Budget Car Rental / Toll Pass

[h&D3]

From what I have been reading, I understand that all car rental companies now use some sort of "toll pass/transponder" on the rental cars.

Can someone tell me what Budget Car rental uses? (transponder on the windshield or is it the license plate?)

The reason I'm asking is that I prefer to pay cash for my own tolls when we visit WDW this summer. (I always bring lots of change for the tolls, so paying for them is not a problem)

In looking at the sunpass.com site, it looks like for Budget this is an "Automatically opted in" program. The other companies (Alamo, Hertz, etc) look like they have a opt-in decision once you get to the toll lanes. For some reason, it sounds like with Budget/Avis there is not that option. Can someone confirm this?

Can I still refuse this at the time of rental and just pay for my tolls without paying the daily fee? $15+tolls for the length of time we will be down there is not a huge deal if we can't, but why since I can pay cash. Seems like another way for the rental car companies to make money.

If I can use the cash option and opt out of the program, I plan on getting a receipt each time we go through just to show we in fact did pay. (Just to be on the safe side.)

Thanks!
~D

 

[formill]

We did not pay for transponder- seemed to be on windshield- we rented with Budget over Christmas. They did not automatically include it in our rental- I remember the year before they asked- this year we had their Fast Break so all our info was already in system. We paid cash for all tolls and the one time we went through the exact change lane and we put in the money and the light would not go green- we put in 2 more quarters and it still did not go green....so we left -cars were behind us........now just this week I get an email from Budget that we had a $1.50 toll and their fee to pay this is $14.95.......and they just charged our credit card. So far I have not done anything about it.....we did pay I know we did!!! We had this happen a couple of years ago but never had anything happen with it........after that time the rest of this past trip we always paid a real person did not go through the exact change one unless there was no other option- which that did happen a few times at exits- no live person had to have exact change all lanes.

 

[NotUrsula]

On the windshield, and in the worst possible spot; right below the rear-view mirror. Make sure that the switch on it is in the UP/OFF position and it will not communicate.

 

[h&D3]

I still plan on using the lanes where I can get a receipt just in case they ever come back and question it.


~D

 

[rwdavis2]

We just took a roll of quarters and paid cash. A bit slower but it avoids the cost and hassle of dealing with the transponder.

 

[seashoreCM]

The only way to get proof of payment is to use the manual (slowest) toll lanes if there are any, and get a receipt.

If you have trouble with an exact change lane you can send in the payment right away or after you get to your destination. (Don't wait days.) The address to send payment to may be posted in the toll booth or you can look it up using Google.

A few rental agencies don't use transponders. They have a bulk rate violation agreement and get a printout of all the passages through the electronic toll lanes recorded as violations, and then they manually match up the customers who did not sign up for their daily toll program and bill them after the fact.

Use the 536 (or is it labeled 535?) exit off Greene's Way (417) and you don't run into any exact change toll booths. The next exit is Osceola Parkway and that one is exact change or electronic only. At many main line toll plazas you must take what looks like an exit ramp to pay the toll using cash.

Rte. 536 takes you to Epcot but there are other convenient ramps to all other locations at WDW. After going under the welcoming arches, the first group of exits is for Downtown Disney and Hollywood Studios. After that, get in the left lane for Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom and the right lane for Epcot.

 

[Halle]

We go to WDW at least two times a year so we purchased a Sunpass at Publix. DH registers the rental car with Sunpass as soon as we secure the car. We too had the same problem as a previous poster, put money into basket and it never registered. We received a fine from Dollar car rental.

 

[avlee]

Just got final bill from Budget and they charged me for tolls, even though I asked if there was a transponder on the car. They said no there wasn't. I paid at the cash lanes as always and got a couple of receipts. I guess from now on I might as well drive through the express toll if they're going to charge you anyway. Budget rental in almost every way was a complete disaster (at least the car didn't break down.) Terrible customer service. The price you pay online will definitely not be the price you'll pay in the end. I notice Budget's banner is on this website. Be warned if you click on it and are tempted by their seemingly low price.



WDW: 1974, 1988, 1989, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

 

[pigletto]

That's odd. Our car had a transponder but we just made sure it was off and had no troubles. No upcharge either. What we were quoted was what we paid. We just said no to any extras and that was that. They tried to sell extra insurance but so did any other agency we ever used. We know what coverage we have, and we are covered adequately for a rental so we tell them that.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Most rental car companies (especially the larger ones) rely on toll-by-plate services. There is no transponder on the windshield. There's nothing to turn on or turn off. There is no opting in or declining.

If a driver goes through an automatic tolling lane, a digital camera captures the license plate number and a computer reads it. Because the license plate is registered to a rental car company, it's not a toll violation. The rental car company is charged through a third-party service, and the rental car company charges the renter.

If a rental car driver diligently avoids all automatic tolling lanes and always pays any tolls in Change-Receipts lanes, there should be no tolls or convenience fees charged by the rental car company.

There have been reports on this board of renters being charged, even though, "I paid the toll between the airport and WDW in cash." When this happens it could mean that there was a mistake. It could also mean that the driver went through an open road tolling location at freeway speed without noticing that he or she failed to exit to the right to the Change-Receipts lanes. For example, there are actually two tolls each way on the most common routes between the airport and WDW.