I've received a few pm's regarding car rental, insurance and the like. I dunno if the following is at all helpful. It is not meant to be patronising or demeaning - just a few observations based upon my experience here.
Car Rental
Renting a car/minivan/SUV is cheap and straightforward - but the rental company will try to up-sell insurance coverage (a lot of which you don't need)
Make sure that the cost of repair of the rented vehicle and anything or anyone (other than yourself) that you damage with it, is covered.
You can reduce the amount of the insurance deductable (the amount you pay in the event of a claim), by paying extra (CDW)
Personal Injury (to yourself) should be covered by your travel insurance - you have got travel insurance, right? You are insane if you come here without insurance that will cover medical expenses in the event of you falling ill or hurting yourself. Medical costs in this country are GIGANTIC - so don't risk it!
Uninsured Driver is another add on - because, unfortunately there are a hell of a lot of uninsured drivers in this state. I buy it, but I have to contend with the risk every day - if I was visiting for a few days, I'd probably decline it.
Driving in Florida
Driving standards in this state are very poor compared to Europe. Although US roads are much wider and straighter than European ones, Americans still manage to crash into each other with monotonous regularity. Your greatest risk is being rear-ended at traffic lights by following traffic that didn't expect you to stop for a yellow, preceding a red light - or you being T-Boned by some one running a red light - because you went immediately on your green. So - if you approach a light that goes yellow - keep going - and never, ever go on green until you are sure nobody is blazing through a red.
In many cases you may turn right on red - but not always - so read the signs.
Get out of the way of emergency vehicles - even if that means stopping in travel lanes.
Do not pass school busses (in either direction) that are stopped with red flashing lights - OK on-coming if it is a divided road (i.e. with a central median)
Expect people to overtake you on the inside.
Don't expect people to use turn signals
Don't get involved in ANY name-calling, rude hand gestures etc. Very many Floridians are armed - and may use deadly force if they feel threatened.
The Law
We have a wide and disperate variety of cops here - all of them have the power to really f*ck-up your afternoon.
City Cops, Sherrifs Deputies and FL State Troopers all have constant scanning radar in their vehicles. They like nothing better than busting you for speeding - and if you can't show a FL license, you are going to pay on the spot. Fines can be very steep for leadfoots.
Troopers on I-4 and SR27 (the southerly route from Orlando to Sebring) are out in force during race week.
The cops also take a dim view of drinking and driving. If they catch you, you go to jail - no question. If you are at the circuit and need to head out for supplies - send someone sober - the cops are just waiting for piss-heads doing beer runs. Unless you like having your personal possessions and your anal virginity stolen by fellow inmates, don't risk it.
Don't under any circumstances, argue with cops, unless you'd like to experience being Tazered, first hand.
You should carry some form of photo ID with you all the time. No ID usually ends up with a trip to the can, to establish just who the hell you are.
Heed the above - and you'll be fine!
Matt
