Quick Summary:
- Most Florida car hire desks reject UK provisional licences as learner permits.
- A full UK licence means photocard with full entitlements, not provisional.
- Bring your physical licence and matching passport, plus a credit card.
- Expect refusal if licence is temporary, damaged, expired, or mismatched.
If you are travelling from the UK and planning car hire in Florida, the key point is simple: a UK provisional licence is usually not accepted by major US rental companies. In most cases, you must hold a full UK driving licence to collect a rental car. That is because a provisional is viewed as a learner permit, and Florida car hire suppliers generally require you to be fully licensed to drive independently.
This article explains what “full licence” means in practice, why provisional licences are commonly refused at the counter, and what else can trigger a desk rejection even when you do have a full licence. Rules can vary slightly by supplier and location, but the patterns are consistent across Florida’s main airports and city branches.
Do Florida rental companies accept a UK provisional licence?
In the vast majority of cases, no. A UK provisional licence is not considered a full driving licence, and most Florida rental desks will not release a vehicle to a driver who only holds a provisional. Even if you have driven in the UK with supervision, the rental company’s insurance and eligibility rules typically require the named driver to be fully qualified to drive without restrictions.
It can feel confusing because the UK provisional is an official licence document, but rental companies focus on whether you have full driving privileges. A provisional is designed for learners and comes with conditions. In the US rental context, that usually translates to “not eligible”.
If you are flying into Orlando and comparing options, it can help to review the location information first, for example car hire Orlando MCO, then check the supplier’s licence requirements in the rental terms for your chosen vehicle group.
What counts as a “full” UK licence for car hire?
For car hire in Florida, a “full” UK licence generally means you hold a valid UK photocard driving licence with full entitlements to drive a car. The front of the photocard shows your personal details and validity dates, and the back lists categories (such as category B for cars) along with “from” and “to” dates for each category.
What matters to the rental desk is that:
Your licence is valid and in date, including the photocard expiry date.
Your entitlement to drive a car is full, not provisional. If you are uncertain, check the wording on your licence and your driving entitlements via the official UK channels before you travel.
The name on your licence matches your passport. Minor differences can sometimes cause delays, and bigger mismatches can cause refusal.
You can present the physical licence. Many US suppliers expect a physical card, not a screenshot or a digital record.
Some UK drivers still ask about the old paper counterpart. For most travellers, the photocard is what you will present. If you have additional paperwork, bring it, but do not assume it substitutes for the physical photocard.
Is an International Driving Permit needed in Florida for UK drivers?
Many UK visitors do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent and drive in Florida, provided they have a valid UK photocard licence. However, rental supplier policies can differ, and an IDP can be useful if you have a non standard licence format or if your licence details are harder to interpret.
Think of an IDP as a translation document, not a replacement for your UK licence. If you do get one, you still need to present your UK licence at the counter.
Because requirements can vary by supplier, it is sensible to check the rental terms for the specific company you are picking up from. If you are arriving via Fort Lauderdale, you can compare desk expectations across suppliers at car hire Fort Lauderdale airport FLL.
Common reasons for desk rejections in Florida (even with a full licence)
Having a full UK licence is necessary, but it is not the only thing that can cause a refusal at the rental desk. The most common issues relate to document acceptance, payment rules, and identity checks. Here are the desk rejections UK travellers most often encounter.
1) You only have a provisional or a recently upgraded licence
If you upgraded from provisional to full recently, make sure you are travelling with the full licence, not the provisional. In addition, some suppliers have minimum “licence held” periods, such as requiring that you have held a full licence for at least one year. This is supplier specific and sometimes varies by vehicle category.
If you are booking a larger vehicle, these restrictions can be stricter. If you are considering people carriers, review the requirements carefully for options like van rental downtown Miami, where vehicle classes may have additional eligibility checks.
2) Your licence is expired, damaged, or unreadable
Rental staff must be able to verify your licence quickly. A photocard that is cracked, badly worn, or difficult to read can be rejected. If the photocard expiry date has passed, the licence may be treated as invalid for rental purposes, even if your entitlement to drive in the UK is a separate question.
Before you fly, check that the card is in good condition and that the dates are in date for your travel period.
3) Your name does not match the reservation and passport
Florida car hire desks will check that the driving licence, passport, and reservation details align. If your surname differs due to marriage or deed poll and you have not updated all documents, you may be asked for supporting evidence or refused if the desk cannot verify identity confidently.
To avoid issues, ensure the lead driver name on the booking matches your passport and licence exactly, including middle names if your documents use them.
4) You do not have an acceptable payment card
Payment rules are one of the biggest sources of desk rejections. Many suppliers require a credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit. Some accept debit cards under stricter conditions, but those conditions can include additional identification, proof of return travel, or larger deposits.
Also check:
The card must be physical, not a virtual card number alone.
The available funds/limit must cover the deposit, which can be substantial.
The cardholder name must match the main driver’s documents.
If you are choosing between suppliers at Miami, it can be helpful to compare the rental policies presented for options like Enterprise car rental Florida MIA and similar desks, as payment acceptance can vary.
5) You are under the minimum age, or fall into young driver rules
Age requirements vary by supplier, but under 25s often face extra restrictions, fees, or limited vehicle groups. If you are a young driver, a full UK licence is still required, and the licence held period may be enforced more strictly. A provisional will not meet the requirement.
6) You cannot show the required documents at the counter
At minimum, expect to show:
Your physical UK driving licence.
Your passport as photo identification.
Your payment card meeting the supplier’s rules.
If you forget the licence, bring only a photocopy, or cannot access the payment card used for the deposit, the desk may refuse to hand over the car, even if you have paid in advance for the rental itself.
How Florida desk staff view a UK provisional licence
It helps to understand how counter checks work. Desk staff are trained to confirm three things: that you are legally permitted to drive the vehicle, that the supplier’s insurer will accept you, and that the supplier can secure a deposit. A UK provisional indicates you are not fully licensed to drive without conditions. Even if you intend to drive carefully and are an experienced learner, the rental company typically cannot treat a provisional as equivalent to a full licence because it conflicts with underwriting rules.
This is why provisional holders often face an immediate “computer says no” outcome at the counter. It is not a judgement about your ability, it is a compliance and liability issue.
What to do if you only have a UK provisional and need transport
If you only have a provisional licence, plan for alternatives rather than assuming you can negotiate at the desk. Practical options include:
Add a fully licensed driver who meets the supplier’s requirements and will be the main driver. The main driver is usually the person whose card pays the deposit.
Use rideshare and public transport for city stays, particularly in Miami and central Orlando.
Delay car hire until you have a full licence if your trip is flexible. Florida is easier with a car, but it is not worth the cost and disruption of a counter refusal.
If you are travelling via Tampa and coordinating with family, check pick up and drop off logistics around car hire Tampa TPA to minimise backtracking if only one person in your group is eligible to rent.
Tips to avoid problems when you do have a full UK licence
Even with a full licence, you can reduce risk by preparing for the desk process:
Check your licence dates and replace it if it expires soon.
Match names across documents, and correct discrepancies before travel.
Bring the right card and ensure you have enough available credit for the deposit.
Read supplier terms for age rules, licence held periods, and debit card acceptance.
Avoid last minute vehicle class changes that may introduce stricter requirements.
Finally, remember that Florida car hire desks can be busy, and agents will not usually have discretion to override policy. If something is not acceptable, the system will often block the rental from being opened.
FAQ
Can I rent a car in Florida with a UK provisional licence if I am over 25? Usually not. Age does not change the fact that a provisional is a learner licence, and most suppliers require a full licence to release a vehicle.
What does “full licence held for 12 months” mean? It means the supplier may require you to have had your full UK driving entitlement for at least a year. If you only recently passed, some vehicle groups or suppliers may refuse.
Will a photo of my UK licence be accepted at the rental desk? Normally no. Florida rental desks typically require the physical driving licence card, and they may refuse if you cannot present it.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to hire a car in Florida? Many UK drivers do not, but supplier policies vary. An IDP can help as a translation document, yet it does not replace your UK photocard licence.
Why was I refused even though I have a full UK licence? Common reasons include name mismatches, an expired or damaged licence, not meeting age or licence held rules, or not having an acceptable payment card for the deposit.
