15-Passenger Van Rental in Orlando vs a Van With a Driver: The Real Cost

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Renting a van vs a van with a driver at a glance

What does a 15 passenger van rental in Orlando really cost?

Expect $74 to $88 a day, or about $518 a week, for the van itself, with December averaging $126 a day on KAYAK. Taxes, fees, a toll program, fuel and parking come on top.

Orlando's tollbooths do not accept credit cards, and the Beachline Expressway (SR 528) is the main road from MCO to Cape Canaveral. If you already have a SunPass account, you can add the rental's plate for your trip dates instead of paying the rental program.

Is it cheaper to rent a van or book a van with a driver?

For airport and cruise transfers, a van with a driver usually costs less, because you pay for two rides instead of a week of rental.

14 people, MCO to a Disney resort and back (7 nights)

A JOB 14-passenger van both ways costs $358, or $25.57 each. A week's van rental runs about $528 to $623 before tolls, fuel, taxes and fees.

To be fair, a Disney Resort hotel adds no parking cost. Stay at a Kissimmee villa and each Disney theme park day adds $35, or $40 if the lot classes your van as oversized. Either way, the van you rent all week may sit idle on pool days.

One way, a full van works out to $12.79 each, below Mears Connect's roughly $18.66 per adult. See our MCO to Disney World van transfers.

Van rental from MCO to Port Canaveral: 12 people, 7-night cruise

A rented van spends the whole cruise in a port lot at $20 a day plus tax. A JOB 12-passenger van there and back costs $458. Twelve people need the 15-passenger rental, since one of you drives.

The drive is about 42 to 45 miles, roughly 45 to 60 minutes on SR 528 (how far Port Canaveral is from MCO). Port garages and lots do not open before 10 AM for embarking passengers, and with a driver there is no lot to queue for. Book Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral in a private van.

When does renting a van make more sense?

Renting can win when your group needs a vehicle every day and someone drives large vans regularly, as NHTSA advises. It also helps if:

• You will drive to several places every day, not only to and from the airport.
• Your hotel or villa has free parking with room for a full-size van.
• You find a rate near the low end; 25% of KAYAK users found $56 a day or less.

A mix also works. Book a driver for the airport or port legs, when the bags are heaviest, and an hourly private driver for one big day out: $109 an hour for the 14-passenger van, with a minimum of 3 hours; three hours is $327.

Can I drive a 14-passenger van with a regular license?

Yes, in Florida. A standard Class E license covers non-commercial vehicles under 26,001 pounds, including "15 passenger vans including the driver."

• More than 15 people: a vehicle designed for more than 15 people, counting the driver, needs a commercial license (Class C) with a passenger endorsement.
• Age: rental companies set their own rules. Enterprise rents 12- and 15-passenger vans only to drivers 25 or older.
• School and youth groups: Enterprise says its vans do not meet Federal Bus Safety Standards and cannot carry students in 12th grade or younger, other than family, for school functions. Bandago cannot rent for public K-12 student transport in Florida.

This is general information, not legal advice.

12-passenger van vs 15-passenger van: who actually fits?

When you rent, the seat count includes you, the driver. A 12-passenger rental carries 11 of your group plus the driver, and a 15-passenger rental carries 14 plus the driver.

In any van, luggage tends to run out before seats do. NHTSA says to keep cargo forward of the rear axle and never load the roof, so tell us your bag count when you book. More on how much luggage fits in an UberXL, SUV or van.

What does NHTSA say about driving a 15-passenger van?

NHTSA says these vans should be driven only by experienced, licensed drivers who drive this type of vehicle regularly, and it calls a commercial license ideal. Its other advice:

• Brake early. The vans need extra braking time and cannot handle abrupt maneuvers the way cars can.
• Everyone buckles up. 69% of 15-passenger van occupants killed in crashes from 2010 to 2019 were known not to be wearing a seat belt.
• Load smart. Fill seats front to back, keep cargo ahead of the rear axle and put nothing on the roof.
• Check the tires. Check pressure and wear before each use.
• Limit the hours. Drivers should not drive more than 8 hours a day.

NHTSA adds that electronic stability control has removed the rollover danger in newer vans. The rest still applies, and on vacation it falls on a parent fresh off a flight. With JOB, driving the van is the driver's job, and every JOB vehicle is inspected and maintained.

Passenger van rental at Orlando airport: what the counter does not show

Picking up a van takes time while your group waits with the bags. A JOB driver is already inside the terminal.

• Business hours: specialty van renters keep office hours. Bandago's Orlando branch is open 9 AM to 5 PM daily, and Master's Transportation closes its Orlando office on weekends. Land at 9 PM and you may not get the van until the next morning.
• Car seats: you install every seat yourself in the lot. Follow NHTSA's car seat guidance, and read our guide to Florida car seat law for visitors.
• Going home: you return the van, unload everyone's bags and still need to reach security 2 hours before departure, as the airport recommends.

With JOB, your driver meets you inside the terminal with a name sign. At Terminal C, the airport's Meet and Greet Area is on Level 6. Need milk and snacks for the villa? We stop at a grocery store on the way, on request. Read more about our MCO ground transportation.

Can I rent a minibus at Orlando airport for 15 or more people?

Not to drive yourself on a regular license. In Florida, a vehicle designed for more than 15 people including the driver needs a commercial license with a passenger endorsement.

For larger groups, ask us about two vehicles, each at its own flat fare. For example, if both are free for your date, 20 people from MCO to a Disney resort fit in the 14-passenger van plus an SUV: $288, or $14.40 each. More on getting from MCO to Disney World with a group.

What you get with a JOB van and driver

A driver who meets you inside the terminal, a 12- or 14-passenger Ford Transit, and nobody in your group behind the wheel.

• One flat price per vehicle, not per person, with tolls and airport fees included; gratuity is optional.
• Car seats and boosters on request. See our Orlando car service with car seats.
• Spanish spoken: ask for a Spanish-speaking driver. Hablamos español.
• Baggage hold after a cruise: we keep your bags while you visit Kennedy Space Center or Cocoa Beach, then drive you to MCO. See our baggage hold.
• $1,000,000 liability insurance, far above Florida's $125,000/$250,000/$50,000 minimum for for-hire vehicles.
• Family-run: riders know Pedro and his family by name.

Round trips save a step. For groups of 7 to 14, see our private group van shuttle in 12- and 14-passenger Ford Transits.

Been using Pedro for a few years now. Fantastic service.