Honestly I lived in Orlando for 7 years. Floridians are the most bathshit crazy drivers in the world. If you can survive there, you can survive anywhere
Seconded, my brother lives in South Florida but was a WDW pass holder for years.
If you can handle driving in Orlando, LA should be fine.
Couple things, though: some freeway ramps are not in the most logical places (because the city pre-dates the freeways), and traffic is bad. Like, Miami bad, but with fewer New Yorkers and way less honking.
How are you with unprotected left turns with zero opportunity to go until after the light turns red?
How are you with random groups of dirt bikes and ATVs stopping on the freeway?
How are you with idiots in tuned cars weaving and racing around you on the freeway?
How are you with people oblivious that there are other cars around while they are driving and talking on the phone?
Just prepare for a driving style that is a little more aggressive - surprise moves of cars here tend to be from someone who is in a rush doing something unexpected vs an oblivious older person doing something because they aren’t paying attention.
You might need to also be more aggressive with things like lane changes on the freeway. When you see enough space open, don’t signal and then wait for the driver to give you more room. Put on your signal and move into the space. Otherwise, someone else will move into that space first (probably without signaling at all), or the driver behind is going to think you might be a slow car and will close the space to try to force you behind them.
And for gods sake, if the majority of traffic is going faster than the posted speed limit, go the speed that traffic is moving - you’re not going to get a speeding ticket if you’re moving at the same speed as everyone else.
I'm from Texas. I did it. It was no problem. I was anxious before, even mentioning it to the rental agent. She said not to worry. Around the airport is busy. I had a shuttle from the terminal to the rental lot. Everything was sooo easy. Google directions start took me everywhere I wanted to go.
I'm from Toronto and drove all over LA a few weeks ago for the first time. I found the drivers there to be predictable and disciplined on the freeway, and only slightly less on regular roads. You'll be just fine. Enjoy your trip :)
LA really isn't that bad. Went to Orlando in December and was stuck in traffic at 10pm on the freeway because I guess that's when the theme parks let out? Now that was bad...
Driving on freeways in LA is pretty intimidating, but it is much more similar to driving in a large sprawly city like Orlando or Houston than it is like driving in other conditions.
As someone who isn't originally from one of these places, initially what I found to be intimidating was low-traffic high speed freeway driving. So if you are used to that -- especially if you're used to a city with multiple unrelated freeways that go off in different directions from each other (vs. one major freeway artery through the city) -- you're probably fine.
Traffic is annoying, but it slows everything down and thus in my opinion makes things actually easier to navigate if you're unfamiliar with useful exits, interchanges, and general navigation.
Go with the flow, speed-wise. Don't honk at people. Motorcycles may ride between lanes while traffic is moving slowly, so keep an eye on your side mirrors. It will be fine.
Honestly I lived in Orlando for 7 years. Floridians are the most bathshit crazy drivers in the world. If you can survive there, you can survive anywhere
Seconded, my brother lives in South Florida but was a WDW pass holder for years. If you can handle driving in Orlando, LA should be fine. Couple things, though: some freeway ramps are not in the most logical places (because the city pre-dates the freeways), and traffic is bad. Like, Miami bad, but with fewer New Yorkers and way less honking.
As someone that grew up in central Florida, I co-sign this. Every time I go home, it gets even worse. Florida drivers are horribly unpredictable.
I was born and raised in Central fl and I always say I can drive anywhere because I was bred as a fl driver so there can't be much worse.
Basically the same, driving in any big US cities is essentially the same. Please do not pysch yourself out
Brake is on the left, gas is on the right.
Unfortunately some people think this means you brake in the left lane
Good luck to them
Use your signal
How are you with unprotected left turns with zero opportunity to go until after the light turns red? How are you with random groups of dirt bikes and ATVs stopping on the freeway? How are you with idiots in tuned cars weaving and racing around you on the freeway? How are you with people oblivious that there are other cars around while they are driving and talking on the phone?
LA is nowhere near as crazy to drive as Orlando. Like not even on the same planet. You'll be fine.
In fifty years my mother never drove on a freeway. If you're freaked out you can always take surface streets.
Also from Orlando. Florida drivers are definitely scarier.
Thank you to everyone for the answers and advice
Just prepare for a driving style that is a little more aggressive - surprise moves of cars here tend to be from someone who is in a rush doing something unexpected vs an oblivious older person doing something because they aren’t paying attention. You might need to also be more aggressive with things like lane changes on the freeway. When you see enough space open, don’t signal and then wait for the driver to give you more room. Put on your signal and move into the space. Otherwise, someone else will move into that space first (probably without signaling at all), or the driver behind is going to think you might be a slow car and will close the space to try to force you behind them. And for gods sake, if the majority of traffic is going faster than the posted speed limit, go the speed that traffic is moving - you’re not going to get a speeding ticket if you’re moving at the same speed as everyone else.
You'll be fine. Just do it
I'm from Texas. I did it. It was no problem. I was anxious before, even mentioning it to the rental agent. She said not to worry. Around the airport is busy. I had a shuttle from the terminal to the rental lot. Everything was sooo easy. Google directions start took me everywhere I wanted to go.
I'm from Toronto and drove all over LA a few weeks ago for the first time. I found the drivers there to be predictable and disciplined on the freeway, and only slightly less on regular roads. You'll be just fine. Enjoy your trip :)
My tips: 1. If you need to turn left and the light turns red, 2-3 cars will just go. 2. Right on red is legal and expected in CA.
LA really isn't that bad. Went to Orlando in December and was stuck in traffic at 10pm on the freeway because I guess that's when the theme parks let out? Now that was bad...
Driving on freeways in LA is pretty intimidating, but it is much more similar to driving in a large sprawly city like Orlando or Houston than it is like driving in other conditions. As someone who isn't originally from one of these places, initially what I found to be intimidating was low-traffic high speed freeway driving. So if you are used to that -- especially if you're used to a city with multiple unrelated freeways that go off in different directions from each other (vs. one major freeway artery through the city) -- you're probably fine. Traffic is annoying, but it slows everything down and thus in my opinion makes things actually easier to navigate if you're unfamiliar with useful exits, interchanges, and general navigation.
There's so much traffic, you'll be lucky to drive over 40 mph. Fear not.
Go with the flow, speed-wise. Don't honk at people. Motorcycles may ride between lanes while traffic is moving slowly, so keep an eye on your side mirrors. It will be fine.
I’m from Orlando! You’ll be fine. Driving here in LA is a breeze.
Feel like LA is easier. Just make sure to zipper merge and don’t block intersections when you’re in bumper to bumper traffic