Terms and Conditions

 

Carhireflorida.net is a trading style of Florida Homes and Travel.  Florida Homes and Travel acts as an agent for many Car Rental suppliers.  The client will be required to sign a contract / rental agreement with the local rental company. Clients will then be subject to the terms and conditions of that rental contract and the laws of Florida.  Florida Homes and Travel shall not be liable and will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, delays or changes arising from circumstances outside its control.  The Rental Car company, suppliers and Florida Homes and Travel reserve the right to refuse hire to any person.

Driving Requirements:

  • Alamo, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty require that all Drivers are over 21.  U-Save require that drivers are 19 or over.

  • Alamo, Budget and Thrifty require that a full licence has been held for a minimum of 1 year.

  • Dollar and U-Save require that you have a full licence with no minimum period.

  • Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty and U-Save will not allow rentals to holders of U.S. or Canadian licences.  Budget will allow rentals to Canadian licence holders and to U.S. license holders at Orlando International Airport only.  All suppliers require a licence to be in English, or they may not honour the rental.  If your licence is not in English you will require an International Licence from your licensing authority.

  • UK licence holders are required to take both parts of the new style licences.  Only original copies will be accepted, not photocopies or facsimile.

Young Drivers:

  • Young drivers aged 19 and 20 will pay a surcharge of $19-95 per day plus local taxes to drive with U-Save.

  • Drivers aged 21- 24 will not pay any surcharge with U-Save.

  • Drivers aged 21- 24 can take Budget's Young Driver Package for an additional £55 per week and £11 per day, available on the Diamond package only. This package must be booked in the young driver's name as the lead driver, and entitles that particular young driver to drive. Additional young drivers may also drive upon payment of $25 per day plus local taxes. A GPS unit cannot be pre-ordered with the Young Driver Package, but may be hired locally on arrival.

  • Drivers aged 21 - 24 can take Alamo's Young Driver Package for an additional £62 per week and £12 per day, available on the Diamond package only. This package must be booked in the young driver's name as the lead driver, and entitles that particular young driver to drive. Additional young drivers may also drive upon payment of $25 per day plus local taxes. A GPS unit cannot be pre-ordered with the Young Driver Package, but may be hired locally on arrival.

  • Drivers aged 21 - 24 will pay a surcharge of approximately $25 per day plus local taxes with Avis, Dollar and Thrifty.

  • All young drivers wishing to book a car will usually require a credit card in their own name for the security deposit. However, Alamo will accept a VISA debit card.

Refunds:

  • No refunds will be given for early return of vehicles, or for uncollected vehicles .

One Way Rentals:

  • There is no one-way drop charge within Florida for Alamo, Budget, Dollar or Thrifty.

Period of Hire:

  • The minimum rental period for Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty and U-Save is 1 day.  Budget has a minimum rental period of 3 days. The maximum rental period for Alamo, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty is 56 days.  For U-Save the maximum rental is 28 days.  Longer rental periods will require you to return to a rental location and exchange a second voucher.  Rental days are calculated on a 24-hour basis.  The car hire companies have a 29 minute period of grace.  For returns after this time a full day's rental may be charged locally at a higher rate than charged in the UK.  All extensions to the hire or upgrades must be paid for at the time of rental locally, unless previously advised before leaving the UK.

Driving out of state:

  • You can drive Alamo, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty cars out of state, but not into Mexico or Canada.  U-Save cars cannot be driven out of state unless pre-arranged.

Insurance Packages:

Standard

  • Contains all the insurances you require to drive in Florida such as Collision Damage Waiver  (CDW), Additional Supplementary Insurance (up to $1 million), and Uninsured and Under-insured Motorist Protection (UMP).  All local charges such as Homeland Security Fee (HSF), airport taxes and fees are also included. Please check the precise wording for each supplier on the Standard button on the results page.

  • Alamo, Dollar and Thrifty rentals on the Standard Package are supplied with a full tank of fuel which must be paid for on arrival and returned empty.

  • Avis and Budget rentals on the Standard Package are supplied with a full tank of fuel, and if the car is returned full there will be no charge made.

  • U-Save cars are required to be returned with the same amount of fuel as when supplied.

  • Alamo, Avis and Thrifty allow only 1 driver on the Standard Package.

  • Budget, Dollar and U-Save allow 2 drivers on the Standard Package

Diamond

  • Contains all the insurances you require to drive in Florida such as Collision Damage Waiver  (CDW), Additional Supplementary Insurance (up to $1 million), and Uninsured and Under-insured Motorist Protection (UMP).  All local charges such as Homeland Security Fee (HSF), airport taxes and fees are also included. Please check the precise wording for each supplier on the Diamond button on the results page.

  • Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty cars on the Diamond Package are supplied with a full tank which should be returned empty.

  • Unlimited additional drivers are allowed with Dollar and Thrifty, 4 additional drivers are allowed with Alamo and Budget rentals.

Personal Accident Insurance is not included in either package.  This is usually covered by your travel insurance.  Please check the terms of your travel insurance.  PAI can be taken out at the rental desk if it is not included within your travel insurance.

  • Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), also called Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), means you waive financial responsibility for damage to the rental vehicle providing you are in accordance with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement.

  • Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI), also called Additional Liability Insurance (ALI) provides additional liability insurance above the limits provided in a basic rental agreement.  SLI provides up to $1 million in the event a liability lawsuit is brought against you by a third party.

  • Uninsured/Under-Insured Motorist Protection (UMP) provides up to $1 million in the event you are someone in your vehicle are injured by an underinsured or under-insured driver. 

Not Included:

On October 1st 2008 Orlando International Airport implemented a Customer Facility Charge. All Clients collecting cars from the Alamo rental desk will incur a charge locally at the time of collection. The cost of the charge will be $2.50 plus tax for each day of the car rental to a maximum of $12.50 plus tax. This charge has been implemented by Orlando International Airport and has now been incorporated by most suppliers, but is not included within Alamo packages.

Rental companies do not cover the following items in their insurance / emergency road side assistance package, so you would need to cover these costs yourself.

  • Flat Battery (faulty batteries are covered)

  • Damage caused by putting the wrong fuel type in the car (e.g. putting diesel in a petrol car)

  • Broken Windows

  • Tyre replacement (e.g. if damaged by hitting the curb. Covered if worn)

  • Key replacement if you loose the key

  • Roadside assistance if you lock yourself out of the car

  • Damage to underside of vehicle if you are found to be driving 'off-road' which is not permitted

  • Damage to the roof of the car if you place goods on the roof or drive under a low barrier etc.

  • Damage to the interior (caused by spilling drinks, cigarette burns in seats etc)

  • Damage to child seats
     

Often you will not be charged for the above, but that is at the discretion of the rental companies. Costs incurred by the above may be claimed back from your travel insurance but ensure all receipts are retained.

Suppliers may offer you additional roadside assistance to cover the above eventualities which is optional. They may ask for an additional daily fee for this. You do not have to take this, and by accepting it at the beginning of your rental you will not be entitled to a refund.

Emergency roadside assistance is already included in your rental (for accidents and breakdowns).

Any additional insurances that you take out at the location and sign for on the rental document, can not be reclaimed, even if you were not aware that you had agreed to the insurance. The onus is on you, the customer, to check your rental document at the location very carefully. If you are not sure about a charge, do not sign for it until it has been explained to you and you are happy to go ahead. The desk clerks are paid a commission for every additional item they sell, and this can occasionally result in some heavy sell tactics.

Security Deposits:

  • The lead driver of each rental is required to present a valid credit card to the car rental company. The card is swiped as a security deposit, this means a hold is put on the card of around $500, (varies by supplier, please ask at the desk) for the duration of your rental. Once your car has been returned in good order the hold is removed. The card will also be used to charge any items that are locally payable such as additional driver charges, car seats, fuel or any additional insurances you opt to take out. Your rental agreement will list these additional charges, and you should check it carefully. Any additional products that are signed for cannot be refunded later. If you return your Budget rental on the Standard Package without a full tank, you will be charged for topping up the car. Alamo will accept a VISA Debit card for the security swipe as long as the Diamond package has been selected.

Upgrades:

Car hire upgrades are complimentary, subject to availability on the day, at the location (unless it is clearly stated that the upgrade is guaranteed). This means you should book the minimum size of car that you will require, just in case the upgrade is not available. This is highly unusual, but can happen at busy times and no responsibility will be accepted by either the supplier or carhireflorida.net if the car you have booked is not of sufficient size. The categories of car available for upgrade, are compact, intermediate and full size 4 door. Upgrades are not available at Christmas or Easter. Upgrades are not usually available for rentals of more than 30 days.

Allocation:

  • It is important always to book the size of car suitable for your party. Florida Homes and Travel cannot be held responsible if the vehicle is not large enough to fit all passengers and luggage on arrival if details were not supplied at the time of booking. Cars are booked by category, not model. Models shown are for illustrative purposes only. If the category of car you have booked is not available you will be provided with a car of a similar or larger size at no extra cost by the supplier, where possible. If you are dissatisfied in any way with the standard of the car supplied, you must advise the local supplier immediately (within 24 hours)*. Florida Homes and Travel and our suppliers cannot accept liability where this procedure is not followed. *In this instance we would recommend that you use the replacement vehicle to get your party to your destination and notify us in the morning.

Mechanical Difficulties/Customer Service

  • In the unlikely event of any mechanical failure/difficulties or local customer service issues the renter must notify the rental location immediately.  These queries can not be resolved rapidly by Florida Homes and Travel or our suppliers if a complaint has not been catalogued at the location.

Cancellation & Amendments:

  • You can cancel or amend your reservation at any time up to 48 hours before collection for no charge providing that the office is notified during office hours (9am - 5.30pm), at least 48 hours before collection. If your amendment results in a change in price (due to having to rebook the reservation following a price change) we will either charge or refund the difference accordingly. Cancellations within 48 hours of collection will be subject to an administration charge of £25.

  • If you fail to collect the car without notification of cancellation this is counted as a 'no show' and will not be refunded.

Child Seats:

  • All children aged 5 and under must travel in the rear of the car and be suitably restrained.  Infants aged 3 or under must be in a suitable child seat, children aged 4 or 5 must have a seatbelt on at all times.

  • Car seats can be reserved at the time of reservation, they are paid for locally on arrival.

  • We recommend that you take your own car seats. This is a popular choice

  • If you forget to reserve a car seat, or forget to take your own, the rental desks usually have plenty of seats available for hire.

Collection:

  • The rental voucher supplied to you must be presented when collecting your car, unless it has been agreed that your voucher will be faxed directly to the location.  Florida Homes and Travel cannot be held responsible for rentals rejected if a voucher is not presented.  You should retain all your rental documentation for at least 28 days after your return in case of queries or complaints.

  • Your voucher is supplied with an emergency number to use if there is a problem with your collection only.  If the desk cannot find your reservation, or any other problem, please use the emergency number for assistance. 

  • Always  very carefully check the rental agreement - any additional products that have been signed for cannot be refunded later.

Documentation:

  • You will be required to present your voucher, driving licence and credit card to the rental car company.  No responsibility can be taken by Florida Homes and Travel for failure to take the correct documents with you. However, if you contact us we will do all we can to help.  In the event of forgetting your voucher, we recommend that you hire a comparable vehicle to get your party to your destination and contact us in the morning, so we can provide a copy of your voucher to the rental location.

Satellite Navigation:

  • Sat Nav units can be reserved and paid for in advance with Alamo and Budget.

  • Sat Nav units can be requested with Dollar and Thrifty, but are paid for locally on arrival, and are subject to availability.

  • U-Save do not carry Sat Nav units.

Local Charges:

  • Any items paid for locally such as fuel, car seats, Sat Nav units or additional insurances will be subject to local and state sales taxes and airport fees (if applicable) which will be added to the total cost.

Pre-Registration:

  • Pre-registration is provided for Budget rentals at Orlando and Sanford International Airports only by our supplier Affordable Car Hire.  Affordable Car Hire administer the facility through Budget's "Fast Track"  and Florida Homes and Travel cannot be held responsible for any failure on the part of Affordable Car Hire or Budget to administer this facility as advertised.

  • Alamo administers its own pre-registration at www.alamodirectroad.com.  Florida Homes and Travel cannot be held responsible for any failure on the part of Alamo to administer its own facility as advertised.

  • Pre-registration should be completed at least one week prior to the date of collection.

Payment

We take payment from your card at the time we receive your order. Car rental reservations are subject to availability. In the event that we are unable to supply the car rental, we will inform you of this as soon as possible and we will give you the option of reserving a similar car with a different suppplier. A full refund will be given if this is not appropriate.

We do not file details of your order for you to subsequently access directly on this website, and therefore, please print out these terms and conditions and the order acknowledgement for your own records.

While we try and ensure that all prices on our website are accurate, errors may occur. If we discover an error in the price of car rental you have ordered we will inform you as soon as possible and give you the option of reconfirming your order at the correct price or cancelling it. If you cancel you will receive a full refund. If we are unable to contact you we will treat the order as cancelled.