Most cars rented at Miami International Airport are picked up in one building: the MIA Rental Car Center. It is not in the terminal, but getting there is free and takes only a few minutes.
This guide walks through pickup and return, lists the companies on site, and flags the things that trip up first-time visitors. Details were checked against the airport’s website in October 2026.
Where it is
MIA Rental Car Center 3900 NW 25th Street, Miami, FL 33142
The center sits just east of the terminals and is part of the Miami Intermodal Center, the airport’s ground transportation hub. The same complex holds the airport’s Metrorail and Tri-Rail stations, so it is also where you catch a train or bus.
How to get there from your flight
- Collect your bags at baggage claim.
- Go up to the third level of the terminal.
- Follow the signs along the moving walkways to the MIA Mover station, between the Dolphin and Flamingo parking garages.
- Ride the MIA Mover to the Rental Car Center. It is free and drops you at the customer service lobby.
Signs for “MIA Mover” and “Rental Car Center” start at baggage claim. If you have a lot of luggage, grab a cart before you head up.
Rental companies at the center
The airport lists these companies inside the Rental Car Center:
- ACE Rent A Car
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Carnival Rent A Car
- Dollar
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- National
- Payless
- Royal
- Sixt
- Thrifty
Off-site companies
A number of other agencies operate near the airport rather than inside the center, including Fox, Easirent, Green Motion, NU Car Rentals and U-Save. On request, they pick customers up right outside the Rental Car Center lobby. If you booked one of these, call when you arrive at the lobby and confirm exactly where to wait.
The roster and phone numbers are on the airport’s rental car page. That list was last updated in December 2022, so confirm the pickup location shown in your own reservation.
Hours, and the late-flight problem
The Rental Car Center building is open 24 hours a day. The counters inside are another matter. The airport notes that some companies close between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
If your flight lands late:
- Check your company’s counter hours before you book, not after.
- Put your flight number in the reservation so the counter knows about delays.
- If you are delayed past closing, call the local number, not the national reservation line.
At the counter
A few things speed up pickup and prevent problems later:
- Bring the right card. The renter’s name must match the driver’s license and the credit card. Debit card policies vary by company, and some require extra documents or a larger hold.
- Ask about tolls. The expressways next to the airport are cashless, and every company handles tolls differently. Read our guide to rental car tolls in Miami before you get to the counter.
- Check the insurance you already have. Your own auto policy or credit card may cover a rental. Know the answer before you are asked.
- Photograph the car. Walk around it before leaving the garage and take pictures of every panel, the wheels, the windshield and the fuel gauge.
Driving out
Two toll roads sit right outside the center: the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) toward downtown and Miami Beach, and the Airport Expressway (SR 112) toward I-95. Neither accepts cash.
If you want to avoid tolls, set your navigation app to “avoid tolls” before you leave the garage. If you are new to driving here, Driving in Miami: 7 Fast Facts You Need to Know is worth five minutes.
Returning your car
- Navigate to 3900 NW 25th Street and follow the “Rental Car Return” signs. The airport publishes driving directions to the center.
- Follow the signs for your company to its return lane.
- Wait for an agent to check the car in, and get a receipt, on paper or by email, before you walk away.
- Take the MIA Mover back to the terminal.
Allow extra time. Between refueling, the return, the MIA Mover and the walk to your check-in counter, leave at least 30 minutes on top of the time you would normally arrive for your flight, and more at peak hours.
Refuel before you get close. Gas stations nearest the airport tend to charge the most, so fill up a few miles out.
Not renting? Other ways out of the airport
The Miami Intermodal Center next to the Rental Car Center is also the airport’s transit hub, reached by the same free MIA Mover:
- Metrorail Orange Line to downtown and Brickell for $2.25.
- Miami Beach Airport Express (Route 150) to Miami Beach every 30 minutes for $2.25.
- Tri-Rail to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
- The free City of Miami trolley, on the Flagami route.
Our guide to public transportation in Miami covers these in detail. Taxis and rideshares pick up at the terminal.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MIA Rental Car Center inside the airport?
It is on airport property but in a separate building. The free MIA Mover connects it to the terminal.
Is the MIA Mover free?
Yes. There is no charge to ride between the terminal and the Rental Car Center.
Is the Miami airport Rental Car Center open 24 hours?
The building is, but individual rental counters are not all open overnight. Some close between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., so confirm with your company.
Where do I return a rental car at Miami airport?
At the Rental Car Center, 3900 NW 25th Street. Follow the “Rental Car Return” signs to your company’s lane, then ride the MIA Mover to the terminal.
Can I return my rental car and go straight to the cruise port?
Yes. Return the car at the Rental Car Center, then take a rideshare or taxi to PortMiami. See our guide to getting to PortMiami from the airports.
The bottom line
Picking up at the MIA Rental Car Center is simple once you know the route: third level, MIA Mover, lobby. The parts that cost people money are the ones outside the building, such as tolls, late counter hours and fuel, so sort those out before you land.
Details were checked against Miami International Airport sources in October 2026. Rental companies and hours change, so confirm with yours.