Most toll roads and causeways around Miami are cashless, so a rental car is billed electronically either through the rental company's toll program (usually with a daily service fee on top of the toll) or, if you set it up, through your own SunPass account. The cheapest and least stressful approach is to decide how you will pay before you leave the lot, because the toll notice goes to the registered owner of the car, which is the rental company, not to you.
How cashless tolling works
Gantries over the road read either a SunPass or compatible transponder or, if there is none, photograph the license plate. A plate photo becomes a Toll-By-Plate charge, which is billed to the registered owner at a higher rate than a transponder toll and may include an administrative fee. When the registered owner is a rental company, it pays the bill and then recovers the money from you, usually plus its own fee. Once the plate rate and the company's fee are added, a toll of a few dollars can show up on the final invoice as several times that amount.
Three ways to handle tolls in a rental
| Option | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rental company toll program | The car is enrolled automatically or by opt-in; tolls are charged to your card | Daily service fees on each day a toll is used, often with a cap per rental; fees differ by company |
| Your own SunPass account | You add the rental's plate to your account for the rental dates, if the company allows it | Remove the plate afterward; never run two accounts on one plate; check the company's policy first |
| Avoiding toll roads | Use free routes such as US-1 (Biscayne Boulevard) and local streets | Slower, and Key Biscayne and the Venetian Islands can only be reached on a tolled causeway |
SunPass publishes guidance for renters, including adding a rental vehicle's plate to your own SunPass account for the rental period. Check the current version on sunpass.com. Whatever route you choose, ask the rental company three questions at pickup: Is there a transponder in the car? Am I already enrolled in a toll program? What is the fee per day of use and per rental?
Which roads are tolled
Florida's Turnpike and several cross-county expressways, including SR 836 (the Dolphin Expressway), SR 112 (the Airport Expressway) and SR 874 (the Don Shula Expressway), are tolled, and some bridges and causeways charge a toll as well. Two that visitors use most for a scenic drive are county causeways: the Rickenbacker Causeway to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, and the Venetian Causeway between the mainland and the Venetian Islands and Miami Beach. According to Miami-Dade County, the standard two-axle toll effective October 1, 2025 is $3.25 with SunPass and $6.50 by Toll-By-Plate, and Toll-By-Plate also carries a $2.50 monthly invoice fee. Cash is not accepted. On the Rickenbacker, the toll is collected when you enter the islands of Key Biscayne and Virginia Key. See the county's causeway page for the current schedule, since rates are revised from time to time.
A note on express lanes
I-95 has express lanes that use dynamic pricing: the price rises with congestion. Historically these lanes have required a properly mounted SunPass or compatible transponder, and plate-based billing was not accepted. Rental-company programs may not cover express lanes, and a car without a transponder could be assessed a penalty or an unpaid-toll fee. Unless the rental company confirms in writing that you can use them, stay in the general-purpose lanes.
Typical rental-company fee structures
The toll programs of the major brands generally add a service fee for each day on which a toll is used, often capped per rental, with the tolls themselves charged on top. The daily fee and the cap differ by brand and are revised from time to time, so look them up for the company you book. Exotic specialists differ: some include a transponder, some bill tolls with an admin fee, some prohibit toll roads without permission. Fees change, so treat these as ranges and verify the terms in your own agreement. Add the amounts to your estimate using the framework in our cost breakdown.
Practical tips
- Plan your first drive on a map app with "avoid tolls" switched on or off deliberately, rather than by accident.
- Pick up the car at a time when you can ask staff to show you the transponder or confirm enrollment.
- Keep a note of every toll road you use. Match it with the final invoice and dispute any mismatch quickly.
- The quickest routes from the airport to the beaches use tolled expressways, so settle the toll question before you leave the airport. Our airport pickup guide compares the handover options.
- If you are planning scenic loops, check which causeways are tolled. The scenic drives guide marks the toll points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay tolls in cash?
On most toll roads and the county causeways, no. Payment is electronic, either by SunPass or by plate billing.
What happens if I ignore a toll notice in a rental car?
The notice goes to the rental company, which pays it and charges your card along with its administrative fee. Unpaid tolls can also lead to penalties, so settle any dispute quickly.
Can I use my own SunPass transponder in a rental?
Some companies allow it; others prohibit it because the transponder could be linked to the wrong vehicle. Ask first and remove the transponder or plate from your account when the rental ends.
How much is the Rickenbacker Causeway toll?
Miami-Dade County's schedule effective October 1, 2025 lists $3.25 with SunPass and $6.50 by Toll-By-Plate for a standard car. Check the county page for the current rate before you go.
Are the I-95 express lanes safe to use in a rental?
Only if the rental company confirms that its toll program or transponder covers them. Otherwise stay in the general lanes to avoid penalty charges.