Melbourne Airport Florida Car Hire (MLB)

Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) Car Hire: The UK Visitor's Complete Guide

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

For UK 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.

Why Melbourne Orlando International Airport Works Well for UK Visitors

MLB is not trying to be MCO. 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. TUI currently operate seasonal direct flights into Melbourne International Airport Orlando from Manchester, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow and London Gatwick.

• 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 UK 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 visitors combining a Space Coast stay with theme park days.

What Is Included in Your Booking - Insurance Explained

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 visitors, as standard UK 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.

What is not covered: Damage to tyres, wheels, windscreens, or the underside of the vehicle is not covered as standard. 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. 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 drivers, read our CDW Insurance guide.

Collecting Your Hire Car at MLB - The Simplest Airport Experience in Florida

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.

All hire car desks at Melbourne Orlando International Airport are located near baggage claim in the main terminal building. After clearing Customs and collecting your bags, follow signs for Car Rental, the desks are in the same building.

No shuttle. No automated train. No 15-minute transfer. You will be at the desk faster at MLB than at any other major Florida commercial airport.

Toll Roads from MLB - What UK Drivers Need to Know

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.

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. A 53-mile partially-tolled freeway running from Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach through to the Orlando area and Walt Disney World. Operated jointly by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) and Florida's Turnpike. Fully cashless, SunPass and E-PASS accepted throughout. This is the road the majority of UK 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.

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

Your toll 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 UK 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.

What to Bring, What to Expect, and What Not to Get Caught Out By

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 Photocard Driving Licence — the plastic card, current and valid for the full hire period. Holders of the old-style paper (green) driving licence must also obtain a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) before travelling. The IDP must be presented alongside your paper licence at the desk. 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. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.

For holidaymakers who prefer to use a debit card please read our full guide to Florida car hire with a debit card for full details of the conditions that apply to each car hire provider.

• 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.

The security deposit hold

A temporary pre-authorisation will be placed on the lead driver's credit card at collection. 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.

Essential "Land & Go" Checklist for UK Drivers at MLB

Before leaving the terminal car park:

• Documents verified at the desk. 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. Read our Florida driving laws article for full details.

• 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. Full detail at our Florida Child Seat Laws guide.

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

Where Can a Hire Car Take You from Melbourne Orlando Airport?

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.

Always Here When You Need Us

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.