Quick Summary:
- Upgrades depend on live availability, especially at Orlando MCO locations.
- Expect repricing from the upgrade time, plus possible deposit increase.
- Fastest method is contacting support with booking details and preferred class.
- Ask to amend the current agreement, not close and re-open.
If you booked a compact for Orlando and later realise you need more room, for luggage, prams, extra passengers, or simply more comfort, you can often upgrade your car hire mid-rental. The key words are “often” and “mid-rental”, because an upgrade is not just a swap of keys. It involves availability, pricing rules, and sometimes changes to the security deposit and payment method authorisation.
This guide explains how mid-rental upgrades are typically handled in Orlando, what you are likely to pay, what can slow the process down, and how to arrange the change as quickly as possible while keeping your existing agreement active.
Can you upgrade to a bigger car during a rental in Orlando?
In most cases, yes, provided the supplier has the larger category available at the moment you request it. Orlando is a high-volume market, and fleets move quickly. That means availability can change hour by hour, particularly around weekends, school holidays, and major theme-park travel peaks.
Where you collect also matters. Airport-based counters and lots usually have the widest selection because they turn over the most vehicles. If your rental started at Orlando International Airport, details and supplier policies can vary depending on the channel and rate you booked through. For background on airport pick-ups and the common supplier set-up, see car rental at Orlando MCO.
An upgrade mid-rental is more likely to be approved when:
You request it early, before the fleet is fully allocated for the next day.
Your chosen category is flexible, for example “intermediate SUV or similar” rather than a specific model.
You can visit a nearby location where the larger car is sitting, rather than waiting for a transfer.
Your licence and payment details already match the rental file, so the counter can amend rather than rebuild the contract.
What “upgrade” means in practice (and what it does not)
Travellers often use “upgrade” to mean “pay a bit more and keep going”. In rental terms, it can mean a few different things:
Category change, such as economy to full-size, or saloon to SUV. This is the most common.
Seat and luggage capacity change, for example moving to a 7-seater for family comfort.
Feature change, like selecting an SUV category for higher driving position, or choosing something with more boot space.
What it usually does not mean is a guaranteed specific model. Car hire is sold by category, and the lot may have different models that meet the same class definition. Also, a mid-rental upgrade does not typically reset your rental clock or re-run the full booking workflow if handled as an amendment. Keeping it as an amendment is often the fastest option, and it reduces the chances of a new set of fees being triggered by closing and reopening the contract.
How the cost is calculated for a mid-rental upgrade
There is no single flat fee for upgrading because suppliers price by class, season, and remaining rental days. Instead, the cost generally comes from a repricing calculation based on what you have left to rent.
The most common approaches are:
Reprice from the moment of change. You keep the original rate for days already used, and the remaining days are charged at the bigger-car rate available at that time. This is the fairest outcome and commonly used when the contract is amended.
Reprice the entire rental. Less common, but it can happen on certain promotional rates or if the system effectively reissues the contract. This can cost more, especially in peak Orlando periods.
Daily upgrade fee. Some suppliers handle it as a per-day supplement between two categories. This still depends on demand, so it is not a fixed number year-round.
Beyond the base rental difference, remember these possible cost changes:
Taxes and fees. Florida and airport-related charges may scale with the rate.
Optional extras. If you add child seats or toll products at the same time, those are separate line items.
Fuel policy. Usually unchanged, but confirm whether the replacement vehicle is provided with the same fuel level expectations.
As a real-world guide, moving from a small car to an SUV category in Orlando can be a noticeable jump during busy weeks, and a smaller jump during quieter periods. If your goal is space for theme-park travel, you may find it useful to compare typical SUV class options on SUV rental for Disney Orlando MCO, then request the closest equivalent category as your upgrade.
Will your deposit change if you upgrade?
Often, yes. The security deposit, or pre-authorisation, can increase when you move to a higher vehicle category. Suppliers use deposits to manage risk, and larger vehicles tend to carry higher replacement values and sometimes higher insurance exposure.
Here is what can trigger a deposit change:
Higher car class. A standard deposit amount may step up by class.
Different excess. Some categories have different excess levels, depending on supplier terms.
Payment method checks. If the supplier re-verifies the card, the authorisation may be adjusted or reissued.
Important practical point: a deposit change can look like “extra charge” on your banking app even when it is only a new authorisation. Authorisations can take time to fall off after being replaced, depending on your bank. If your available balance is tight, upgrading mid-rental can be harder even if the rental cost increase is modest.
The fastest way to arrange an upgrade without resetting your agreement
If your priority is speed, the aim is to get the supplier to process a contract amendment rather than closing the rental and opening a fresh one. To help that happen, use a simple checklist before you contact anyone.
Step 1: Gather the details the agent will need
Have these ready:
Rental agreement number (the number on your contract, not only your confirmation email).
Pickup location and current vehicle class.
Preferred upgrade class (for example “full-size” or “standard SUV”), plus acceptable alternatives.
Current return date and time, and whether that will change.
Payment card used, in case deposit adjustments are required.
If you began your hire via a UK-facing Orlando page and want consistency with those terms, you can reference the set-up used on car hire Orlando MCO when describing what you booked.
Step 2: Ask specifically for an amendment, not a replacement rental
Use clear wording: you want to “upgrade the vehicle category mid-rental and amend the existing agreement”. That signals that you are not trying to end the rental early and start a new one, which can introduce new minimum charges, new day-rate rules, or reapplication of location fees.
Step 3: Be flexible on where you swap
In Orlando, the quickest swap may be at the same airport facility you collected from, even if you are now staying near Lake Buena Vista or International Drive. Some suppliers can support swaps at other branches, but the airport hub is usually where larger categories sit.
If you are renting through a specific supplier brand, it can help to align your request with that supplier’s on-the-ground operation. For instance, some travellers compare supplier experiences via pages such as Dollar car hire Orlando MCO or National car hire Disney Orlando MCO, then ask for the closest larger class that supplier is likely to have available that day.
What to expect at the swap appointment
A smooth mid-rental upgrade usually looks like this:
Vehicle inspection of your current car, similar to a return check, to confirm condition.
Contract update showing the new category, revised rate for remaining days, and any deposit adjustment.
New vehicle paperwork, including the fuel level and mileage documentation.
Time cost that can range from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on queues.
Bring everything you had at collection: driving licence, any additional driver documents, and the payment card. Even if the agreement is not being reset, staff may need to validate details to satisfy internal controls.
Situations where upgrading can be difficult
Sometimes you can do everything right and still not get a bigger car. Common obstacles include:
Peak demand and limited fleet. SUVs and people carriers are heavily sought after during holiday periods.
One-way rentals. If your drop-off differs from pick-up, the fleet planning may limit category swaps.
Special rate types. Deep-discount or packaged rates can have rigid terms that make mid-rental repricing less straightforward.
Insurance or cover constraints. If the upgraded category changes the insurance rules, the supplier may require additional approvals.
If availability is the issue, ask whether an upgrade is possible for only part of the remaining rental, for example swapping to a larger car for a road trip portion, then reverting. Not every supplier will do this, but it can be a practical compromise in Orlando when certain categories are scarce.
Ways to keep the upgrade cost sensible
While you cannot control peak pricing, you can often reduce surprises:
Upgrade sooner rather than later. If you know you need space, requesting early can reduce the chance you are forced into the priciest last-available class.
Choose a step-up category. Moving from compact to intermediate may solve luggage issues without jumping straight to a premium SUV.
Keep your return time unchanged. Extending the rental at the same time as upgrading compounds the price change.
Confirm what is being repriced. Ask whether only the remaining days change rate, or the entire rental is recalculated.
Understand authorisations. If a higher deposit is required, make sure your card can accommodate it without declined transactions.
Is it better to upgrade, or start a new rental?
Starting a new rental can occasionally look cheaper on paper if you compare online rates, but it introduces friction and risk. You may face a new deposit, new terms, and a new availability check, and you could lose any benefits already applied to the existing agreement. If your goal is speed and minimal disruption, an amendment to the current car hire contract is usually the better path, assuming the supplier will allow it.
If you do decide to change your plans substantially, such as altering pick-up or drop-off points, you may be effectively into new-rental territory. In that situation, ensure you understand the financial impact of ending the first rental early, including any minimum charge rules.
FAQ
Can I upgrade my Orlando car hire the same day I pick up? Yes, if a larger category is available, it is often easiest to adjust immediately at collection, before you leave the lot and the contract becomes harder to amend.
Will I pay the difference for the whole rental or only the remaining days? Many suppliers charge the higher rate from the upgrade time onwards, but some rate types can trigger a full-rental repricing. Ask explicitly which method will be used.
Do I need to return to Orlando MCO to upgrade? Not always, but airport locations typically have the best selection and staffing for quick swaps. If a nearby branch has the class you need, the supplier may direct you there.
Does an upgrade change my insurance or excess? It can, depending on the supplier and vehicle category. Confirm the updated contract shows the correct cover and excess terms for the larger class.
What if no bigger cars are available? Ask to be waitlisted, request the nearest alternative class, or consider upgrading for part of the rental if the supplier can support a temporary category change.
