Melbourne Airport car hire (MLB)

Complete guide for UK & European visitors arriving at MLB

Melbourne Orlando International Airport, known to UK and European travellers arriving on TUI flights as MLB, is one of Florida's most relaxed and straightforward airport experiences. Unlike larger hubs, there are no automated trains to distant rental car buildings, no multi-storey shuttle journeys, and no 20-minute queues at a consolidated rental centre shared with thousands of other passengers. Instead, the hire car desks at MLB are directly near baggage claim. As a result, you collect your bags, walk to the counter, and you are on the road, typically within minutes of arriving.

For visitors whose trip is centred on the Space Coast, Kennedy Space Centre, or the central Florida villa corridor via the SR-528 Beachline Expressway, MLB is a genuinely compelling starting point, and one that remains largely off the radar of the mainstream Florida travel conversation.

Advantages of flying into Melbourne Orlando International Airport.

MLB is not trying to be MCO. Rather, it is a compact, efficient regional airport that serves a specific and highly rewarding part of Florida, and for UK visitors flying in on TUI, it offers an arrival experience that larger Florida airports simply cannot match.

Direct flights from the UK via TUI Airways

TUI Airways operates transatlantic services between the UK and Melbourne Orlando International Airport. TUI is the primary and historically dominant carrier on UK–MLB routes, making this one of the few Florida airports whose transatlantic traffic is almost exclusively UK-originated. As of 2026, TUI flies to MLB from Manchester, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow and London Gatwick, though exact departure cities can change between seasons. Consequently, check TUI's own route page for current departure airports before booking.

Hire car desks near baggage claim

Unlike MCO, MIA, TPA, or FLL, all of which require a train or shuttle to a separate Rental Car Centre, MLB's hire car counters are located directly near baggage claim inside the terminal building. The available suppliers include Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, SIXT and Thrifty. Walk off the plane, collect your bags, reach the desk. It is as straightforward as Florida airport car hire gets.

Kennedy Space Centre - 47 miles away

MLB is the closest major commercial airport to Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral. The drive is approximately 47 miles and takes around 55–65 minutes. For families with the Space Centre on their list, and most do, MLB removes the hour-plus drive from MCO entirely.

Melbourne Beach - 7 miles

Florida's Atlantic coast starts just 7 miles from the terminal. If your idea of a Florida holiday involves quiet, uncrowded Atlantic beaches rather than the busier Gulf Coast resorts, Melbourne Beach and the Brevard County coastline offer exactly that.

Disney World and the Florida villa corridor, one direct road

The SR-528 Beachline Expressway connects Melbourne and the Space Coast directly to the Orlando area and Walt Disney World. It is the same road used by Space Centre visitors driving to Orlando, and it makes MLB a practical choice for UK and European visitors combining a Space Coast stay with theme park days.

Inclusive insurance cover and rental terms

What your booking includes

Every booking made through Smarter Car Hire Florida includes the following as standard, with zero excess:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Limits your liability in the event of damage to the rental vehicle.

• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): Covers theft of the rental vehicle.

• Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): Provides additional third-party liability cover as required under Florida law. This is particularly important for UK and European visitors, as standard credit card CDW cover does not provide SLI protection.

• Zero Excess: You will not be required to pay an excess amount in the event of an insured claim.

Exclusions and what isn't covered

What is not covered: Damage to tyres, wheels, windscreens, or the underside of the vehicle is not covered as standard. Additionally, damage caused by driving under the influence, use of unpaved roads, or reckless driving is also excluded. Full exclusions are set out in our Terms & Conditions.

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) is not included in any booking. Therefore, all customers should hold comprehensive travel insurance before travelling to the USA, including medical expenses, repatriation, and personal accident cover. Medical costs in the United States can be significant. For a full explanation of CDW and SLI for UK and European drivers, read our CDW Insurance guide, or see the complete Florida car hire insurance guide for everything else your booking includes.

Collect your hire car in the MLB terminal

This is the section of a Florida airport car hire guide that usually requires diagrams and a three-step process involving trains, shuttles, and multiple building changes. At MLB, it does not.

Melbourne Orlando International Airport positions all hire car desks directly near baggage claim in the main terminal building. After clearing Customs and collecting your bags, simply follow signs for Car Rental, you'll find the desks in that same building.

The collection process is remarkably straightforward. You skip the shuttle journey, avoid the automated train, and eliminate the 15-minute transfer that characterises most other major Florida airports. Consequently, you reach the desk faster at MLB than anywhere else in Florida.

Space Coast toll road advice for UK and European drivers

The Space Coast's road network is far less toll-intensive than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or the Tampa Bay area. Many of the local roads in and around Melbourne, Brevard County, and the Space Coast corridor are free of tolls. However, the moment you join the SR-528 Beachline Expressway to head west toward Orlando and Disney World, you are on a cashless toll road.

SR-528 is cashless from MLB; our complete Florida toll roads guide covers setup before leaving.

Most-used toll roads from Melbourne Airport

The toll roads you are most likely to use from MLB:

• SR-528 Beachline Expressway: The main route west from the Space Coast to Orlando, running from Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach through to the Orlando area and Walt Disney World. Part of the route is operated by the Central Florida Expressway Authority and part by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise. Fully cashless, SunPass and E-PASS accepted throughout. This is the road the majority of visitors from MLB will use on day one of their holiday.

• Florida Turnpike (SR-91): If your journey extends north toward Daytona Beach or south toward Fort Lauderdale and Miami, the Florida Turnpike will be involved. Cashless throughout.

• Local Brevard County roads: The majority of local roads in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, and the Brevard County area are not tolled. If your trip is centred on the Space Coast and does not involve regular expressway travel to Orlando, your toll exposure may be limited.

Important: Florida Visitor Toll Pass availability

The Florida Visitor Toll Pass is not available at Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Rather, Florida Visitor Toll Pass vending machines are located exclusively at Orlando International Airport (MCO). This is one of the most common misconceptions among visitors arriving at MLB, particularly those who have used MCO in the past.

Your toll payment options at MLB

1. SunPass Pro or SunPass Mini. Available at the Walgreens or Publix supermarkets located approximately 5 minutes from the airport exit, before you reach the SR-528 on-ramp. This is our recommended cost effective option for most visitors. (Last verified: May 2026.)

2. Hire company toll programme (PlatePass / Toll-by-Plate): Our rental partners Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty use PlatePass, while Alamo, Enterprise, and National use Toll-by-Plate. These are the most convenient option as they are entirely automated; however, they carry a daily service fee for every day of your hire, whether you use a toll road or not.

   ---

Required documentation and desk collection rules

The same document rules apply at MLB as at every Florida airport. Have these ready before you reach the desk.

Documents you need at collection

• Full in-date UK or EU/EEA photocard driving licence, the plastic card, current and valid for the full hire period. Holders of the old-style UK paper (green) licence must obtain a valid IDP before travelling. If your licence is not in English, you must obtain an IDP and present it together with your licence at collection. IDPs are available from the Post Office for approximately £5.50.

• Passport, required by all major suppliers for identity verification.

• Credit card in the lead driver's name. This must match your booking and licence exactly. Required for the security deposit hold. Some suppliers accept debit cards for the deposit and some do not, with conditions that vary considerably, therefore check our debit card car hire guide before you travel if you're hoping to avoid using a credit card.

• Your Smarter Car Hire Florida booking confirmation containing your reference number.

• Young drivers (aged 21–24): A young driver surcharge may be payable directly to the hire car provider at the desk. The amount varies by provider and vehicle category and will be confirmed during the booking process.

If you are adding an additional driver, they must be present at collection with their own valid driving licence and passport.

Understanding the security deposit hold

A temporary pre-authorisation will be placed on the lead driver's credit card at collection. Importantly, this is not a charge, it is a reservation of funds released when you return the car undamaged. Allow up to five working days for your card issuer to release it.

This is separate from our zero deposit booking model, specifically, you pay nothing upfront when you reserve. For a full explanation of how zero deposit works, including when your balance is due and how it applies to shorter hires, read our complete zero deposit Florida car hire guide.

Essential arrival checklist for drivers

Before leaving the terminal car park:

• Documents verified at the desk. You must have a You must have a valid and in date UK Photocard Licence (or paper licence + IDP), passport, and credit card all presented and confirmed.

• Toll solution in place. SunPass (or alternative) activated and vehicle plate registered, or hire company toll programme accepted. Decide before you reach the desk, not at it.

• SR-528 is cashless. If your first drive is to Disney World or the Orlando area, you are joining a toll road within minutes of leaving the airport. Do not drive through without a toll solution in place.

• Right on Red. Turning right at a red light is permitted in Florida after a full stop, unless signed otherwise, one of several rules covered in full in our guide to Florida driving laws.

• Speed limits in miles per hour - 70 mph on interstates, 55–65 mph on state roads, 30–35 mph in urban areas.

• 2026 Booster Seat Law. Children must be secured in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device until their 6th birthday, with full detail, including FMVSS 213 certification and what to do if your UK seat doesn't qualify, in our Florida Child Seat Laws guide.

• Fuelling. Regular Petrol (87 Octane), black pump handle. Green handle is Diesel, do not confuse them.

  ---

Popular Space Coast and Orlando driving routes

MLB's position on Florida's Space Coast puts a genuinely distinct range of destinations within reach, from the Atlantic beaches on your doorstep to Kennedy Space Centre, the Orlando theme parks, and the historic city of St Augustine to the north.

All distances and drive times are approximate. Journeys to Kissimmee, Davenport, Haines City, Clermont, Walt Disney World, and the Orlando area involve the SR-528 Beachline Expressway, a cashless toll road. Ensure your toll solution is in place before leaving Melbourne Airport. Alternative routes are available that do not incur toll roads. Actual journey times will vary with traffic conditions.

Customer support

If something goes wrong at the rental desk, a vehicle dispute, an insurance question, or anything you are not sure about, you can call our UK support line on 01325 808123 (option 1). We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, staffed and operated in the UK. You will speak to a person, not a queue.