Car Rental in Miami
Despite the effective Miami’s public transportation system, independent and autonomous Miami car rentals are the ideal way to visit each and every corner of the City of Miami and its surrounding areas in your own rhythm and style. Miami taxis are considered overall costly and will add a significant expense to your journey if exclusively used for all your transfers. On the other hand, buses, trains, and trolleys are a cheap way to travel around the city. Nevertheless, they can be time-consuming and tedious, especially when traveling with children or wishing to reach long-distanced areas requiring multiple changes of lines. That’s exactly the reason why Miami car rentals are a popular transfer option among the city’s visitors.
Do you Need a Car in Miami?
Miami is a really big city. Thus, traversing considerable distances from one attraction to another can be a real hassle (if not impossible) via public transportation means and extremely costly via Miami taxis. Moreover, Miami’s surrounding areas are also worth visiting, while many of Florida’s sights lie close by. Therefore, a Miami car rental is always a good idea if wishing to know the city in depth. What’s more, Miami is the “Magic City”. Thus, you should explore it in style!
How to Rent a Car In Miami?
In general terms, it is advisable to make your car rental reservation online in advance. In that way, not only can you secure the best deals and discounts, but you’ll have access to a bulk of car vehicle types so that you choose the ideal one for you. Miami hosts plenty of car hire providers, from international companies to local agencies. Thus, finding a value-for-money car rental in Miami shouldn’t trouble you at all. With the use of a search engine, you’ll have access to all the car rental companies’ fares and services, and after thorough research, you’ll almost certainly come up with a quality car rental at a fair price. Nevertheless, the following tips will, even more, guarantee an unwinding and satisfying Miami car rental experience:
- The sooner you make your Miami car rental booking, the better prices you’ll secure.
- Please keep in mind that potential adds-on (GPS, additional driver, etc.) should raise the price.
- You should choose the “same-to-same” fuel option and refill the vehicle before returning it as car rental agencies usually overcharge fuel.
- Miami car rental companies charge per 24 hours. Hence, schedule the dropping-off time wisely to avoid getting charged extra.
- It is recommended to take some pictures of your car rental before setting off to capture any already existing scratches or damaged spots.
What is the Legal Age to Rent a Car in Miami?
You can rent a car in Miami as long as you are 21 years old. Nevertheless, even though this is the legal age limit, some Miami car rental companies may have higher limits for some car types (luxury cars, etc.). What’s more, young drivers (between 21 and 25 years of age) usually pay an extra fee.
What do you Need to Rent a Car in Miami?
Car renting in Miami requires the usual paperwork. Hence, the car rental agencies will ask you for a valid driver’s license obtained at least one year before the car rental date, your passport or ID, a credit card, and your reservation voucher. If your driver’s license is written in a non-Roman alphabet, issuing an International Driving Permit will most probably be necessary as well.
How much is a Rental Car in Miami?
The price of Miami car rentals depends on the vehicle’s type, the renting duration, the required extra amenities, the picking-up and dropping-off locations, and the time of the year. Naturally, compact and mini cars are cheaper than premium cars or full-size SUVs. Moreover, renting a car for a day is usually costlier than renting it for a week, while advance bookings can lead to tempting deals and considerably lower prices. Overall, the average price for a Miami car rental is 60$/56€.
Is it Cheaper to Rent at the Airport or in the City?
Miami airport car rentals are considered pricier than car hires from another city’s location. Even though not a rule, Miami airport car rental companies charge higher than the city’s car hire offices. Thus, if you want to save money on your Miami car rental, picking it up from a location in the City of Miami should end up somewhat cheaper. Nevertheless, for your convenience, you should first check the online deals. A potential value-for-money airport car rental option will get you out of the transferring-from-and-to-the-airport hassle.
What are the Most Rented Cars in Miami?
Most Miami visitors pick a compact Miami car rental for their journey, possibly because it is easy to get maneuvered around in traffic and makes the demanding parking in Miami streets a little easier. On the other hand, the Miami sun always calls for a convertible.
Can I Rent a Car with a Debit Card in Miami?
Some Miami car rental providers accept bookings with a debit card. However, when this is the case, they usually withdraw the whole amount of money and not only a security fee, as happens with credit-card reservations. Moreover, if your journey also includes visiting Mexico, car rental bookings via debit card should probably be out of the question.
Do you Need Insurance to Rent a Car in Miami?
All Miami car rentals are insured by their car hire company. In fact, that level of insurance is obligatory and can’t be avoided. Still, the cost of that minimum insurance is already added to the car rental’s price.
Do I Need Additional Insurance when Renting a Car in Florida?
Additional insurance for Miami car rentals is complimentary, and that’s why it raises the final price by adding an extra fee to the car rental price. Nevertheless, it can be life-saving in case of an accident or damage not covered by the standard vehicle’s insurance. Thus, it is recommended to opt for additional insurance to have peace of mind during your journey in Miami.
Our Tip: Some credit cards offer car rental insurance coverage. Hence, you should check out if one of yours provides such benefits and use this one for your Miami car rental to save money on insurance expenses.
Is Parking Difficult in Miami?
Parking in Miami can be proven a challenging task, while free parking is almost a mission impossible. While parking lots are considered relatively expensive, some public parking lots are a more affordable option. Still, finding an available parking spot is difficult whether looking for a private or public parking area and even more so if opting for parking on the street. Therefore, online reservations are always recommended, at least near the city’s busiest sites and most popular attractions.
More Tips & Hints about Miami Car Rentals
- Some Miami car rental companies provide unlimited-daily-mile packages. However, most of them set a standard mile limit per day.
- If you are interested in a contactless drop-off, you’ll find car hire agencies providing that option. In that case, you’ll have to return the vehicle to a specific location no matter the day of the week or the time of the day and leave the keys in the drop-off box. Otherwise, car rentals can only be returned during the operational hours of the company’s desks.
- Please keep in mind that many Miami highways are toll roads.
- When planning your journey, you should take into account the common Miami traffic jams. The peak hours -when the traffic levels are considerably high- are from 07:00 am to 09:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 07:30 pm. What’s more, Palmetto Expressway, Florida’s Turnpike, and I-95 are listed among the worst Miami roads to be caught in traffic.
- Many drawbridges (movable bridges) are to be found across Miami, often going up to allow water traffic to pass. Unfortunately, if you find yourself on the spot as one bridge goes up, its operation will add some extra time to your ride.
- The alcohol limit in Miami is 0.08% BAC (blood alcohol content).
- All passengers have to wear seatbelts. However, passengers in the back seats over the age of 18 are exempted from this rule.
- In Miami, a right red arrow allows turning right at the relevant crossroad only after coming to a complete stop.