To rent or not to rent! That should always be the question as you plan your vacation to beautiful Orlando. If you're in Orlando to visit the big three theme parks, Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, you will like to know that many hotels offer a shuttle bus to the major attractions, saving you a lot on car rental.
However if you plan to go beyond Orlando or travelling with small children, it's often convenient to have a car so you can return to your hotel on your own schedule.
Orlando was planned as a car-friendly city and renting a car in Orlando is easy. The city has a large rental car market. All the major rental companies are based at or close to Orlando International Airport.
Steps to renting a car in Orlando
Before reserving your vehicle, check to see if the rental company is located at the airport or if you have to take a courtesy shuttle to an offsite location. Below is a list of on and off-airport car rental companies.
Orlando is a high competitive car rental market. This works out in the visitors favor. More than a dozen rental-car companies have fleets in Orlando, so shop around for the best rates.
When picking up your rental vehicle, make sure to get a map of the area and ask the agent to mark the best route to your destination.
Make sure there is no charge for mileage. This becomes an important issue if you are planning a trip beyond Orlando area.
Contact your insurance company to find out what the policy is regarding Orlando car rentals. If you have full coverage then you may not need to purchase additional coverage from an Orlando car rental company. If you don't have full coverage, you may be able to purchase a supplement.
Make your reservation online. Some companies offer discount coupons on their website.
Compare rates among several Orlando car rental companies to see who has the lowest rate for the time you will be visiting.
Keep checking the rates offered by your preferred rental company because they change constantly. You may find that the rates drop daily the closer you get to your travel date. Book the lowest rate you find but don't wait too long because it may shoot up again the day before you travel.
Car Rental at Orlando International Airport
You will like to know that most of the major car rental companies are located on-site at Orlando International Airport, without the need for a shuttle bus to pick up your rental car.
The car rental desks are located in Terminal A and Terminal B on the Ground Transportation Level (Level 1), and signs are clearly posted to help direct you.
If you prefer to rent from off-Airport rental companies (listed below), most of them are just a few minutes ride from the airport, and they provide a shuttle service for convenience with departure points well marked with signs.
Car Rental Companies at Orlando International Airport
The Rental car companies listed below operate from counters on Level 1 (A and B-side)
| Advantage Rent A Car | 407-857-1999 |
| Alamo | 1-800-327-9633 |
| Avis | 1-800-831-2847 |
| Budget | 1-800-527-0700 |
| Dollar Car Rental | 1-800-800-4000 or 1-800-800-6000 intl |
| Enterprise Rent-A-Car | (800) 325-8007 |
| E-Z Rent A Car | 1-800-277-5171 |
| Hertz Car Rental | (800) 654-3131 |
| L and M Car Rental | 407-888-0515 |
| National | 1-800-227-7368 |
| Sixt Rent a Car | 1-888-9417498 |
| Thrifty | (800) 367-2277 |
Off-Airport Car Rental Companies in Orlando
The following rental car companies operate from off-airport locations, and offer free shuttle bus transportation to their off-airport car rental locations. Free shuttles departing from the A & B Commercial Lanes (Level1).
| Ace Rent-A-Car | (407) 857-8100 |
| Action Car Rental | (407) 240-2700 |
| Affordable Car Rental | (407) 854-6111 |
| Affordable Rent-A-Car | (888) 499-9901 |
| American Car Rental | (407) 857-1575 |
| Best Rate Car Rental | (407) 850-0340 |
| Carl's Rent A Van | (407) 849-5211 |
| Florida Van Rental | (800) 308-2503 |
| Florida/Continental | (800) 327-3791 |
| GPL Van Rental | (407) 953-1424 |
| Payless | (407) 856-5539 |
| U-Save Car & Truck Rental | (800) 272-8728 |
| Value Car Rental | (407) 574-3004 |
Note: When traveling in Central Florida, you should know that the Beachline Expressway was formally known as the Beeline Expressway. You might still come across some old road signs. So be aware that these two names are actually the same highway.
Driving Distance from Orlando FL. to
| Destination | Miles |
|---|---|
| St. Petersburg | 100 |
| Clearwater | 105 |
| Fort Myers | 155 |
| Naples | 190 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 210 |
| Miami | 235 |
| Florida Keys | 380 |
Orlando Area Theme Parks
Walt Disney World Resort Universal Orlando SeaWorld Orlando LEGOLAND Florida Busch Gardens Tampa Bay