The last fill-up before you return a Miami rental is where a cheap-gas city gets expensive. Florida and the Miami metro are below the national average right now, but the stations wedged between the Dolphin Expressway and the MIA Rental Car Center on NW 25th Street know that every car coming off Le Jeune Road is about to be handed back, and a rental agency’s refuel rate or a prepaid tank wipes out the local price advantage entirely. This guide covers the current averages, the stations along NW 36th Street, Le Jeune and NW 25th that are on the way to the Rental Car Center, and the rental and Turo fuel rules.
Updated October 22, 2026
Current averages
| Grade | Miami metro average | Florida average | US national average | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $4.08 | $4.02 | $4.26 | Oct 21, 2026 | AAA |
| Premium | $4.76 | $4.82 | $5.18 | Oct 21, 2026 | AAA |
| Diesel | $6.03 | $6.01 | $6.32 | Oct 21, 2026 | AAA |
Miami regular is about 18 cents under the national average and a few cents above the Florida average. Premium is unusually close to regular here compared with the Northeast or California.
Stations near the airport
We do not quote per-station prices because they change hourly; check GasBuddy, Waze or the AAA app before you exit the 836. All on-airport agencies return to the MIA Rental Car Center at 3900 NW 25th St., which connects to the terminal by the MIA Mover. NW 25th Street runs between Le Jeune Road (NW 42nd Avenue) and NW 37th Avenue, with the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) reached via Le Jeune.
- Chevron (Airline Chevron), 4501 NW 36th St., Miami Springs: NW 36th Street at Le Jeune, the closest brand station to the Le Jeune approach; confirm the exact corner in your map app.
- Shell, 5305 NW 36th St., Miami Springs: NW 36th Street west of Le Jeune, for travelers coming from Doral or the Palmetto.
- Chevron, 1101 NW 42nd Ave. (Le Jeune Rd.), Miami: Le Jeune south of the 836, on the approach from Coral Gables and Brickell.
- Chevron, 5100 NW 7th St., Miami: NW 7th Street near Le Jeune, for anyone arriving from Flagler or Little Havana.
- Chevron, 7400 NW 36th St., and Mobil, 701 NW 72nd Ave., Doral: the NW 36th Street and NW 72nd Avenue corner in Doral, about 3 miles west of the Rental Car Center.
- Exxon, 9290 NW 25th St., Doral: NW 25th Street itself, 4 to 5 miles west, directly on the road that ends at the Rental Car Center.
- Costco Miami, 7795 W. Flagler St., Miami (warehouse club, membership required): West Flagler near the Palmetto (SR 826), about 4 to 5 miles southwest of the return; costco.com confirms a gas station open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays. There is no Costco in Doral proper, so this is the closest club gas to MIA.
Rental refuel rules
Every counter in the Rental Car Center offers the same three options. Return it full and you pay only the pump price. Prepay a tank and you forfeit whatever is left: Avis says “no credit or refund will be given for unused fuel in the tank,” and Enterprise says prepaid fuel is sold only in full tanks and is not refundable. Let the agency refuel and you pay its local per-gallon rate plus a service charge. With Miami pump prices already below the national average, the spread between the pump and the agency rate is proportionally larger here, so prepaid only wins if you are certain to return on fumes.
Keep your fuel receipt. Avis’s EZFuel rule charges customers who drive fewer than 75 miles a flat fee unless they fill up and present a receipt at return, and a Miami Beach-only rental can stay under 75 miles. On Turo, which is very popular in Miami, the host’s listing sets the fuel policy; Turo’s help center tells guests to refill to the check-in level and to photograph the fuel gauge at check-in and checkout, since hosts have 72 hours to invoice for missing fuel plus a $10 inconvenience fee and the photos decide a dispute.
Local quirks
Miami’s quirk is that the cheap stations are not in Miami Beach. The causeways have almost no gas, and the few stations near the beach hotels are priced accordingly, so the right move is to cross back to the mainland on empty-ish and fill on the NW 36th Street or Le Jeune corridors a few minutes from the Rental Car Center. Travelers returning from the Keys or Homestead should fill before the turnpike or along Flagler, where the Costco sits for members. If you are using MIA as a gateway south, our guide to Miami as a points gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean covers the airport side.
Pay with the right card
Even at Miami’s $4.08 a gallon, the last tank should earn you points. Gas stations are a bonus category on several Chase Freedom cards, and the points move to Chase Ultimate Rewards. If you are adding a card, you can apply through our Chase referral link for the Chase Freedom cards.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
Fill on NW 36th Street or Le Jeune, not on the beach. The Chevron and Shell on 36th are minutes from the Rental Car Center and the Costco on Flagler is worth the detour for members coming from the south. Decline prepaid fuel, keep the receipt, and photograph the gauge before you ride the MIA Mover.
Related on Points Capital: How to find the cheapest gas and the best credit cards for fuel; Turo deals with Chase and Amex cards.
Sources
- AAA Fuel Prices, Florida and Miami metro averages
- AAA Fuel Prices, national average
- Miami International Airport, Rental Car Center
- Shell NW 36th St. listing, Airline Chevron listing, Chevron Miami listings, Local 10, Doral station list, Exxon NW 25th St. listing
- Costco Miami (W. Flagler St.)
- Avis fuel plans, Enterprise fuel options FAQ
- Turo, returning a vehicle and checking out, Turo, refueling invoices for guests
Prices change daily; the averages above are as of the dates shown. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
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