Car hire in Miami is the key to South Florida, from the Art Deco glamour of Ocean Drive to the long causeway drive across to South Beach and the unforgettable run down the Overseas Highway to Key West. Compare cheap car hire in Miami from £21 a day, with real-time availability, no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings.
Whether you are renting a car in Miami for the beaches, the Wynwood arts district and Little Havana, or using the city as the launch point for the Everglades and the Florida Keys, a hire car opens up distances that the city’s patchy transit cannot. This guide covers what you need to collect the car, how the SunPass tolls and the causeways work, where to park, and the driving rules worth knowing before you rent a car in Miami.
Miami is the headline city in our car hire in Florida guide and part of the wider car hire in the USA cluster. As across the USA, car hire and car rental mean the same thing, so both terms appear throughout.
What Car Hire in Miami Opens Up
Miami rewards a hire car more than almost any US city, because the best of South Florida sits an hour or two beyond the city limits. Renting a car in Miami turns a beach break into a road trip.
Ocean Drive and South Beach
The Art Deco strip along Ocean Drive is the postcard Miami, best seen by car at dusk when the neon comes on. Note that South Beach parking is tight and metered, so many visitors stay on the mainland and drive across the causeways. Car hire in Miami still beats relying on rideshare for the wider area.
The Drive to the Florida Keys
The single best reason to book car hire in Miami: the Overseas Highway, US Route 1, runs 113 miles from the mainland to Key West across 42 bridges and a chain of islands. There is no train and the bus is slow, so a hire car is the only way to drive the Keys at your own pace. Plan a full day each way. The official Florida Keys tourism site has the route detail.
The Everglades, Wynwood and Little Havana
Everglades National Park is around an hour West of Miami and effectively needs a car. In the city, the Wynwood Walls arts district and the Cuban culture of Little Havana are easy drives. For the city itself, the official Greater Miami tourism site is the authority.
Car Hire in Florida
Miami is one base in a much bigger state. Our Florida guide covers Orlando and the theme parks, the Gulf coast at Tampa, the full SunPass toll picture and the best season to visit. If your trip runs beyond the Southeast, start with the Florida state guide.
What to Know Before Renting a Car in Miami
Airports: MIA and Fort Lauderdale
Most car hire in Miami is collected at Miami International (MIA), six miles from downtown, with a dedicated rental centre linked by the MIA Mover train. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is around 30 miles North and often cheaper, worth comparing if your plans are flexible. Both put you straight onto the highway network.
SunPass Tolls and the Causeways
Miami is heavily tolled. The expressways and the causeways linking the mainland to Miami Beach use the electronic SunPass system with no cash booths. Hire cars in Miami carry a transponder, with tolls and a daily fee billed through the supplier. Ask how the toll programme works at collection, as the fees mount on a longer stay.
Automatic, Insurance and Age
Almost every hire car in Miami is automatic. The headline rate usually excludes Collision Damage Waiver for the car and Supplemental Liability Insurance for third parties, and Florida’s liability minimums are low, so SLI is strongly recommended. The minimum age is generally 25, with a young driver surcharge for ages 21 to 24.
Documents and Parking
You need a full driving licence held for at least 12 months, a passport and a credit card in the main driver’s name. UK and EU licences are accepted for car hire in Miami without an International Driving Permit. Budget for paid parking in South Beach and Downtown, where it is metered and limited; many hotels charge a daily valet or self-park fee on top of the room.
Car Hire in Miami: Seasonal Costs
Rates for car hire in Miami follow the Florida calendar, peaking in the dry winter season and over spring break, and falling through the humid summer. The cheapest rental cars in Miami are found in late summer and autumn, with the caveat that June to November is hurricane season.
| Season | Period | Typical daily rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak winter | Dec to Apr | £36 to £62/day | Warm, dry, busiest. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead. |
| Spring break | Mar | £42 to £72/day | South Beach at its busiest. Book early. |
| Low summer | Jun to Sep | £21 to £36/day | Hot, humid, cheapest. Hurricane season. |
| Autumn | Oct to Nov | £24 to £40/day | Good value and quieter, still warm. |
| Indicative rates for compact-and-up classes booked online in advance. Free cancellation is strongly advised on summer bookings during hurricane season. | |||
Driving Rules for Car Hire in Miami
Car hire in Miami drives on the right and overtakes on the left, following Florida and wider US rules. Miami traffic is fast and assertive, so allow extra time and check mirrors often on the multi-lane expressways.
Speed Limits
Speed limits are posted in miles per hour: 15 mph in school zones, around 30 mph in residential and business areas, and up to 55 to 70 mph on expressways and the Turnpike. Limits change frequently through construction zones, which are common around Miami.
| Road type | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| School zones | 15 to 20 mph |
| Residential / business areas | 30 mph |
| Urban arterials | 35 to 45 mph |
| Expressways / Turnpike | 55 to 70 mph |
| Limits vary and are always superseded by posted signs. School zones are strictly enforced. Use dipped headlights when wipers are on, which is Florida law. | |
Miami Specifics
Right turn on red is allowed after a full stop unless signed otherwise. Seat belts are mandatory and young children need appropriate restraints. Texting while driving is illegal and handheld phone use is restricted. The drink-drive limit is 0.08% blood alcohol and strictly enforced. Sudden heavy afternoon downpours are normal in summer, so slow down when the road is wet.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire in Miami
Is it worth renting a car in Miami?
Yes, if you plan to leave South Beach. Car hire in Miami is essential for the Everglades, the Florida Keys and the wider Southeast, all of which are poorly served by public transport. For a stay confined entirely to South Beach you could manage without, but most visitors find renting a car in Miami opens up far more of the region.
How much does car hire in Miami cost?
Rates run from around £21 a day in the low summer season to £62 or more in the winter peak and over spring break. Booking car hire in Miami online in advance is consistently cheaper than the airport counter, and three to four weeks ahead is the reliable window.
Where do I collect a hire car in Miami?
Most car hire in Miami is collected at Miami International (MIA), which has a dedicated rental centre linked by the MIA Mover train. Fort Lauderdale (FLL), about 30 miles North, is often cheaper and worth comparing. Downtown city locations are also available.
Can I drive from Miami to Key West in a hire car?
Yes, and it is one of the great American drives. The Overseas Highway runs 113 miles from the mainland to Key West. Confirm that your car hire in Miami has no mileage cap and that any tolls on the way out of the city are covered by the supplier toll programme. Allow a full day each way.
Are car hire and car rental the same in Miami?
Yes. Car hire is the British term and car rental is the American term for the same service. Whether you search car hire in Miami or car rental Miami, you are comparing the same vehicles at the same desks.
Compare Cheap Car Hire in Miami
From the neon of Ocean Drive to the last bridge into Key West, Miami is a city that opens up the moment you have your own car. Sort it before you fly, understand the SunPass tolls and the insurance, and plan for paid parking in South Beach. Getcarhire.com compares cheap car hire in Miami from over 500 suppliers, with no hidden fees and free cancellation on most vehicles. See the wider car hire in Florida guide, the car hire in the USA cluster, or compare car hire in New York and car hire in Las Vegas for the rest of your trip.
