 Getting
your car at Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB)
Unless you have arranged your holiday yourself, you car
will be part of your package. Your Travel Company
Representative will direct you to your Car Rental Desk.
If you arranged through an 'off airport company' they probably
instructed you when to call, where they would meet you or where to
catch a Shuttle.
Check out our Driving in the USA page for
some hints & tips...
At the desk at SFB
Have your driving license and passport ready, you may also
need your booking reference or voucher that the travel company representative
gave you.
Note – You will be asked to take out extra insurance. It’s up to
you but don’t get fooled by this. As long as you have the insurances
booked through your agent and adequate personal insurance, you
should be OK.
If you came by yourself or without a booking. – You will need to
arrange your insurance with the clerk. Collision Damage Waiver
(CDW), Loss, Third Party Liability and local taxes & cover charges
are all compulsory.
Extra insurance for personal injury will almost definitely be
covered by your holiday insurance... But, it's up to you.
You may also be asked if you want to pre-pay for a full tank of gas
at return of the car. Personally I wouldn’t go for it.
This may be the most expensive petroleum sprit you ever buy.
If you stay for a week and only potter around the local area, you
may not need to visit a gas station and this is another worry off
your mind.
Don’t worry though, buying gas is ‘a gas’ and well worth the
experience.
Some companies offer a free tank on return - you may want to ask!
The agent will usually confirm that you know where you are going to
- ask them if you want, for instructions they are very prepared for
Brit's who need help...
Finding your car at SFB
The Car Rental Desks are at street level... (the whole
building is)
You go though some doors and out - into the sunshine or moon shine
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Outside is a covered walkway and beyond a set of
Car Parks. Each is numbered or given an alphabetical letter.
Find your car by it's license plate number.
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Getting to know your steed
You will need all the help from your ‘team’ and your
designated co-pilot that you can
muster for the next hour or so…
Load up your bags and return your trolley to its
parking bay.
Take a look around the outside of the vehicle and make sure that
everything looks in order.
Watch out for scratches and if you see any, you should report them
to a representative, if you can't find one and/or you don’t like the
look of the car, just pick another.
Note - If at this point you think your car size is too small, go
back to the Rental Desk and ask about an upgrade.
If you want, you can stick with what you have and change it
tomorrow, if you are tired or are apprehensive about your pending
journey. Less hassle. Just give them a
call anytime.
It may be a good time to check out our
Driving page for some hints and tips...
Moving off from SFB
Politely ask the family to calm down and take a look
around the inside of the car.
Most controls are fairly international.
Lights on the left steering
column stalk.
Indicators on the right etc..
Windscreen wipers are usually a twist of the left stalk. Doesn't'
rain much but when it does it really comes down. You can suddenly
need wipers after days of not seeing a drop of rain.
Adjust the seat to get comfortable. May need the Ignition to be at
first position to get electric seats
to move.
Check out that Gear Shift on the right hand side. Even if you are
familiar with an automatic it is still unusual for it to be on the
right side.
Check that the Gear Shift is in 'P' (park)
Turn the key to the first and then to second positions. Look out for
lights and alarms that doors, seat belts, parking brake etc. need
attention.
Turn the ignition key to the next position to start the engine.
Don't apply any pressure to the Gas Pedal it shouldn't need it to
start the engine.
Many cars are extremely quiet when ticking over.
Lights such as Oil Pressure should go out on the display and the Rev
Counter will spring up from zero to around the 1,000 rpm mark.
There are Toll Plazas on the SR-417 to points around
Orlando, so get your co-pilot to have the change or small bills
($20's or smaller) together.
Ensure the gear selector is in ‘P’ (Park) and switch the engine on.
Apply pressure to the Foot Brake with your Right foot and move the
gear selector to 'D' (Drive). If you have to reverse out of a
parking space - select 'R' (Reverse).
Release the Parking Brake...
Finding the Parking Brake
 Locating
the Parking Brake can be 'interesting'.
If you got the engine running and in gear but still it won't move,
try the Parking Brake. Should be an indicator on the Dash Board
about this. There will also be an alarm sounding but it can be
pretty quiet.
Hardly ever will the Parking Brake be where you expect it to be
located - in the centre seat console.
The Release can be found as a handle or lever closer to you than the
Parking Brake.
The Parking Brake is a small foot pedal on the far left of the foot
well.
Press down on it to apply the Parking Brake and pull the handle or
lever to release it.
The picture shows a 2006 Dodge Charger.
Your pickup location at MCO may be in the centre of the building
where it can be quite dark.
Hopefully this will help you in getting going.
There is a possibility that there is no release handle. Try pressing
the Parking Brake Foot Pedal and see if it releases the brake. Press
on - press off action.
Moving off from SFB - continued
Apply pressure to the Foot Brake with your Right foot and move
the Gear Selector to 'D' (Drive). If you have to reverse out of a
parking space - select 'R' (Reverse). You will have to depress a
switch type button on the Gear Selector to get it out of Park.
Release the Parking Brake (see above).
Slowly release the Foot Brake until
the car begins to creep...
If you have to reverse out of a bay... Take it easy but note that
the lanes are wide enough to swing even the biggest people carrier
easily.
Your in control
now.... Away you go!
Leaving the parking area at SFB
You must 'Check out' of the Rental Car Park, so have your
Rental Paperwork ready and a coupon that was in the car. Maybe
hanging from the mirror.
Pull away from your parking space, thinking right all the time and
follow the Exit signs to the Booth. Then it's across the spikes and
away we go...
Follow the 'Exit' signs to Orlando.
Leaving the airport
You will have to decide whether to follow the instructions
you were given by your Travel Company (there will always be
disagreements over directions).
We can help with directions but can take no responsibility for their
ultimate accuracy or your interpretation of them. They are simply a
guide...
Driving Directions from SFB
Please now view the
Driving Directions
to get a feel of where you are going.
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Weather
