Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Mike
Tolls are the most common surprise charge on a Miami car rental. The tolls themselves are small. What catches people is the service fee the rental company adds, and the fact that it can show up on your card days or weeks after you get home.
This guide explains how tolls work in a rental car in Miami, what the major companies charge, and how to pay less.
Fees below come from SunPass’s published summary of rental programs and from county toll schedules, checked in October 2026. Rental companies change these often, so read your rental agreement.
Why you cannot just pay cash
You cannot pay cash on Miami-area toll roads. There are no toll booths to stop at. An overhead gantry reads a transponder on the windshield or photographs the license plate.
Roads you are likely to meet:
- Dolphin Expressway (SR 836). The main route between the airport, downtown and Miami Beach.
- Airport Expressway (SR 112). From the airport toward I-95 and the Julia Tuttle Causeway.
- Don Shula (SR 874), Snapper Creek (SR 878) and Gratigny (SR 924) expressways.
- Florida’s Turnpike, including the route south toward Homestead and the Keys.
- I-95 Express lanes. The regular lanes are free.
- Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne and Venetian Causeway to Miami Beach. Each is $3.25 with SunPass and $6.50 by plate for a two-axle car.
The MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways to Miami Beach are free.
How tolls work in a rental car
In your own car, a toll without a transponder becomes a Toll-By-Plate invoice mailed to you. In a rental, the car is registered to the rental company, so the invoice goes there instead.
Here is what happens:
- A camera photographs the plate as you pass under the gantry.
- The toll is billed to the rental company’s toll program vendor.
- The vendor charges the credit card on your rental agreement for the toll plus a service fee.
- The vendor keeps the service fee. The toll agency gets only the toll.
Two consequences follow. You usually pay the higher undiscounted toll rate, not the SunPass rate. And the fee structure is whatever your rental company set.
What the major rental companies charge
These are the programs as summarized on SunPass’s rental vehicle page.
| Companies | Unlimited plan | If you do not buy the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise, National, Alamo | None needed | $4.95 for each day you use a toll, capped at about $30 per rental, plus the tolls |
| Avis, Budget | $12.99 per day or $64.95 per week | $6.95 for each day you use a toll, capped at $34.75 per rental month, plus the tolls |
| Payless | $12.99 per day or $64.95 per week | $7.95 for each day you use a toll, capped at $37.95 per rental month, plus the tolls |
| Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty | $14.99 per day | $9.99 for each day you use a toll, plus the tolls |
| Fox | $14.49 per day, up to $217.35 | $15 for each toll, capped at $90 per rental, plus the tolls |
With Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Payless and Fox, tolls without a plan are billed at the toll agency’s highest undiscounted rate.
Two words matter more than any others in these programs:
- “Per day.” An unlimited plan is charged for every day of the rental, including days the car never leaves the hotel garage.
- “Per usage day.” The pay-as-you-go fee is charged only on days you pass through a toll.
Sixt and other companies not listed here set fees by location. Independent and local agencies vary the most. Some include a transponder for a low flat daily rate, and others bill each toll with a fee afterward. Ask before you sign.
What it looks like on a real trip
Take a five-day rental with tolls on two days, totaling $6.
| Program | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Enterprise, National or Alamo | $6 in tolls + 2 × $4.95 = about $16 |
| Avis or Budget, no plan | $6 in tolls + 2 × $6.95 = about $20 |
| Hertz, Dollar or Thrifty, no plan | $6 in tolls + 2 × $9.99 = about $26 |
| Hertz unlimited plan | 5 × $14.99 = about $75 |
Now flip it. On a five-day trip with long Turnpike drives every day, an unlimited plan can come out ahead. The right choice depends on how much toll driving you will actually do.
Three ways to pay less
1. Use your own transponder
If you already have a SunPass or a prepaid Toll-By-Plate account, you can charge the rental’s tolls to it:
- Log in to your account.
- Add the rental car’s license plate.
- Set the start and end dates of the rental.
- Take your transponder with you when you return the car.
E-ZPass and several other out-of-state transponders are also accepted on Florida toll roads. SunPass lists the accepted brands on the same page.
Before you drive off, ask the counter how to make sure the car’s own toll device does not also bill you. Many rental cars have a transponder mounted in a box on the windshield that needs to stay closed.
2. Buy a SunPass when you arrive
Staying a week or more, or visiting Florida often? A SunPass can pay for itself in one trip.
- SunPass PRO: $14.95. Portable, and it also works wherever E-ZPass is accepted.
- SunPass Mini: $4.99. A sticker made to stay on one windshield, so it is a poor fit for rentals.
Both are sold at Publix, CVS and Walgreens, among thousands of Florida retailers. You activate the transponder and load a prepaid balance online, then add the rental plate as described above.
3. Skip the toll roads
Most trips in Miami have a free alternative. Turn on “avoid tolls” in your navigation app before leaving the rental lot. It usually adds time, sometimes a lot at rush hour, but for a short visit with a couple of local trips it can make the whole question go away.
Questions to ask at the counter
These five questions prevent most toll disputes later:
- Is the toll fee charged per rental day or only on days I use a toll?
- Is there a maximum fee for the rental?
- Are tolls billed at the SunPass rate or the higher plate rate?
- Can I use my own transponder, and how do I disable the one in the car?
- When will toll charges appear on my card?
Keep your rental agreement and note the times you used toll roads. Toll charges often post after the rental has closed, sometimes weeks later, and the agreement is what you will need if a charge looks wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a SunPass to drive a rental car in Miami?
No. Every major rental company has a program that lets you use toll roads without one. A SunPass only saves you the company’s service fees.
Can I pay Miami tolls with cash?
No. The toll roads in and around Miami are all electronic.
What happens if I decline the toll plan and drive through a toll anyway?
You are charged the toll plus the company’s pay-as-you-go fee. With the major brands that is between about $5 and $10 for each day you use a toll, and with some companies it is charged per toll.
How much is the Toll-By-Plate fee in Florida?
Toll-By-Plate invoices carry a $2.50 administrative charge per monthly invoice, on top of higher toll rates. In a rental, the rental company’s fee applies instead.
Is it cheaper to avoid toll roads from Miami airport?
For one or two trips, usually yes. From the MIA Rental Car Center, both nearby expressways are tolled, so set your navigation to avoid tolls before you pull out.
The bottom line
For a short Miami trip, skip the unlimited plan unless you will be on toll roads every day. Know your company’s per-usage-day fee, bring your own transponder if you have one, and use the “avoid tolls” setting for local driving. For more on driving here, see Driving in Miami: 7 Fast Facts You Need to Know.
Fees and toll rates were checked against SunPass and Miami-Dade County sources in October 2026. Rental companies change their programs often, so confirm with yours.
