We have a convenient SunPass sticker that lets us drive through tolls on local Florida highways charging the fees to our credit card on file. Not only do we save money on the tolls but it is super handy!
When traveling, the rental car companies charge an arm and a leg for tolls if you are not careful. For example, here in Miami, when leaving the airport you are automatically routed onto a toll road. There are no longer any options to pay at the toll, charges are automatically levied against the license plate of the car.
When you rent a car, there are two options
A) Pre-pay a daily charge for tolls
This charge is often set to a high value and you have to pay it for every day of the rental. If you only encounter tolls on a few of the days, you are also paying for the days you don’t use the tolls. This can be as much as $15 a day and adds up fast.
B) Let them bill you
The toll authority will bill the rental car company and they will in turn look up the rental agreement and charge your credit card on file (along with a healthy administration fee). Often as much as $30 a day.
Another option
You can also buy a travel transponder (a small toll tag that attaches to a windshield with two little suction cups). There is an app that lets you associate the transponder with the rental cars license plate.
This transponder costs about $15 (called the SunPass Pro) and lets you have the tolls automatically added to your account at the discounted rate. Just don’t turn on the rental car transponder. The toll authority won’t charge the rental car company and you won’t get those exorbitant fees.
More information
Multi-state transponders are available from a variety of places. Here are a few:
- SunPass PRO works on toll roads and most bridges in Florida plus, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, parts of Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Cost: $14.95 plus tax
- Uni works on all toll roads and most bridges in the following states: Florida (including express lanes), Maryland, Rhode Island, Indiana, Georgia, Delaware. Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maine, West Virginia, New York, Ohio. Cost: $14.95 plus tax
- E-ZPass can be used in the following states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and ONLY the Orlando area in Florida. Cost: $14.95 plus tax and a monthly fee of a $1 or $2 depending on where you are located.
Check with your local toll authority for options.
Conclusion
We find that this is a convenient way to pay for tolls that saves money for us when traveling to the states covered by our SunPass PRO.
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