Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Driver's License
Foreign visitors can legally drive in the USA for up to 12 months with their home driver's li-
cense. However, getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended; this will
have more credibility with US traffic police, especially if your home license doesn't have a
photo or is in a foreign language. Your automobile association at home can issue an IDP,
valid for one year, for a small fee. You must carry your home license together with the IDP.
To drive a motorcycle, you need either a valid US state motorcycle license or an IDP spe-
cially endorsed for motorcycles.
Insurance
Insurance is legally required; if you don't have it you risk financial ruin if there's an acci-
dent.
If you already have auto insurance (even overseas), or if you buy travel insurance, make
sure that the policy has adequate liability coverage for a rental car in Florida.
Rental-car companies will provide liability insurance, but most charge extra. Always ask.
Rental companies almost never include collision damage insurance for the vehicle. In-
stead, they offer optional Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver
(LDW), usually with an initial deductible of $100 to $500. For an extra premium, you can
usually get this deductible covered as well.
Most credit cards offer collision damage coverage for rental cars if you rent for 15 days or
less and charge the total rental to your card. This is a good way to avoid paying extra
fees to the rental company, but note that if there's an accident, you sometimes must pay
the rental-car company first and then seek reimbursement from the credit-card company.
Check your credit card policy. Paying extra for some or all of this insurance increases the
cost of a rental car by as much as $10 to $30 a day.
Parking
Parking in Miami is pretty straightforward. Regulations are well signed and meters and
street parking is plentiful, with the exception of Downtown by day (and the area by Brickell
at most times) and South Beach by night. Downtown, near Bayside Marketplace, parking is
cheap but confusing: you must find a place in the head-on parking lots, buy a ticket from a
central machine, and display it in your windshield.
of extremely convenient garages across Miami Beach for $1.75 per hour (north of 23rd St
it's only $1 although there is a $20 flat rate from 8pm to 5am on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday). Look for giant blue 'P' signs at:
