Miami car hire

Visitors keen to venture beyond the silvery sands of South Beach should book cheap car hire in Miami. The city’s public transport system is a tad limited in scope, while a car will give you the freedom to discover the city at your own pace.

Language: English | Currency: Dollars ($) | Avg. Flight time: 9.5 hrs

With almost every international hire company offering cheap car rental at Miami airport (MIA), there’s no shortage of choice for car rental.

Compare and book car hire at Miami airport and you can collect your keys as soon as you arrive. Catch the MIA Mover from the third-floor airport train station to the MIA Rental Car Center (RCC). Here you’ll find local and international car-rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt.

Car rental desk at Miami airport include:

• Avis (Tel: +1 305 341 0936)
• Budget (Tel: +1 305 871 2722)
• Enterprise (Tel: +1 305 633 0377)
• Hertz (Tel: +1 305 871 0300)
• National (Tel: +1 305 638 1026)
• Sixt (Tel: +1 305 503 9849)

Miami’s city centre is just 15 minutes away by car. If you’re going further afield, Key Largo is just under two hours’ drive, while the Everglades can be reached in under 45 minutes.

Motor down Art Deco haven Ocean Drive, whizz over to Bayside Marketplace and fill your boot with designer togs, visit cage-less animal park Zoo Miami on the city’s southern limits or make the half-hour journey from downtown to the mangrove forests of the 440-acre Deering Estate.

Even if you’re planning nothing more than a few evenings out at restaurants across the city, a car will make life much more straightforward.

With your own car rental in Miami, you can explore the city’s scenic surroundings.

Top of your road-trip list should be the Everglades: 1.5 million acres of verdant wetland, populated by manatees, crocodiles and dolphins, around 50 miles south of Miami.

A lesser-known but equally spectacular beauty spot is Biscayne National Park, gateway to the world’s third-largest reef and a short 45-minute journey from central Miami in a rental car.

Got the kids in tow? Brave the three-and-a-half-hour drive north from Miami to Orlando to discover the biggest and best theme parks in the world.

Choose from a huge array of mega parks, including Walt Disney World’s gigantic four-park complex, the walkable streets of Universal Orlando, aquatic haven SeaWorld and the private beaches of super-chilled resort Discovery Cove.

1. Parking in South Beach is difficult and expensive; it’s common for hotels to charge upwards of $30 per day. If you plan on taking out a rental, check that your accommodation provides suitable parking arrangements.

2. Make sure you have a good supply of quarters. Change-hungry parking meters are the norm and rates generally start at 25 cents for 15 minutes.

3. If your journey involves crossing a causeway or passing through downtown Miami, then allow extra travel time. Drawbridges open frequently, some every half an hour, to allow the passage of large sailing vessels, and the hold-ups can come as a surprise to visitors.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.