Dollar Pass24

[flowrida]

Has anyone had any experience with having to buy this prepaid toll pass?

I may be getting it all wrong but I'm seeing us being charged $90 for tolls instead of the normal $20 for a two week trip - i've tried getting a straight answer direct from Dollar but that's like pulling teeth!

 

[wayneg]

Just found this info below but not sure if cost has risen, looks like it has, I just looked for August rental and it was offered to me at $6.99/day ($97.86 for 14 days)
We usually spend $10-15/trip on tolls so certainly not worth us doing. OK you might save a few minutes at the booths but too much money for me.

"The Pass24 pre-paid toll service is a great time-saving option for our customers," said Scott Anderson, senior executive vice president of corporate operations for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. "Building on successful launches in Texas and Colorado, we are pleased to expand the convenience of Pass24 to our customers traveling the 680 miles of toll roads throughout the state of Florida. The $5.95 per day or $27.95 weekly fee in Florida includes all toll charges."

 

[flowrida]

Exactly... my concern is that if you don't opt to purchase you get charged by the toll booth (via scanning number plate) and then Dollar put's a hefty charge per toll pass (hope that makes sense!)

This can't be right!

 

[wayneg]

Not sure what you mean.
When approaching a toll you can continue straight on without stopping if you have the automated system. If you haven't then you pull off the main highway to the right, here you have choice of unmanned coins only or manned booths where you can get change.

Only way you get charged is if you go straight thru without paying.

 

[flowrida]

That make perfect sense to me - i know i was confusing! It's not like we're newbies... been travelling to USA for 10 years but this autotoll business only just brought to my attention - and all Dollar will say to me regardless of the question posed is "we advise you to buy the pass" - well they would wouldn't they!

So if i'm understanding you - providing you have the right money (or any money) there are always unmanned cash tolls to go through?

 

[wayneg]

I have come across some with no staff at all and coins only so always keep some coins in the car, most have all options but I have never come across any which are Automated only. There are apparently some exits on the Florida Turnpike which are Sunpass only but I have never come across one.

Exits With Sunpass Only
Certain exits on the Florida Turnpike accept only Sunpass. There is plenty of warning as you approach these exits so only use them if you have a Sunpass transponder. Usually there is another exit close by that accepts cash as well as Sunpass.

 

[sandshal]

Does that mean you've made your decision then Wayne? If so let me in on the secret .............. moneys back in my account now

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

In December we saw signs on the 417 toll road that indicated they were going to get rid of the manned toll booths at some stage and go all automated. Not sure when that is planned for - has anyone else seen this?

 

[stba2006]

Sorry to ask a question on some-one elses thread, but what happens if you come to an unmanned toll and you don't have any change?

Also can you pick up change from the airport when you arrive as we don't have any from our last trip

 

[wayneg]

Sorry to ask a question on some-one elses thread, but what happens if you come to an unmanned toll and you don't have any change?

Also can you pick up change from the airport when you arrive as we don't have any from our last trip

I believe you are supposed to phone them (or write) to pay but just make sure you have coins, there are shops in the airport if change is required although the tolls between MCO and the hotels have always been manned for me, the only one I came across was when we continued thru to Celebration instead of exiting at South Idrive but very few people continue to that exit.

 

[irisheyes123]

My husband picked up a sun pass in publix about 4 years ago we just rang up to Activate it its done through our credit card never had any problems using it and saves having change or renting one from rental company's. I don't know if publix still sell them now.

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Wayne is right, there are quite a lot of exits from the Florida Turnpike where only Sunpass is accepted. We drove from Orlando to Miami and commented on it as we passed them. Most of these were at the lower end of the Turnpike closer to Miami. Lord knows what you do if you need to get off there, although there are many signs along the way instructing that you can buy Sunpasses at the service stops. I noticed that they sell 'mini Sunpasses' although I have no idea what these are.

The Pass24 thing with Dollar worked out very well for us, but we only had a car for 4 days and the cost for the pass v the cost of paying the tolls was just about the same. I don't think I would sign up for Pass24 if we were getting a car for two weeks but intended to do little toll road mileage.

Kev

 

[flowrida]

Mr Stringer, nice to hear from you...always value your input!

Well finally Dollar have had enough of my questions and told me to ring someone else!

We're thinking of just buying a Sunpass - we'll use it at least twice a year so this could be the way to go... providing us non-US guys can purchase it.