Miami toll transponder

Question

Hi coming to Miami from the UK and was wondering how the toll transponder works ?

I’m staying around Lauderdale by the sea then travelling to the keys !

I wondered if anyone knows the charge from car rental companies, I’ve had good quotes from Dollar and Sixt at the moment but can’t see what the extra would be for the transponder

I understand I would have to pay the tolls anyway but just wondering what daily rate to hire would be

Any help would be appreciated

Regards

Answer

If you’re coming to Miami from the UK and planning to drive in Florida, it’s important to understand how tolls and transponders work. Florida has many toll roads, especially around Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Florida Keys. Instead of paying cash at toll booths, most rental cars now come equipped with an electronic toll transponder called SunPass or the rental company’s equivalent, which allows you to drive through tolls without stopping.

Here’s how it works:

The transponder is either mounted in the car or integrated into the rental vehicle.
When you drive through a toll plaza, the toll is recorded electronically via the transponder.
The rental company then charges you for the tolls plus a daily administrative fee for using the transponder.

Regarding charges from rental companies, each company has slightly different policies:

Dollar: Typically charges around $3.95–$5.95 per day for using their toll program, plus the actual tolls. There’s usually a maximum fee per rental (around $19.95).
Sixt: Charges a similar daily fee for the electronic toll device, plus the tolls themselves. Check your reservation for exact rates, as it may vary by location.
Other companies like Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise have comparable programs with daily administrative fees between $3–$7 and tolls charged as incurred.

Important notes for your trip:

You will pay the tolls regardless of whether you use the rental company’s transponder. If you don’t use their transponder, you might have to pay via SunPass, which requires registering a Florida account and preloading it, or pay via mail (which may incur extra fees if the rental car is not registered).
For convenience, most travelers renting in Florida opt to use the rental company’s transponder despite the daily fee. It avoids hassle and late bills.
Since you’re staying in Lauderdale by the Sea and traveling to the Keys, you’ll encounter tolls on I-95 express lanes, Florida Turnpike, and bridges to the Keys, so using a transponder is very practical.

In summary, expect an additional $4–$6 per day on top of actual tolls when renting from Dollar or Sixt. The exact toll charges depend on your route, but for a trip from Lauderdale by the Sea to Key West and back, you can anticipate around $20–$30 in tolls total.

If you prefer, you could also rent the car without the transponder and pay tolls via cashless options, but you’ll need to manage each toll separately and possibly deal with administrative fees for unpaid tolls later.