"Miami is Nu's weakest US location in the review data, and several of the specifics here — the toll transponder rules, the deposit tiers, the operating hours — are worth knowing before you arrive rather than at the counter."
Nu's Miami operation is run by its affiliate Horspower Car Rental, situated about a mile from the terminal at 3947 NW 26th St. The rates are competitive — often among the lowest available at MIA — and the logistics work fine if you arrive during operating hours, have your insurance situation sorted, and understand the toll pass rules before you get to the desk. The location scores 5.9 out of 10 across 201 reviews on DiscoverCars, which makes it the lowest-rated US airport in Nu's network. That score reflects a specific set of friction points, most of which are avoidable with the right preparation.
This page covers the shuttle process, operating hours, what you'll actually pay beyond the base rate, and what the review picture reflects — so nothing at the counter is a surprise.
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Getting to the lot
Nu isn't in the Rental Car Center with the major brands. From the terminal, take the MIA Mover — accessed from the 3rd level between the Dolphin and Flamingo garages — to the Rental Car Center. Once there, follow signs to the Off Airport Car Shuttles and wait at stations 4 or 5. Call +1 888 656 7383 when you arrive so the shuttle knows to come. It's not a scheduled service; it runs on demand.
The shuttle wait is the most commonly cited friction point in Miami reviews. It's not unique to Nu — other off-airport suppliers at MIA operate the same way — but it adds time that surprises travellers expecting the on-airport experience of Hertz or Avis. Budget 20–30 minutes from terminal to lot on a normal day, more during peak periods.
Operating hours: 8:00 am to 7:00 pm daily. This is the detail that matters most for late arrivals. If your flight lands at 9:30 pm — not unusual on a delayed domestic or a long transatlantic — the counter is closed and the shuttle doesn't run. Nu's published conditions note that vehicles are held for up to two hours past your reservation time, but only within operational hours. If you arrive after 9:00 pm, your options are an airport hotel overnight or arranging alternative transport, then returning for the car the next morning when the lot opens at 8:00 am.
What you'll actually pay
The base rate is the starting point. What gets added at the MIA counter — and what doesn't — is worth mapping before you arrive.
The deposit
Per Nu's published MIA conditions, the deposit structure depends on what coverage and add-ons you select. For non-Florida residents: declining coverage and the toll pass puts the deposit at $2,500. Accepting the toll pass only (while relying on your own coverage) brings it to $1,000. Taking the Inclusive Rate — which bundles collision, theft, and liability with a $2,500 excess — has its own deposit terms. Florida residents have a different path: they must present a proof-of-insurance declaration page at pickup, and have a separate deposit range of $250 to $1,000 depending on toll pass selection. The deposit is a hold, not a charge — not a withdrawal from your account. It releases after return, though the T&Cs allow up to 10 business days. Ask at pickup if you need the credit available quickly.
The toll pass
The toll pass situation at MIA is specific to this location and worth understanding in full. All vehicles are fitted with a non-removable transponder. You cannot remove it, and you cannot use your own SunPass or E-ZPass in its place. If you decline the prepaid pass ($13.95/day), a $25 admin fee applies to each toll violation recorded by the device. Removing the transponder entirely carries a separate $450 penalty per the published T&Cs — it stays in the car regardless. Most Florida toll roads are electronic — cash and card payment at the booth isn't available on the majority of them. Declining the pass is only practical if you can route around every toll for the entire rental period, which in the Miami metro isn't always possible.
For most travellers heading anywhere south of downtown — the Keys, Key Largo, the Everglades — tolls are unavoidable. The pass at $13.95/day is the cleaner option. If your trip is genuinely limited to surface streets in the city, declining is workable — just plan your routes before you pick up.
Fuel
The policy is full-to-full. Nu provides the car with a full tank and charges $7.00 per missing gallon on return if you bring it back short. A prepaid fuel option is also available — $65.00 for sedans, $85.00 for SUVs and minivans — if you'd rather not worry about finding a station before drop-off. Unused fuel under the prepaid option isn't refunded, so it makes more sense on longer rentals where you'll likely burn through a full tank anyway.
Under-25 surcharge and additional drivers
The minimum age at MIA is 21 — not 18 or 20 as some aggregator sites list. Drivers between 21 and 24 pay $17.75 per day, which is higher than the $15.00/day figure in Nu's general T&Cs and some other US locations. Additional drivers are $9.99/day (maximum $99.99 per rental); spouses are $5.75/day. All fees are taxable.
Geographic restriction
The rental is restricted to Florida. Taking the vehicle out of state — whether into Georgia, the Carolinas, or anywhere else — carries a penalty of up to $1,000 plus $0.75 per mile. If any part of your itinerary crosses state lines, Nu MIA isn't the right booking. The Keys are in Florida, so the drive south through Key Largo to Key West is fine — but the moment you consider crossing into Georgia, the restriction applies.
What the score reflects
Miami's 5.9 across 201 reviews is the lowest of Nu's US locations in the DiscoverCars data. That's a meaningful sample size — not a handful of outlier complaints. The patterns in the review record point to a few specific things: shuttle wait times, the toll pass situation landing as a surprise at the counter, and deposit holds that were larger than expected. These aren't signs of a broken operation. They're signs of a location where the specific mechanics — the off-airport model, the transponder rules, the deposit tiers — create friction for travellers who didn't know what was coming.
The score also reflects what the average unprepared traveller experienced at this location. Someone who arrives knowing the shuttle is on-demand (not scheduled), has already decided on the toll pass, understands the deposit range for their coverage choice, and has their insurance situation confirmed before they reach the desk — that person is starting from a different position at the same counter. The score doesn't change for them. The experience does.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Nu MIA makes sense if the price gap is meaningful, your arrival is comfortably before 9:00 pm, you're staying in Florida, and you've sorted your insurance before you travel. The off-airport shuttle and the toll pass rules are the two things most likely to add friction — both are manageable if you know about them in advance. If your flight has any realistic chance of landing after 9:00 pm, factor that into your decision. The major on-airport suppliers at MIA run 24 hours and don't have the same arrival-time risk.
If you're already booked: A few things to sort before you leave. Confirm your exact arrival time and set a mental alarm against the 9:00 pm close. Find out what coverage you're arriving with — your credit card may include rental collision protection, or it may not; check before you travel. Save the local shuttle number (+1 888 656 7383) in your phone. Work out your deposit amount for your coverage choice from the T&Cs and make sure the card you're using has room for it. Decide on the toll pass now rather than at the desk. Photograph the car fully before you drive off.
If you've already returned and something's wrong: If you booked through Expedia, Kayak, or another platform, start there — they have more direct leverage with the supplier than you do alone. Then contact Nu in writing at their headquarters (+1 210 201 0280) with your signed contract and return photos. Give it one week. If nothing moves, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step.
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- Nu MIA closes at 7:00 pm daily. There is no shuttle service outside operating hours — a late-arriving flight means an overnight and a return next morning.
- You cannot use your own toll transponder. All vehicles are fitted with a non-removable device. Declining the prepaid pass ($13.95/day) triggers a $25 admin fee per toll violation.
- Rental is restricted to Florida only. Crossing state lines — including driving to Georgia or the Keys if they leave Florida — carries a penalty of up to $1,000 plus $0.75/mile.
- Deposit for non-Florida residents who decline coverage and the toll pass: $2,500. With the toll pass only (and declining coverage): $1,000.
- Minimum driver age is 21, not 18. Under-25 surcharge at this location is $17.75/day.
- No one-way rentals. The vehicle must be returned to the Miami location.
- Photograph the full exterior and interior before you drive off — timestamp included. Post-return damage claims are easier to contest with a dated photo record.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Nu Car Rental at Miami Airport?
Nu's Miami operation is run by its affiliate Horspower Car Rental, located at 3947 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33142 — off-airport. From the terminal, take the MIA Mover (3rd level, between Dolphin and Flamingo garages) to the Rental Car Center, then follow signs to the Off Airport Car Shuttles and wait at stations 4 or 5. Call +1 888 656 7383 on arrival to confirm the shuttle is on its way.
What are Nu Car Rental Miami's opening hours?
The Miami location operates 8:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Unlike major on-airport suppliers, Nu MIA is not 24 hours. If your flight lands after 9:00 pm and you haven't arranged alternative plans, the counter will be closed and the shuttle won't run. Check your arrival time before you book.
Do I need insurance to rent from Nu in Miami?
Per Nu's published MIA rental conditions, you must present proof of third-party liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage at the counter — or purchase it there. If you're relying on credit card coverage, you're financially responsible for all damage and costs upfront; you'd seek reimbursement from your card provider afterward. Florida residents must bring their insurance declaration page. Check exactly what your card or policy covers before you arrive.
Can I use my own SunPass or E-ZPass at Nu Miami?
No. Nu's MIA T&Cs state that toll transponders cannot be removed from the vehicle, and that you may not use your own transponder. If you decline the prepaid toll pass ($13.95/day), a $25 admin fee applies to each toll violation. Given that most Florida tolls are electronic and cannot be paid by cash or card at the booth, declining the pass is only practical if you can route around every toll for the full rental period.
Can I drive to the Florida Keys or into Georgia with a Nu rental from Miami?
The Keys: yes — they're in Florida. Georgia or any other state: no. Nu's published MIA conditions restrict the vehicle to Florida only. Taking the car out of state carries a penalty of up to $1,000 plus $0.75 per mile. If your road trip crosses state lines at any point, Nu MIA is not the right booking.
I already booked Nu Miami — what should I do before pickup?
Check your flight arrival time against the 9:00 pm closing time. Confirm what coverage you're arriving with — your credit card may include rental collision protection, or it may not; find out before you're at the counter. Save the shuttle number (+1 888 656 7383) so you can call as soon as you land. Note your deposit amount from the T&Cs — it ranges from $250 to $2,500 depending on coverage choices and toll pass selection. Photograph the car fully before you drive off.
Nu Miami charged me after I returned the car — what should I do?
If you booked through a third-party platform, raise it there first — they carry more leverage with the supplier than a direct complaint. Then contact Nu in writing with your signed contract, return photos, and fuel receipt. Give them one week to respond. If that doesn't resolve it, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step.
