Car rental and tolls

[jennifer in canada]

Someone who just came back from florida told me that if you have a rent a car and need to use the toll roads that you must have some kind of a pass to go through or you will be charged $20. Is this true?

Why would you not be able to just pay the regular toll fee like everyone else?

This is our first trip with a rental car and would like to have the information before we go so i can ask at the rental company when we pick the car up.

 

[mguedes]

You can pay tolls in cash, but I found the toll-by-place very convenient.

Read more about it here: https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

 

[jennifer in canada]

ok thanks...so it looks like the sunpass is optional, not the info i was given.

 

[seashoreCM]

On some rentals the automatic tolls are activated by a switch on the cigarette box sized electronic transponder.

At some toll plazas you must go down what looks like an exit ramp to pay the toll using cash. The main lanes require use of a transponder, yours or the rental company's.

I suggest that, whenever possible, using the change/receipt lanes and getting a receipt each time you use cash. There are sporadic stories about drivers being charged for the toll and service fee even when the driver paid using cash.

 

[a1tinkfans]

all the rental cars now have the passes..electronic..if you go thru the toll it pays so you can use that speedy lane. If you use it they will charge you a convenience fee, Our rental company was like 3 a day or max 10.ish for the entire trip max (if you use it) and of course no fee for not using it.
If you pay cash...Id get a receipt.............
Oh, the rental car company will bill the tolls/fee well after the rental is paid for and you are back home cause it can take up to 3 weeks or so to process....so just take a peek on your next statement.
Each rental company has their own fee strategy so if you are going to use a lot of toll roads, Id know in advance what fees can be...

Have a great trip

 

[jque]

On some rentals the automatic tolls are activated by a switch on the cigarette box sized electronic transponder.

At some toll plazas you must go down what looks like an exit ramp to pay the toll using cash. The main lanes require use of a transponder, yours or the rental company's.

I suggest that, whenever possible, using the change/receipt lanes and getting a receipt each time you use cash. There are sporadic stories about drivers being charged for the toll and service fee even when the driver paid using cash.

If you have a transponder and pay cash you will get charged twice since cash lanes have transponder readers also.

 

[bumbershoot]

Someone who just came back from florida told me that if you have a rent a car and need to use the toll roads that you must have some kind of a pass to go through or you will be charged $20. Is this true?

Were they just in the Orlando area, or did they end up on the turnpike, down in Miami, etc? if just in the Orlando area, there are still cash tolls and you do NOT have to have the transponder at all. We say "no" every time. But if you're heading to Miami and some other areas, there are no cash tolls, so you do have to have it or expect a bill for the tolls and extra fees after your vacation is done, sent on from the car rental company.

 

[jennifer in canada]

Yes they were in miami so that makes sense!

We are staying in orlando though and only plan on using the toll rd once so i think the cash lane will work for us!I will be sure to keep the receipt though just in case.

thanks!

 

[Capt_BJ]

I'm very surprised there has never been a question about this b4 . . . .

 

[TravelNinja]

I have lived in Florida for about 20 years, on and off. Here is what you need to know about SunPass when you rent a car:

FL does NOT have many toll roads, the turn pike (easily avoidable), some roads around Orlando, Miami and in Tampa Bay, most of which offer the option to pay your tolls in cash. However, toll booth have been eliminated on part of those roads, leaving the driver only two options: SunPass or TollByPlate.

SunPass itself will NOT do so, they will just charge the regular toll. The rental car company will charge you an "administrative fee" if they receive a toll invoice from SunPass, basically making additional money from your rental.

Before renting a transponder from the car rental company for a lot of money per day, check where you are going on maps.google.com - this will give you a good idea if there are toll roads on your intended route and if you can avoid those. Google Maps allows you to route your trips avoiding toll roads ;-), which in FL is pretty easy, unless you are in a real hurry.

I usually check rental car prices via priceline.com as I rent cars on average at least one/week. You can find a good post on how to do that at: ninjatips.com/how-to-rent-a-car/

Sorry for the screwed up links, but because I am new here, I can't post links... (copy and paste will work though!) If you still have question about how to use priceline or renting a car in FL, feel free to send me a message

PS: If you do have a transponder and happen to drive through a cash lane, no worries your transponder will register and the attendant will know you paid - they won't charge you twice ;-)

 

[rocknroll]

PS: If you do have a transponder and happen to drive through a cash lane, no worries your transponder will register and the attendant will know you paid - they won't charge you twice ;-)


If you go through some car rental companies where you have to turn off the transponder (Budget is one), and don't do it properly, you will be charged for the convenience and maybe the toll (I learned my lesson on that got charged for one leaving MCO and not coming back). I thought I had turned it off, but must not have and there are other posts about this problem as well.

Lesson is keep receipts if you pay cash and watch your statements. For me I also don't book Budget.

Cheers!

Roehl