Quick Summary:
- Check the instrument cluster menu first, units are often under Settings.
- Use steering wheel buttons to toggle km/h to mph quickly.
- Try the infotainment system for Units, Language, and Region options.
- If stuck, ask the desk agent to confirm a model-specific method.
Picking up a car hire in Orlando is usually quick, until you notice the dashboard is showing km/h or Celsius. If you are used to mph and Fahrenheit, that small mismatch can make the first few miles feel less confident, especially as you merge out of the airport roads and onto unfamiliar highways. The good news is that most modern rentals let you switch units in under a minute, and you can do it while still parked in the bay.
This guide focuses on fast, practical steps you can use across common vehicles, without needing a manual. It also covers what to check before you leave the lot, including language and clock format, so your speed readout and alerts make sense from the first junction.
If you are collecting at Orlando International Airport, it helps to build these checks into your routine alongside the fuel level, mileage, and damage walkaround. Hola Car Rentals offers several Orlando pick-up options, and you can review location details for car rental Orlando MCO and car hire Orlando MCO before you travel.
Why some hire cars show km/h or Celsius in Orlando
Even though the US uses mph and Fahrenheit, many rental fleets move cars between states, airports, and sometimes even between countries, depending on the operator and season. In addition, some vehicles are configured for a driver profile, a previous renter, or a default “Region” setting in the infotainment system. That means your car hire can be perfectly legal and roadworthy, but still present units that do not match local signs.
Another common reason is that the driver information display can show both units, with km/h as the larger number if a menu option was changed. Sometimes the main speedometer remains in mph on the dial, but the digital readout flips to km/h. The same can happen with temperature, where the HVAC screen or cluster displays Celsius while the exterior temperature elsewhere shows Fahrenheit.
Before you touch any buttons, do these quick safety checks
Make changes while stationary. Keep the car in Park, apply the parking brake if fitted, and avoid changing settings while moving. On many vehicles, certain menus are locked out once you drive.
Next, confirm what actually needs changing. Look at:
1) Digital speed readout: Is it showing km/h, mph, or both?
2) Instrument cluster units: Range, fuel economy (mpg vs L/100km), tyre pressure (psi vs kPa), and temperature.
3) HVAC temperature: Celsius or Fahrenheit on the climate controls.
4) Infotainment language: Useful for warnings and navigation prompts.
Finally, decide what matters most. For Orlando driving, mph is the priority because road signs are mph. Fahrenheit is convenient, but not essential for safety.
The fastest method: change units in the instrument cluster menu
On many common hire car models, the quickest switch is in the instrument cluster, controlled by steering wheel buttons. The button labels vary, but look for “Menu”, “OK”, arrow keys, or a small scroll wheel. Here is the fastest general path:
Step 1: With the car in Park, switch ignition on (engine on is fine).
Step 2: Use the steering wheel arrows to open the cluster menu. It may be called Settings, Vehicle Settings, or Options.
Step 3: Find Units, Measurement Units, or Display.
Step 4: Set Speed to mph, Temperature to °F, and consumption to mpg.
Step 5: Back out and confirm the digital speed readout changes.
If you can only change “Distance” between miles and kilometres, do it anyway. Many vehicles link speed and distance, so selecting miles switches the speed display to mph automatically.
Tip: If the cluster shows both mph and km/h, check whether the larger, highlighted unit can be swapped. Some cars let you choose which unit is “primary” and which is secondary.
Second-fastest method: switch units in the infotainment system
If the steering wheel menu does not offer unit changes, try the central screen. Most infotainment systems put this under a Settings icon. The wording differs, but these are the most common menu names you are looking for:
Settings then Units
Settings then General then Units
Settings then Vehicle then Units
Settings then System then Language and Units
Once you find the units screen, change speed to mph, distance to miles, temperature to Fahrenheit, and pressure to psi if available. If the car includes navigation, there may be separate units for map distance and guidance voice prompts. Set both to miles to avoid hearing “in 500 metres” while watching a miles-based map.
This is also a good place to adjust language and time format. If you are driving around Orlando theme parks and hotel areas, you might prefer 12-hour time to match most US signage and tickets.
If you are collecting close to the theme park corridor, Hola Car Rentals also has relevant pages for car rental airport Disney Orlando MCO and car hire Disney Orlando MCO.
If it is a push-button cluster, try these model-agnostic tricks
Some cars have a simple dashboard display without a full settings menu, especially older fleet models. In that case, you may still be able to change units using one of these approaches:
Look for a “Trip” or “Info” stalk button: It cycles screens and sometimes enters a settings mode if held down.
Press and hold OK: On some clusters, holding OK for 3 to 5 seconds opens preferences.
Check the clock set procedure: In a few vehicles, the same hidden menu used to set the clock also contains units.
Try the audio head unit “Menu”: Basic radios can still include units for clock and temperature readouts.
If you can find language but not speed units, it might indicate the cluster is fixed and only supports mph on the physical dial. In that scenario, focus on selecting a digital display screen that shows mph, or switching the “digital speed” feature off and using the physical speedometer.
How to switch from Celsius to Fahrenheit quickly
Temperature can be controlled in several places: the climate panel, the instrument cluster, and the infotainment system. The quickest route depends on what the car uses for HVAC controls.
If you have physical climate buttons: Look for a “Menu”, “Settings”, or “Setup” button near the climate controls. Some cars let you press and hold two buttons together (often the temperature up and down) to toggle °C and °F. If you see both temperature arrows, try holding them simultaneously for a few seconds while parked.
If climate is on the screen: Go to Settings, then Climate, then Units, or simply Settings, then Units. Make the change and check the cabin temperature display updates immediately.
If only the outside temperature is Celsius: That reading is often governed by the instrument cluster units, so changing cluster temperature to °F should fix it.
Changing the dashboard language before you leave the lot
Language changes are usually in the infotainment system rather than the cluster. Go to Settings, then System, then Language. Choose English (US) if available, because some vehicles also change default units when you switch region or language. If you set English (UK), the car may retain kilometres depending on how the manufacturer links regional settings.
After changing language, watch for a system restart prompt. Some cars reboot the screen and temporarily disable camera or parking sensors until the reboot finishes. Wait in the bay until everything returns, so you are not troubleshooting while traffic is moving behind you.
A two-minute Orlando pick-up checklist for units and display
Use this routine each time you collect a car hire in Orlando, particularly if you are travelling after a long flight.
1) Confirm speed units: Digital speed should read mph. If you cannot change it, use the physical mph scale.
2) Confirm distance units: Trip and odometer in miles helps with directions and fuel planning.
3) Confirm temperature: Set to °F if you prefer, but prioritise speed.
4) Confirm language: Warnings and prompts should be understandable at a glance.
5) Confirm driver-assist alerts: If lane or speed limit alerts are on, ensure the speed limit display matches mph.
6) Confirm phone connection: If you use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the map will reflect your unit settings depending on app preferences.
If you are travelling with family or extra luggage, a larger vehicle can make the first drive out of MCO easier. It can be useful to compare options on the Hola Car Rentals van rental Disney Orlando MCO page, as bigger dashboards often have clearer unit settings and larger displays.
When you should ask staff for help
If you have tried the cluster and infotainment settings and the car still shows km/h, ask the kiosk or lot staff to confirm the method for that specific model. It is a normal question, and it is better to resolve it before you drive away. Staff may also know if that vehicle has a “secondary speed” display that can be toggled to show mph prominently.
It is also worth asking if the car can be swapped if the display cannot be changed and you are not comfortable relying on a small mph scale. This is more relevant at night or in heavy rain when you want the clearest readout possible.
Finally, check any printed rental agreement details and the vehicle’s stickers, since some fleet cars include a small note about settings resets or common controls.
Common pitfalls that slow people down
Changing the navigation units only: This updates the map, but not the speedometer. Make sure you change speed units in the cluster or vehicle settings.
Assuming the tyre pressure units mean speed units: Some cars let you change psi vs kPa separately. Do not use that screen as proof that mph is set.
Mixing profiles: If the vehicle has Driver 1 and Driver 2 profiles, units can be tied to the profile. Select your profile first, then set units.
Forgetting the reboot: After a language or region change, wait until the system fully restarts.
FAQ
Q: Can I legally drive in Orlando if the dashboard is in km/h?
A: Yes, but it is easier and safer to use mph. Many cars still have an mph scale on the dial, even if the digital display shows km/h.
Q: What is the quickest way to switch to mph in most hire cars?
A: Use the steering wheel buttons to open the instrument cluster Settings, then Units, then set Speed to mph. This is often faster than using the touchscreen.
Q: Why did the car switch back to km/h after I changed it?
A: The car may have changed driver profiles, reset after an infotainment reboot, or applied a region setting. Re-check Units and confirm miles are selected for distance.
Q: My climate controls show Celsius, but the speed is mph. Are these linked?
A: Not always. Temperature can be controlled by the climate panel or infotainment system separately from speed units. Change °C to °F in the climate or system settings.
Q: I cannot find any units menu. What should I do?
A: Try the infotainment Settings and the instrument cluster menu, then ask the lot staff to show the model-specific shortcut. If it cannot be changed, rely on the physical mph scale.
