Florida Tolls Guide: Paying and Using Tolls In A Hire Car
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UK visitors choosing a hire car to get Disney World and explore the Orlando area over a two week holiday, or longer, have to get to grips with how toll roads work. Paying tolls, which you can keep to a minimum if you choose the best toll payment option or to skip them altogether, is just part of driving a hire car on Florida.
This guide looks at everything you need to know when driving in Florida from the perspective of a UK visitor who’s had hire cars and got used to the Florida tolls system.
Paying Florida Tolls With A Hire Car: Comparing UK Options
There are 3 options UK visitors can use to pay Florida tolls or they can avoid using toll roads:
Toll Payment Method | Cost | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
Pay tolls through car hire company | Variable, charged daily to a maximum amount | At the desk when you pick up your car / automatically added to your bill if you drive through a toll |
Visitor Toll Pass | £0, (£7.50 ($10.00) fee if you don’t return pass to machine) | Orlando International Airport only (MCO) |
SunPass Pro | £11.25 ($15.00) plus tax and a £7.50 ($10.00) deposit for tolls | Publix, CVS, Walgreens Amazon UK |
Set navigation to skip tolls | Cost of the E-Sim to use google maps and avoid roaming charges | Sort the E-Sim before you leave the UK |
To find out more about using SunPass Pro or Visitor Toll Pass head to one of our deep dive articles covering how to use them in practice:
Read on to find out why tolls are easy to navigate when you know how, what car hire companies charge in 2026 to handle tolls for you, and to find out my mistake on short trips from Disney Resorts with toll roads,
How Do Florida Tolls Work With Hire Cars?
Most Florida toll roads work electronically, especially around Orlando. Payment is cashless in a lot of places and collected either by a transponder on your windscreen or by cameras that photograph your number plate and charge the vehicle's registered owner. When you hire a car, that’s the car hire company. They then pass the charge on to you with an added administration fee.
To find out more about what you can expect from hiring a car in Florida as a UK visitor read Florida Car Hir For UK Visitors: Choosing, Booking & Using A Hire Car.
For UK visitors, the single biggest difference from toll roads at home is how tolls are charged. Unlike the Mersey Tunnel which uses cash or card to pay as you drive through in a hire car or the Runcorn Bridge that you pay online after using the toll as a private driver in a hire car. The plate is registered to the rental company, so any camera-based toll goes to them first, not you.
The roads you're most likely to use on a Disney World holiday from the UK, the SR 417, SR 528 (the Beachline from Orlando International Airport, MCO) and Florida's Turnpike, are all tolled. Just driving the most direct route from the airport to the area of Disney World, you'll drive through tolls.
Do Hire Cars Have To Pay Tolls In Florida?
Yes, hire cars have to pay tolls when using toll roads in Florida. You are charged a set fee at each toll point you pass through, with the amount varying by road and, on some routes, by the distance you've driven. Most Orlando-area roads charge a fixed rate per plaza or ramp, the places you enter the toll system, while Florida's Turnpike calculates the toll based on how far you travel along it.
Tolls are charged by two different companies: Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) opens in a new tabruns some stretches while Florida's Turnpike Enterprise opens in a new tab runs others. Exact rates vary by company and how they charge. But what’s key for UK visitors is that they all work together, so you don’t need to know which company owns the road. Some car hire invoices list charges from more than one agency, but that’s the only place you’ll likely notice which company owned the toll road you drove on.
Toll charges can take up to 3 weeks to come through, they’re not always on the spot.
The exact amount UK visitors pay for tolls on Florida toll roads is affected by:
- How you pay for tolls: transponder rates (SunPass, E-PASS, Visitor Toll Pass) are the lowest. Toll-by-plate rates are higher,
- If rental company admin fees are added on top, because they are handling your toll charges
- Which roads you use; you can skip toll roads.
- Tolls are also charged in US dollars so exchange rates affect the price you pay
- As many tolls are cashless and whether you pay by Visitor Toll Pass, SunPass or Car Hire Company costs will be charged to a credit card so this is one of the trip costs where a fee-free card can save you money.
How Do Tourists Pay Toll Roads in Florida With a Rental Car?
There are three main options for UK visitors to pay tolls when driving a hire car:
- The rental company's toll programme: You can opt into it, (sometimes for a better rate) or it is the default if you just drive through a toll road. Tolls are billed to the card on your rental agreement, usually with a daily admin fee added, which often costs more than the tolls themselves.
- Visitor Toll Pass: a free temporary transponder designed for tourists, collected at MCO, which charges tolls at the lowest rate with no admin fees. Read about using Visitor Toll Pass to see if it works for your holiday; it’s the best option if your flights are at MCO.
- Buying SunPass Pro: This is a transponder you pick up in a shop, register in their app, and top up yourself. It’s trickier than Visitor Toll Pass but worth considering for longer stays or repeat visits when you’re not flying to MCO. Read SunPass: How UK Visitors Regularly Visiting Florida Save Money On Tolls to see if it’s the best option for your holiday.
Which Roads Are Toll Roads in Florida?
In 2026, Florida has more toll roads than any other state in the US, with a total of 29 toll roads, 8 tolled express lanes, and 13 toll bridges. For UK visitors heading to the Orlando area, there are 10 key toll roads covering around 125 miles, which include the Florida Turnpike, that you’ll find when driving if you’re staying in the local area.
While the amount of toll roads may sound off-putting, don’t let it worry you if you’re planning on driving. Florida has 734 toll road miles across the state. Below you’ll find the main toll roads and examples of journey’s when you might choose to use them:
Road | When you’ll use it | Tolled |
|---|---|---|
SR 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay) | MCO to Disney World - the most common airport route | Yes |
SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) | MCO to Universal/International Drive, or east to Port Canaveral for cruises | Yes: |
SR 429 (Western Beltway) | Western approach to Disney from Davenport, Clermont and Horizon West villa areas | Yes |
Osceola Parkway | Kissimmee and US 192 villas to Disney: mainline plaza at Shingle Creek | Yes |
SR 408 (East-West Expressway) | Crossing central Orlando, downtown venues | Yes |
Florida's Turnpike | Longer runs south towards Miami or north towards Ocala, Kennedy Space Centre | Yes |
SR 538 (Poinciana Parkway) | Occasional: Davenport/Champions Gate area to Poinciana | Yes |
SR 551 (Goldenrod Road Extension) | Short link off SR 528 near MCO | Yes |
I-4 | The main corridor past Disney, Universal and downtown Orlando | Free, |
I-4 Express lanes | Lanes on the main corridor past Disney, Universal and downtown Orlando You MUST have a SunPass/E-PASS/Visitor Toll Pass to use the Express Lanes; Pay-by-Plate is not permitted and will trigger a £18.75 ($25.00) violation fee. | Dynamic traffic based pricing £0.37 ($0.50)to £1.12 ($1.50) each way |
SR91: Turnpike Mainline | Road from the airport through Orange County or down to Osceola | Yes |
For anyone who wants to plan routes and check prices, there are two documents you’ll need: FY 2027 Toll Rate Schedule_Final opens in a new tab and Central-Florida-7-1-26.pdf opens in a new tab which cover the toll roads mentioned above.
When you plan to use a transponder to pay tolls you avoid paying the highest rate, which is pay-per-plate and is double the price than using a transponder on most routes, All transponders work on every route across Florida, so it doesn’t matter who charges the toll from a toll payment perspective for UK visitors.
Can You Avoid Toll Roads With a Hire Car?
Yes, it is possible to avoid toll roads completely when driving in Florida. This means you won’t pay extra for toll roads or car hire administration fees for processing toll payments, saving money on the total cost of car hire. By setting your sat nav or Google Maps to "avoid tolls" you be sent on the I-4 and local roads, which are toll-free but can be slower as traffic’s often heavier.
For most UK visitors it makes sense to budget to use the toll roads for longer journeys:
- arrival day and departure day: driving o and from the airport
- driving down to cruise terminals
- heading on days out beyond the immediate local area, like to Kennedy Space Centre which is over an hours drive on toll roads.
The best toll-free road to use to avoid the tolls is US 192, World Drive, International Drive that connects local roads around Disney, Kissimmee and I-Drive.
Avoiding tolls on short trips from Disney hotels
Where avoiding tolls makes sense is on short local hops just outside the Disney bubble. Driving on-site at Disney World between Disney resorts, Disney Springs and the parks themselves uses toll-free roads, but trips to nearby places, such as to the closest Walmart Supercentres can catch you out.
For example I totted up completely unnecessary tolls driving to Walmart on North Old Lake Wilson Road; 3 times. It added £1.74 ($2.32) in tolls for a round trip every time. It’s not much over 3 trips, £5.22 ($6.96), it’s certainly not breaking the holiday budget. It was just annoying when I could have spent the money on coffee and there was a free option I overlooked entirely.
Here’s the Walmart Supercentre where you can avoid making the same mistake:
Walmart Supercentre | Cost from Disney World using toll road return | Distance with tolls & journey time | Free route to take | Distance without tolls & journey time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Walmart, 2855 North Old Lake Wilson Road | £1.74 ($2.32) Toll: SR-429 South (Western Beltway toll road) | 6.5 miles (14 minutes each way) | West Buena Vista Drive south, connect straight to US-192/W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, and turn left onto N Old Lake Wilson Rd. | 4.4 miles (12 minutes each way) |
Walmart, 3250 Vineland Road | £1.90 ($2.53) Toll: (Osceola Parkway through Shingle Creek Toll Plaza) | 7 miles | Osceola Parkway (which is free while on Disney property) to International Drive (often via World Drive or Victory Way) to connect to US-192 or local side roads up to Vineland Road. | 7.8 miles |
Walmart, 8990 Turkey Lake Road | £0.75 ($1.00) - £2.25 ($3.00) depending on time of day Toll: I-4 Express Lane | 12.1 miles | West Buena Vista Drive to I-4 East. Stay in the standard, general-use lanes (don’t enter Express Lanes), leave at Sand Lake Road. | 12.1 miles |
When I made my mistake, I was using a Visitor Toll Pass, but the costs could have been higher if I had left my toll charges to a car hire company.
What Do Car Hire Company’s Charge To Handle Toll Costs In 2026?
Car hire company toll handling or administration costs vary by company. Company’s set their own maximum amount for toll administration fees over the total amount of time you hire a car, so you have to read the small print. Toll hire administration fees are charged every day you go through a toll up to the maximum amount; they add the cost of tolls on top of the administration fee. This is why many UK visitors can save money by sorting out their own toll payment option.
Here is a look at some popular Orlando car hire companies and the amounts they automatically charge for handling the tolls as part of your car hire:
Car Hire Company | Daily Service Charge | Maximum toll charge per rental period (toll cap) |
|---|---|---|
£3.71 ($4.95) | £25.98 ($34.65) | |
£2.96 ($3.95) - £3.71 ($4.95) | £22.50 ($30.00) | |
£5.21 ($6.95) | £26.06 ($34.75) | |
£5.96 ($7.95) | £29.81 ($39.75) for a period up to 30 days | |
£2.96 ($3.95) | £14.81 ($19.75) | |
£5.21 ($6.95) | £26.21 ($34.95) for a period up to 30 days | |
Daily rate varies | £67.49 ($90.00) when not using pre paid service correct as of 2021 |
Pricing correct as of July 2026. This table is designed to show you the average of what you pay for just getting in the car and going. Each company operates their own unique toll paying service and you can opt for different packages, so always check the details with your chosen provider. Click on the provider in the table above to navigate to their terms.
How Do UK Visitors Avoid Car Hire Company Costs For Toll Roads?
UK visitors can avoid car hire company costs for toll roads by using a Visitor Toll Pass or a SunPass Pro. The Visitor Toll Pass is the easiest and best option for most UK visitors, as long as they are flying to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO). It’s free to use and you’ll pay lower rated tolls, skipping car hire administration costs completely.
The SunPass Pro is the only real other option for a car hire if you fly into a different airport and rent a car. This has more cost involved as you have to buy a transponder and pre-load it with cash to pay toll and is trickier to set-up and manage in the app. However if you plan to visit often and not fly into MCO this is a good way to skip car hire admin fees, as you can keep it and bring it with you when you travel.
Next steps
Where to go next
The next steps from here
Planning A Disney World Holiday From The UK: Ultimate Guide (2026-2027)Find out about heading to Disney World from the UK here, from turning the dream into a holiday plan, booking, and planning your days in the parks
Orlando Car Hire For UK Visitors: Choosing, Booking & Using A Hire CarPlanning Florida car hire from the UK? Compare costs and insurance with practical tips on driving, fuel and collecting your hire car.
Disney World Planning & Booking Timeline: What To Book & When From The UKA full timeline for UK visitors planning Disney World trips with guidance for key milestones, perfect for first timers
Disney World Booking Timeline: When and How To Book From The UKUK Questions About Florida Tolls
What happens if you accidentally drive through a toll road in Florida?
If you accidentally drive through a toll road in Florid you will still be charged for using that road. This will be charged to your car hire company, or directly to you if you have a SunPass or Visitor Toll Pass.
How do you pay toll roads in Florida with a hire car?
You have 3 main options to pay tolls with a hire car: pay through the hire car company, use Visitor Toll Pass, use SunPass Pro.
Can you avoid toll roads in Florida?
Yes, you can. Just set your navigation to avoid toll roads and you will be diverted around.
Do you have to use the hire car companies toll paying scheme?
No, you can use either Visitor Toll Pass if you are flying to and from MCO, or pick up a SunPass Pro to use on your holiday and return holidays.
Can you drive through tolls and pay later?
No, Florida tolls do not let you drive through and go online to pay later within a set time frame like the Runcorn Bridge in the UK. Tolls are billed to the car by registration plate.
