🚙 Car Rentals in Miami

Renting a Car in Miami: Requirements, Tolls & Tips

A rental car turns Miami into a base for the whole region: the Everglades, the Florida Keys, Fort Lauderdale and the outlet malls are all easy day trips once you have wheels. Most visitors pick up at Miami International (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL), where every major company has a desk, though city and hotel locations are also common.

Before you book, it's worth knowing Florida's rules on driver age, documents and tolls — they affect the final price more than the headline daily rate. Comparison sites let you see hundreds of suppliers at once and filter for free cancellation.

Requirements to rent

In Florida the usual minimum age is 21. Drivers aged 21–24 can rent but normally pay a 'young driver' surcharge per day and may be limited to certain car categories. You'll need a full driving licence valid for your whole trip; if it isn't in English (or the Latin alphabet), bring an International Driving Permit alongside it. A credit card in the main driver's name is almost always required for the security deposit.

Tolls: SunPass and how you are billed

Many of Miami's expressways and the Florida Turnpike are electronic-toll only — there are no cash booths. Rental cars use SunPass, Florida's transponder system. Most companies offer a toll program that bills the actual toll plus a daily admin fee (roughly $3–15 for each day you drive on a toll road). If you skip the program, unpaid tolls can come back as charges with extra fees, so confirm how tolls are handled when you collect the car.

Do you really need a car in Miami?

If your trip is mostly South Beach, you may not — parking is expensive and limited, and rideshare covers short hops. A car earns its keep when you want to explore beyond the city: the Everglades, the Keys, Fort Lauderdale, Wynwood and the malls. Many travelers rent for just the days they plan to drive out of town.

Frequently Asked Questions