Florida's Public Transportation & How to Get Around Without a Car

By Dalia Colon

How do you get from Point A to Point B in the Sunshine State without a car?

Transportation Options

Florida's public transportation options vary by city, as each has its own infrastructure and transportation businesses, but here are some general suggestions:

Public transportation: For short trips within town, try the bus or trolley.
Bicycle: A handful of cities, including Punta Gorda and Miami Beach, offer bike-sharing programs.
Shuttle service: You can often find shuttle service between major cities with a Google search.
Amtrak: Amtrak is convenient and affordable, without the security hassles of flying. https://www.amtrak.com/home
CVBs: Call the local convention and visitors bureau for advice from the folks who know the city best. You can find a list of Florida Convention & Visitor Bureaus here, in the ‘tourism agencies’ section: https://fl511.com/links#tourism
Ride-Sharing Services: Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft offer convenient and affordable transportation within cities. https://www.uber.com/ and https://www.lyft.com/
Rome2Rio: This website shows you transportation options between any two destinations, including cars, buses, trains, and planes, with the varied costs and times for each: https://www.rome2rio.com/
Brightline: This comfortable, eco-friendly rail service runs between Orlando and Miami, with stops in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Aventura. https://www.gobrightline.com/

Renting a Car

If you decide to rent a car, here’s some info to help you navigate the process.

Documentation Needed to Rent a Car

A driver license with a photo is required. No digital IDs will be accepted.
The same credit card used to book the reservation must be used for the car rental.
A credit card will need to be placed on file during pickup to pay for any incidentals.

Pumping Gasoline

There is not normally a gasoline attendant; pumps are self-service.
Green-handled pumps are for diesel fuel, which should be used for diesel-powered vehicles.
Most rental cars require regular unleaded gasoline (black pump).

Tolls

Regarding paying tolls with a rental car, most major rental companies have programs allowing customers to utilize the Toll-By-Plate electronic collection system where tolls and service fees are automatically charged to the credit card used to rent the vehicle.

But you should choose your car rental agency carefully. The rates and policies of the companies vary drastically. For instance, some charge by rental day, while others charge by usage day, and some opt you into their program automatically, while with others, it’s a choice. Charging by rental day means you get charged a fee for every day the car is rented, whether or not you go through a toll. Usage day means you only get charged the fee on days you go through a toll. Scroll down to the bottom of the following page for the exact rates and policies of various companies: https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

If you’re flying into Orlando, they have a free SunPass loaner program. Check it out here: https://visitortollpass.com/

You can also buy a SunPass and use it in a rental car. Here’s info: https://www.sunpass.com/en/about/whereToPurchaseSunPass.shtml

Parking

Read all posted signs for rules concerning street, lot and garage parking.
Most street and garage parking require payment. Street parking is often purchased through a mobile app, while garage parking is paid for by credit or debit card through a kiosk at the exit.