Are all tolls electronic now?

[mieuxmew]

For anyone who travels to Florida a few times a year - A couple of years ago we purchased our own SunPass. $25 to purchase it online and $10 minimum to load. Can load anytime. Place it into rental car (notify rental agency you will not need their toll service). Go online and change license plate number. There is a record of all tolls you paid just "in case" the rental car company charges you. Also serves a receipt for business travel. There is a one time sticker for $5.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I rented a car in Miami last week from Alamo/National and the attendant said "every car comes equipped with SunPass" but I told her I already had my own SunPass at which time she backed off. Sure enough, my car did not have a SunPass already in it. Had I not known better and just said ok, she probably would have handed me the SunPass to use from their plan, charging me of course. I know some rental companies (i.e. Hertz) do have transponders already installed but they're optional to use. The ones I've seen, you don't turn on or off. It's in a metal box installed above the rear view mirror and the box has a sliding door on it. I forget how it works but there are instructions on how to activate it. If you're paying cash or have your own transponder, simply don't use their system.

By the way, all toll roads around Orlando still take money. Don't get suckered into rental company transponder schemes to avoid 2 tolls going from the airport to Disney and two more coming back. It's not worth the expense. The tolls that have gone cashless are all in Miami-Dade County with one exception and that's the Crosstown Expressway in Tampa, a road you're unlikely to stumble upon.

BobK/Orlando

 

[gmeh1]

I rented a car in Miami last week from Alamo/National and the attendant said "every car comes equipped with SunPass" but I told her I already had my own SunPass at which time she backed off. Sure enough, my car did not have a SunPass already in it. Had I not known better and just said ok, she probably would have handed me the SunPass to use from their plan, charging me of course. I know some rental companies (i.e. Hertz) do have transponders already installed but they're optional to use. The ones I've seen, you don't turn on or off. It's in a metal box installed above the rear view mirror and the box has a sliding door on it. I forget how it works but there are instructions on how to activate it. If you're paying cash or have your own transponder, simply don't use their system.

By the way, all toll roads around Orlando still take money. Don't get suckered into rental company transponder schemes to avoid 2 tolls going from the airport to Disney and two more coming back. It's not worth the expense. The tolls that have gone cashless are all in Miami-Dade County with one exception and that's the Crosstown Expressway in Tampa, a road you're unlikely to stumble upon.

BobK/Orlando

The attendant told you the truth, but, did not tell you of the plan correctly, she should have explained it and handed you the information we have for it. It is a small slip of paper. She probably did not elaborate because you said you already had a transponder. The agents do not get a commission on this product btw. We are required to explain it and because it is so simple, it is very difficult to explain. Go figure. Basically, when you opt to use this, the automatic toll lanes does not see a transponder and treats the vehicle like it was running the toll, takes a picture of the plate and upon checking realizes it is one of our cars and bills accordingly. The toll sensor does not light up, for those that actually pay attention, and stays red, like you ran the toll, but, nothing to worry about.
The pass for National/Alamo/Enterprise is a toll by plate pass. They don't hand you anything. If you go through the pass lanes it takes a picture of the plate and you get billed for it. The cost of this is 2.00 per day, 6.00 maximum plus your tolls. If you have a transponder it will not take a picture of the plate and it will bill your account. It is wise, if you have a transponder, that you register the rental car, that way there is a record of the tolls you paid in case there is a problem.

Rental Car Company Options Cost Per Day Cost Per Rental Period Opt-In Requirements For Using Toll Road
$6.00 maximum fee per rental period plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates) Participation is automatic.

Opt-in decision is made when the driver elects to use EXPRESS, SunPass ONLY, E-PASS ONLY or LeeWay ONLY lanes.

Nothing to decide at time of rental.
National $2.00 fee per rental day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)
Alamo $2.00 fee per rental day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)
Enterprise $2.00 fee per rental day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The attendant told you the truth, but, did not tell you of the plan correctly, she should have explained it and handed you the information we have for it.

Appreciate the explanation, gmeh1.

BobK/Orlando

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

Are there still manned tolls from Disney to the port..... Is it 528? Beeline expressway that you take? First time renting with dollar and I believe they are heavy sun pass pushers

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Are there still manned tolls from Disney to the port..... Is it 528? Beeline expressway that you take? First time renting with dollar and I believe they are heavy sun pass pushers

Yes, from the Airport to I-95 and Port Canaveral there are 2 toll plazas and they are both staffed 24/7. There are also coin lanes if you have exact change in coins as well as E-PASS (Sunpass) high speed lanes.

BobK/Orlando

 

[bumbershoot]

From all I've read, it sounds like ALL attendants accepting cash have been removed.

I don't know where you're reading this, if you're only going around the WDW area. There's only one we've run into that isn't manned, but it takes cash. The rest are manned. They have incredibly good signage, with plenty of time to know what to do and where to go, if you're paying attention to signs. If you have two adults in the car, have one drive and the other navigate; part of the navigation means watching for the toll signs and telling the driver where to go (and how slow to go, since the speed limit goes down as you're approaching the tollbooth).

 

[gmeh1]

Are there still manned tolls from Disney to the port..... Is it 528? Beeline expressway that you take? First time renting with dollar and I believe they are heavy sun pass pushers

Yes, there are still manned toll booths in Orlando. Yes, they are very heavy sun pass pushers...........just say NO and ask how to disable it. You can pay cash or use an attendant. No all have attendants, so carry some change. The Beeline is now the Beachline and it is one of the routes you can take.

 

[gmeh1]

Appreciate the explanation, gmeh1.

BobK/Orlando

Welcome anytime, BobK