Sun Pass

Question

Hello again, we are renting a car at Miami airport. We declined the toll option. Will we encounter tolls from there to the keys? I read in very old posts that some buy a temporary sun pass to use just for the trip. I don’t want the rental car company to charge us for tolls we won’t use. I see we can purchase a sun pass add money and put on our car windshield. They mail out. Is this needed at all?

Thanks.

Answer

If you are renting a car at Miami Airport and declined the toll option, it’s important to know how Florida’s toll roads work to avoid unexpected charges.

1. Tolls from Miami to the Keys: The main route from Miami to the Florida Keys is US-1. Most of the way, this road is free. However, there are a few small toll bridges along the route, primarily around the Florida Turnpike connection in Miami. Once you’re on US-1 heading into the Keys, there are no major tolls until you reach Key Largo, and even there, most bridges do not have cash tolls—they are electronic.

2. Rental Car Companies and Toll Charges: Rental agencies often charge a daily fee for using their toll system if you opted in. Since you declined it, any electronic tolls (like SunPass tolls) may be billed to you at a higher rate with administrative fees if the car passes a toll without a pre-paid plan. This is why some travelers prefer to use a personal or temporary SunPass rather than the rental company’s toll service.

3. Temporary SunPass Option: Florida allows you to purchase a temporary SunPass or use a pre-loaded SunPass transponder. This is particularly useful if you plan to use toll roads in Miami (like Florida Turnpike, SR-826, or other expressways) before heading south. The temporary SunPass can be mailed to you in advance, or you can sometimes buy it at convenience stores near Miami or online for immediate use. This allows you to avoid rental car administrative fees.

If your route is strictly Miami to Key West via US-1, you may encounter very few, if any, tolls. Check if your specific route includes Florida Turnpike segments.
Using a temporary SunPass can be worthwhile if you plan to drive expressways in Miami or other areas with toll roads. It avoids extra rental fees.
If you avoid toll highways entirely, you can likely drive from Miami to the Keys without any toll costs.

4. Recommendation: For a typical Miami Airport → Florida Keys trip, you do not need a SunPass if you stick to US-1. If you want to use the Turnpike or other tolled expressways for convenience, a temporary SunPass is better than relying on the rental company’s toll option.

5. Practical Tip: Map your route in advance to identify any toll segments. If you see tolls on the Florida Turnpike or express lanes near Miami, consider buying a temporary SunPass; otherwise, you can avoid tolls entirely without additional cost.

Sun Pass

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