Florida Driving Rules for Visitors: Tolls, Turns & Laws

Renting a car in Florida? A few local rules trip up out-of-state and international drivers — especially the cashless tolls. Here's the quick, practical rundown.

Tolls — the #1 thing visitors miss

Miami's expressways (the Dolphin/SR-836, the Turnpike, I-95 Express) have no cash booths. You either drive a transponder-equipped car (charged the lowest rate) or get billed by license plate later, often with a fee. Every iRent car is SunPass-ready, so you drive straight through — more on tolls here.

Turns & lanes

Right on red: allowed after a complete stop, unless posted "No Turn on Red."
Left on red: permitted only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping.
Express / HOV lanes: the I-95 Express Lanes use dynamic (variable) pricing — optional. Stay in the regular lanes if you'd rather not pay.

Laws that catch visitors out

Rule	What to know
Move Over law	Move over a lane (or slow down) for stopped police, tow trucks, and utility vehicles. Strictly enforced.
Phones	Texting while driving is illegal; hands-free is strongly advised, especially in school and work zones.
Seatbelts	Required for the driver and front passengers (and all minors).
School buses	Stop when a bus has its red lights and stop-arm out — from both directions on most roads.
Headlights	Required in rain and low visibility (wipers-on means lights-on).

Foreign visitors

You can generally drive in Florida on a valid license from your country. If your license isn't in the Roman (Latin) alphabet, bring an International Driving Permit. Keep your license and rental agreement in the car.

🚗 Bottom line: the roads are easy once you know the tolls are cashless. Pick up a SunPass-ready car and you can ignore the toll question entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Do Florida toll roads take cash?

No. Florida's major expressways are all-electronic (cashless). You pay by transponder like SunPass or by license-plate billing. iRent cars are SunPass-ready.

Can you turn right on red in Florida?

Yes, after a complete stop, unless a sign posts 'No Turn on Red.' A left on red is only allowed from a one-way onto a one-way street.

What is Florida's Move Over law?

You must move over a lane, or slow down, for stopped emergency, tow, and utility vehicles. It's strictly enforced.

Can I drive in Florida with a foreign license?

Generally yes, on a valid license from your home country. If it isn't in the Roman/Latin alphabet, carry an International Driving Permit.

Florida Driving Rules for Visitors

Tolls — the #1 thing visitors miss

Turns & lanes

Laws that catch visitors out

Foreign visitors

Frequently asked questions

Drive Florida the easy way

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