Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Miami Airport. MIA Rental Car Center, Toll-By-Plate costs, the 113-mile drive to Key West and hurricane evacuation rules.
Driving to Key West? There is one road in and out, and in hurricane season visitors are the first to be told to leave. Read the Keys section below before you book.
The UK is Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s third-largest international market, behind only Colombia and Brazil, and UK arrivals grew 11.8% in 2025 (ANTOR).
Many UK families combine Miami with a drive south to the Florida Keys. A 7 seater suits that trip, especially with US minivans that hold far more luggage than European cars. The things to plan for are the tolls and the weather on the Keys road.
Picking up at Miami International
Most of the main hire firms are based at the MIA Rental Car Center, reached on the MIA Mover train from the 3rd level of the terminal, between the Dolphin and Flamingo garages (Miami International Airport).
Around 15 other firms are based off the airport and collect customers from outside the Rental Car Center. Your voucher will say which applies.
Tolls without cash
The Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike, which runs through Miami, has been cashless since 2011. Drivers without a SunPass transponder are billed by number plate through Toll-By-Plate, which costs 50% to 100% more per toll, plus a monthly service charge (CBS News).
On a hire car, the bill goes to the hire firm. Hire firms usually offer a toll package, either a daily fee or a charge per toll plus an admin fee. For a week of Miami driving with a trip to the Keys, a package can work out cheaper. For a beach stay where the car rarely moves, paying per toll usually wins.
Miami 7 Seaters for the Keys, compared
Compare the firms at the MIA Rental Car Center side by side, with the full price for each.
The Overseas Highway to Key West
The Overseas Highway runs 113 miles from the mainland to Key West as part of US Route 1, crossing 42 bridges including the Seven Mile Bridge (CLUI).
It is one of the great family drives in the US, but it is a single road. An accident or roadworks can hold traffic for a long time, so leave early and keep the fuel tank topped up.
Hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the peak from mid-August to mid-October. The Florida Keys tourism council says visitors are asked to leave for a hurricane of any category, while residents only have to go for Category 3 or above (Florida Keys).
With one road out, that order comes early. If you are booking a 7 seater for the Keys in those months, choose a rate with free cancellation and check the forecast before you set off.
Florida rules
Florida law requires a car seat for children aged three and under, and a seat or booster for children aged four and five (Florida Statutes 316.613). That is looser than the UK, where children use a seat until 12 years or 135 cm (GOV.UK), but the safety reasons are the same.
Turning right on red is legal after you stop, unless a sign says otherwise (Florida Statutes 316.075).
GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence is accepted in the US, but some hire firms also ask for an International Driving Permit (GOV.UK). You will also need an approved ESTA (GOV.UK).
Seven people, seven cases
US minivans are bigger than European 7 seaters. The Toyota Sienna has about 949 litres behind the third row, nearly three times the boot of a typical European 7 seater with all seats up (CarGurus).
The chart shows European models for comparison. For seven people and seven big cases in Miami, a minivan is usually the better choice than a large SUV.
Touring the Gulf Coast too? Our Tampa Airport guide covers the beaches north of Sarasota.
Getting a better Miami minivan deal
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Toll packages, extra liability cover, child seats and young driver fees all sit outside the headline price.
- Match the toll option to your plans. A daily package suits heavy driving. Pay per toll if the car will be parked most days.
- Book the Keys with free cancellation. In hurricane season, plans can change at short notice.
- Book early. Winter and the school holidays bring the highest demand. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Check Miami 7 Seater prices for your dates
Enter pickup and return times to see cheap rates and the toll terms before you book.
Questions people ask
Where is the car hire at Miami Airport?
At the MIA Rental Car Center, reached on the MIA Mover train from the 3rd level of the terminal. Some firms are off the airport and collect you from outside the building.
Can I pay Florida tolls in cash?
Not on the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike. Hire cars are billed through a SunPass or Toll-By-Plate, usually via the hire firm’s toll package.
How long is the drive from Miami to Key West?
The Overseas Highway alone is 113 miles, crossing 42 bridges. Allow plenty of time, because it is a single road with few ways around delays.
Do visitors have to leave the Keys in a hurricane?
Yes. Visitors are asked to leave for any category of hurricane, ahead of residents.
Where can I compare cheap 7 Seater deals at Miami Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows minivans and SUVs from the firms at Miami International in one list, with the total price for each. Prices move with demand, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
