Can you use your own transponder in a rental car?

[Donna M]

I was thinking of buying a SunPass since we go to Florida every year, but I don't know how the rental company does their transponder thing. Is there a chance I could get charged by the rental company too? Is the rental company's transponder attached to the windshield with Velcro type attachments like my ezpass?

Maybe someday Florida will go with the ezpass. Maine finally accepted them!

 

[cw21726]

The way it worked for us and Alamo was there was a one time fee of however much then the actual cost of tolls. We got billed for it several weeks later so I suspect it was tied in with the license plates and not a physical tag since I never saw one.

 

[flynnibus]

I was thinking of buying a SunPass since we go to Florida every year, but I don't know how the rental company does their transponder thing. Is there a chance I could get charged by the rental company too? Is the rental company's transponder attached to the windshield with Velcro type attachments like my ezpass?

Maybe someday Florida will go with the ezpass. Maine finally accepted them!

The rental car won't have a transponder in it unless you specifically participate in one of their toll plans. You have to pay cash/cc when using a rental car. You can use your own transponder if you bought one, but you must pay for the sunpass transponders
https://www.sunpass.com/pdf/MiniWebPDF_E.pdf

 

[Polydweller]

The rental car won't have a transponder in it unless you specifically participate in one of their toll plans. You have to pay cash/cc when using a rental car. You can use your own transponder if you bought one, but you must pay for the sunpass transponders
https://www.sunpass.com/pdf/MiniWebPDF_E.pdf

Actually, the rental car companies at MCO have moved to 'Toll-by-Plate" which means they don't have a transponder. As you pass through the electronic toll zone the car's plate is photographed and you are immediately opted in to the rental company's toll option. You don't sign up for it. That also means you will have to pay the company's daily usage fee. This could lead to double tolling and at a minimum tha hassle of trying to sort that out.

 

[MolonLabe]

The problem with your own transponder us many. I'm on my phone so I can't get into depth but don't do it. Pay cash.

Also many out of state automated toll system s don't participate in sun pass either.

 

[tkldisney]

I have my own sunpass transponder. I do use it for rental cars when I have one in FL. My transponder overrides the system in rental cars and takes the toll from my transponder.

I had a mini one first 4.95 and got credited 4.95 first time I used it. The problem you can't go from car to car, and wanted to drive our other one this year, so I bought the 25.00 one and now I can go between both cars and use in rentals when we fly down. Works great, we picked up the mini at our first turnpike stop, but ordered the other one by mail, since we would be flying down before driving again. I pack in my carryon and have no problems going thru security either.

 

[gmeh1]

The way it worked for us and Alamo was there was a one time fee of however much then the actual cost of tolls. We got billed for it several weeks later so I suspect it was tied in with the license plates and not a physical tag since I never saw one.

That is correct, it is tied to the license plate. the cost is 2.00 per day: max. 6.00 PLUS your tolls. There is no opt in or out. If you pay cash, no charge, if you go throught the non toll part of the road, then you are charged. It is quite simple. The unfortunate thing is that it is so simple people don't understand it. Even when we hand them the information on the toll pass.

 

[disneynutz]

We always rent a car and we got a Sun Pass for our Disney/Florida trips. Never had a problem and we use it a few times a year.

Bill

 

[joelkfla]

I'm pretty sure the toll-by-plate only gets invoked when the toll is not paid some other way. So as long as you have a working transponder, it would never get billed to the rental co.

 

[tkldisney]

I'm pretty sure the toll-by-plate only gets invoked when the toll is not paid some other way. So as long as you have a working transponder, it would never get billed to the rental co.

Correct.. As long as you have the funds you will have no problems. It is very easy to add $$ or add rental car license plate to your transponder. It can be done with your cell phone if you usean iPhone or android, you can also call sunpass very easily. I have ours set to add 10.00 if it goes below 10.00. Your dollars never expire, so if you make multiple trips no problem just let it sit there or you can request dollars back.

 

[Hawk]

I pack in my carryon and have no problems going thru security either.

Hi tkl:

This is great news. I was worried about this. Did you use the teflon bag to put it in or go without it?

Thanks

Tim/Hawk

 

[Brer Chump]

We always rent a car and we got a Sun Pass for our Disney/Florida trips. Never had a problem and we use it a few times a year.

Bill

This has been my experience too. Never have been billed by Alamo after using my transponder.

This from sunpass.com:
SunPass Customers:
SunPass customers using a rental vehicle may have their tolls applied to their SunPass account. Customers with SunPass Portable transponders may use their transponders in their rental vehicles. (It is strongly recommended that SunPass customers access their online SunPass accounts or contact the SunPass Customer Service Center to add the rental vehicle subscription to their account for the rental period.) Please remember to remove your transponder upon return of the vehicle.

 

[Inkmahm]

We always rent a car and we got a Sun Pass for our Disney/Florida trips. Never had a problem and we use it a few times a year.

Bill

Us, too. We've had our own Sun Pass for years. The only time we had a problem was in December when we missed a toll because our battery was dying. We replaced the battery and it works again like a charm.

 

[backyardponder]

2 weeks ago we rented from Avis. They had a transponder behind the rear-view mirror. It was surrounded by a box with a switch on it. If the switch was in the "off" position, the transponder was not active. Since we were only going on routes with tolls a few times, we paid cash and did not activate the transponder.

 

[Brian Noble]

the cost is 2.00 per day

It's worth pointing out that different companies charge different amounts. This is one of the better deals.

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

 

[tkldisney]

Hi tkl:

This is great news. I was worried about this. Did you use the teflon bag to put it in or go without it?

Thanks

Tim/Hawk

Yes, I keep it in the silver bag that came with unit.