Quick Summary
- Florida toll roads charge rental cars electronically through the number plate or an in car transponder.
- Most companies add a daily service fee on every day you trigger at least one toll, even if the toll itself is small.
- If you expect only one or two toll trips, it is worth comparing toll packages, using avoid tolls in your navigation or bringing your own SunPass.
How Florida tolls reach your rental car bill
Across Florida, many main routes such as Florida’s Turnpike, I 95 Express and parts of SR 417 use electronic tolling instead of cash booths. Cameras and sensors read a transponder or the vehicle’s number plate as you pass under a gantry and charge the owner of the vehicle.
In a rental car that owner is the hire company. They or their toll vendor then pass the tolls on to you, usually with an additional fee for handling the payments. This is why a couple of short trips through cashless lanes can cost more than the signs suggest.
Typical rental car toll programmes in Florida
Programmes differ between brands, but three patterns appear again and again.
Automatic per day fee when you use a toll. Under this model the car is always enrolled. On any calendar day where at least one toll appears, you pay the toll itself plus a fixed service fee, often around five to fifteen US dollars. Allied companies such as Alamo, Enterprise and National tend to use versions of this approach.
Optional unlimited package. Some brands sell a daily or weekly package that includes unlimited tolls. If you accept it, you pay the flat price whether you drive through one gantry or twenty. If you decline it but later use a cashless lane, you are normally billed each toll plus a smaller admin charge.
Plate billing with higher admin fees. Other arrangements rely entirely on toll by plate. The toll agency invoices the rental firm, which then charges you the highest toll by plate rate together with a processing fee for every day or every tollable event.
The exact figures change over time, so the most reliable source is the toll section of your rental agreement. Hola Car Rentals surfaces this clearly while you book, so you can see in advance whether occasional toll use will be cheap or expensive on a given deal.
If you only plan to use a few toll roads
When you know you will only hit a handful of toll gantries, you have several ways to keep control of costs. The simplest is to avoid toll roads completely by switching on avoid tolls in your navigation app. Around Miami and Orlando that may add a little time, but there are always toll free routes to popular beaches, outlets and parks.
If traffic is heavy and you decide the time saving is worth it, try to keep your toll use to as few days as possible. With a pay per day programme, using toll roads three times on the same day usually costs less than using them on three separate days.
A popular alternative is to bring your own SunPass Portable or other compatible transponder. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise allows drivers to add a rental number plate to their own account, so tolls are paid directly by you rather than through the rental company. If you do this, make sure any device supplied with the car is switched off or stored so that it does not also record your journey.
Planning Florida tolls with Hola Car Rentals
When you arrange Florida car hire through Hola Car Rentals, you can choose pick up points that match the roads you expect to drive. South Florida travellers often start at Miami Airport or Fort Lauderdale, while theme park visitors tend to collect from Orlando International.
Many Hola Car Rentals offers include All Inclusive plus cover, maximum liability protection and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up. Selected itineraries even provide cashback on tolls, helping to soften the impact when using fast expressways really does make sense.
FAQs
Will I pay a fee if I never use a toll road?
No. If the car does not record any tolls, there should be no toll programme charge. Keep avoid tolls active and watch for signs to make sure you do not enter express lanes by mistake.
Is it cheaper to pay cash at toll booths?
On roads that still accept cash, paying with notes or coins can avoid rental service fees. However many busy routes near Miami and Orlando are now cashless, so you must use electronic payment or a plate system and rely on your agreement terms.
What happens if I use more toll roads than expected?
If you suddenly find yourself using tolls every day, contact the rental company as soon as you can. In some cases they may be able to move you onto an unlimited package for the remaining days, reducing the total you pay.
Can I be billed months after my trip?
Yes. Toll agencies take time to send plate invoices to rental firms, so charges can appear on your card several weeks later. Keeping a copy of your agreement and booking confirmation from Hola Car Rentals helps you check that every toll charge matches the terms you accepted.
By understanding how these programmes work and planning whether you really need those few toll journeys, you can enjoy flexible Florida driving with Hola Car Rentals without letting tolls dominate your holiday budget.
