tell the company that you want to book through fast track or will they already know when you send them your details. Sorry for all the questions but haven't hired a car for Florida through the internet.

Thanks
Bev

Booked through USrentacar. You have to tell them that you want the FastTrack service before you leave the UK. You then provide driving licence details of lead driver and credit card you will be using on ther day and when you get to the Avis desk it takes about 5 minutes before you are on your way, Better than waiting for the minibus, the ten minute drive and, usually, a long queue at the off airport office.

Hope this helps.

Hi Busdriver
Yes it does, thanks very much!

Bev

Should have added that Budget are represented at Sanford airport by Avis.

Posted this a couple of months ago hope it helps, have booked with http://www.uscarhire.co.uk. for our next trip in May 09, (gave the so called free car a miss) better insurance, still chose Dollar no que there at all, will say no to any thing that I haven't paid for.

As promised will post my findings, still find it confusing , no wonder no one could give me a reply.
LDWI UMP SLI was included.
PPP & ESP declined ( didn't even think I had ESP??)
OK was directed to car rental, got in the que and remembered that I hadn't got my paper that came with my new card driving licence, back to my bags as only one person from each party was allowed to be in the line, then back in the que which moved quite fast, the lady at the desk run me through a booklet and pointed out that as a courtesy there was a full tank of petrol, also showed me the map how to get to the Hotel no problem as I had it in my GPS, was then sent round the corner to Dollar rental and no he didn't want to see the paper that came with my new ID licence it was enough, He checked on his screen and said that I had full insurance then tried to get me to upgrade the car I said no as there was only two of us, as it turned out it was a Dodge about the size of a ford focus more than big enough for us, then tried to get me to have a GPS, said that I had my own,(I would recommend any one to have one) the next thing was a ticket to get through all the tolls I told him that I wasn't planning to use the tolls very often so he asked me if I was planning to go to the Space centre because I would have to go through tolls and it would cost me about $25 each way to get there and back I told him I would punch in avoid tolls on the GPS and it would get me there he said that the only way to get there was on the toll roads, He must have thought I was born yesterday. When we went to Kennedy Space it was avoiding the tolls and a really nice drive one 20 mile stretch we only saw about 10 houses and 6 other cars.
Back to Dollar rental He swiped my card in case something untoward happened, IE fines etc I signed the forms and away fairly painless all in all.
Checked the small print later, OK it was a long day couldn't get out of there fast enough, found that the courtesy fuel cost $66.78 for 4.91 gallons, half way through the Holiday the fuel light came on, filled the tank up for $20 .
Haven't got the bank statement yet but the figure on the rental form was $71.45 time will tell if that is all it is.
This is only my findings, another day another person on the desk and it could all change.
Survived the course but next time will do things differently.

Alan