Which SUV class you need, what the deposit really is, and why collecting off-airport is cheaper — written by an operator, not an aggregator.
Miami is a city you drive. The beach is twenty minutes from the airport, the Everglades an hour west, and Key Largo an hour south — and none of it is comfortable in a compact car with four people and their luggage. An SUV solves the two problems that actually ruin South Florida trips: not enough boot space for airport luggage, and not enough ground clearance for the flooded streets you will meet in a summer afternoon downpour.
Rates move with the season. January to April is high season, when demand from northern visitors and cruise passengers pushes prices up; June to September is quieter and cheaper, apart from holiday weekends. These are our own current classes and deposits — you can check live prices for your dates in seconds.
| Class | Example | Seats | Typical use | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate SUV | Nissan Rogue | 5 | Couples, small families, beach trips | $400 |
| Full-size SUV | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | 6–7 | Families with luggage, longer drives | $600 |
| Premium SUV | Lexus RX 350 | 5 | Business travel, comfort | $550 |
| Large luxury SUV | Audi Q7 | 7 | Groups wanting space and comfort | $1,000 |
The deposit is a refundable hold on your card, released when you return the vehicle. It is not a charge, and it is separate from the rental price.
An intermediate SUV is enough. You get the raised driving position and a boot that swallows two large cases, without paying for seats you will not use.
Go full-size. The third row in a Grand Cherokee L or Atlas folds flat when you do not need it, so you are choosing flexibility rather than committing to seven seats.
This is where people get caught out. A seven-seat SUV with all seats up has very little boot space left. If you need seven seats and seven people's bags, a minivan or passenger van is the honest answer, not an SUV.
We are not in the Car Rental Center. We operate from the Holiday Inn Miami International Airport at 1111 S Royal Poinciana Blvd, and the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle to and from MIA every 30 minutes, on the hour and the half hour, around the clock.
When you land, go to the Arrivals Level (Level 1), outside baggage claim, and use the curbside zones across from Doors 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 15, 20, 23, 24 or 28. Look for the shuttle marked “Holiday Inn.” Off-airport pickup is why our rates sit below the in-terminal desks — the airport concession fees that get added to a Car Rental Center booking simply are not there.
A valid driver's licence, a card in the renter's name, and proof of insurance if you are declining ours. We accept debit cards, which most airport desks will not do without a return flight ticket and a credit check — useful if you are visiting from abroad and do not carry a US credit card.
Real-time prices from our own rental system — Miami Airport, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. No account needed, and you can pay at the counter.
See live prices →It depends on class and season. Intermediate SUVs are our cheapest SUV class, with full-size and luxury classes above that. Rates are lower from June to September than in the January–April high season. Check live prices for your exact dates rather than relying on an average.
A regular car is fine for two people staying on the Beach. An SUV pays for itself if you have three or more passengers with luggage, plan to drive to the Keys or the Everglades, or are visiting in the summer rainy season when streets flood.
Yes. We accept debit cards, subject to our standard requirements including proof of insurance. Most in-terminal desks refuse debit or require a credit check and a return flight ticket, so this is worth checking before you book elsewhere.
No. The deposit is an authorization hold — the funds are held, not taken, and released when you return the vehicle. The amount depends on the class, from $400 for an intermediate SUV to $1,000 for a large luxury SUV.
Not at the Car Rental Center. Take the free Holiday Inn shuttle from Arrivals Level 1 — it runs every 30 minutes, around the clock, from the curbside zones across from Doors 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 15, 20, 23, 24 or 28.