Dumb Sunpass sticker question

[perditax]

Argh sorry, typically I would try to find this out on my own but my brain is overloaded today.

I thought I understood the routine for buying a Sunpass sticker to use on your rental car, but I guess I don't.

I'm trying to order one now for a trip in September. It wants all the vehicle information like plate number. Of course I won't know that till I'm actually in Florida. How do I order the dang thing, just put in info for my own car, even though it won't be in Florida?

Also, while I've got you, how do I make sure the sticker is 'funded' sufficiently?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: There was probably a better forum for this, sorry. Leaving it here for now since I know a lot of people rent one-way cars for the MCO>PC trip.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

My rental car came with it automatically and they just charged me back for the use as it was in there name.

 

[disnygirl55]

What we've experienced in the past is that either it's "included" in your rental car price or they will bill you later. I've not found any directives to pre-pay. I think the rental car service will bill on behalf of Sunpass, one way or another. I'm no expert - but I don't remember it being any sort of issue.

 

[ST1TCH]

What we've experienced in the past is that either it's "included" in your rental car price or they will bill you later. I've not found any directives to pre-pay. I think the rental car service will bill on behalf of Sunpass, one way or another. I'm no expert - but I don't remember it being any sort of issue.

Would agree with this. Have never done it myself but this is the standard in most rental cars. Here in Houston, we have multiple toll roads and I would expect rental companies to provide the toll tag. Wouldn't make since for someone just renting a car to have to go to the HCTRA to get an ez tag to only use one time.

 

[perditax]

Hmm, thanks for replies. I'd read horror stories of rental agencies way overcharging for the tolls, and people talking about buying their own passes/transponders in advance. Extra confused now. Will watch the thread and see what transpires, and/or check the transportation subforum. "Renting" a transponder with the rental car certainly sounds easier, I guess I'd just gotten the impression the rental car companies used it as an opportunity to add more surcharges.

 

[KABoom]

Rentals should have the sunpass option. The stickers are more for frequent travelers on FL Toll highways.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Unless things have changed in the last couple years, there are a couple different kinds of Sunpass if you can get. One is something that you can use on one car and then remove it and put it in a different car is larger and it's hard plastic. The other is like a small sticker you put on your car and once you remove it it's ruined. I have one of those for my car because I usually drive my car to Florida. With that one, if for some reason my epass doesn't work when they read my plate they just charge my account anyway.

My husband has the hard plastic one because he used a rental car. When he gets out of the car he puts it in his computer bag and uses it on the next car. If you get one of those you just put your own car plate number in. But if you forget to use it, or it doesn't work, when you go through and the plate number is read, they will send a 'bill' to the registered owner associated with the tag. So, you should order one of those to carry with you and place on the dashboard of your rental. You would just link it to your car for your account purposes.

 

[erionm]

I guess I'd just gotten the impression the rental car companies used it as an opportunity to add more surcharges.

Some do.

https://www.tollbyplate.com/rentalcar

 

[perditax]

Some do.

https://www.tollbyplate.com/rentalcar

Thanks, this was very helpful. I'd be using National, and if that site is accurate, I'd pay $4 to use their transponder for one day (plus tolls). Since that's less than I was going to pay for the sticker, this seems much simpler.

*crosses item off to-do list*

 

[Capt_BJ]

Thanks, this was very helpful. I'd be using National, and if that site is accurate, I'd pay $4 to use their transponder for one day (plus tolls). Since that's less than I was going to pay for the sticker, this seems much simpler.

*crosses item off to-do list*

mmm

because you are using National, your conclusion is correct.

rental car info particular to Florida SUNPASS systems can be found at https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

wrt SUNPASS systems ... trying to not get into too much detail ... a frequent visitor to Florida might want to invest in a SUNPASS for convenience and a small cost savings. If trying to decide between the "mini" or sticker type @ 5$, or the larger $20 version it is really a no brainer. You WANT the $20 version.

The $20 version is set up to support moving from car to car. I've had one for years, abd have bought and sold cars, updating my SUNPASS records each time. Right now I have 4 vehicles registered to a $20 version SUNPASS. If renting a car, it takes just a minute to add the lic plate via the web.
Registering the plate is a GOOD IDEA because the way the system works, when u pass thru a SUNPASS lane it first looks for a transponder, if none is detected it searches the database for the tag registered to a SUNPASS account, if not found THEN other things might happen like passing the toll to the rental company or simply issuing a fine for skipping a toll.....

The 'mini' version is intended to be attached to ONE vehicle and not moved. Once removed it is (supposed to be) no good. In particular, you can only register ONE tag number, and it can not be changed; additional tags can not be added. I had one .... when I sold the car I de-activated the SUNPASS and the balance in the account was refunded to my credit card. This was how it worked when I sold my MINI with a Sunpass mini in '14 anyway . . .

 

[mmouse37]

Agree with Capt BJ....we live in NY but frequent Florida a few times a year. We bought the plastic transponder Sunpass which has suction cups and just move it from rental to rental each time we go to Florida. Or when we drive our own car we use it in that. Very easy.

MJ

 

[perditax]

I'll have a better idea of how often I'll be back in FL when I find out whether the significant other enjoys our upcoming cruise.

 

[phinz]

I've owned a portable transponder for years as well. We give it to friends when they head down to Florida, and it has been invaluable in our trips all up and down through Florida.

 

[JW9DVC]

Get the plastic for $20. You can setup directly after purchase and use the app for sunpass. You can even buy after arrival or beforehand. Cvs type stores and what not.

Best way to go. Just don't forget it when you drop the rental car off.

JW

 

[houseofduck]

Just for clarification, the sticker can be used with a rental car. You can order the sticker using your car information, even if you don't plan to use the sticker on that car. When you get the rental car, you can add the license plate information. Even if you have a sticker, you can add rental car information. I have done this a few times (last time was 11/2014). Be careful when you order a sticker to be delivered to your home. Both times I ordered one, there were charges on it from the delivery truck. I had to call Sunpass to have the charges removed.

 

[MillauFr]

Just for clarification, the sticker can be used with a rental car. You can order the sticker using your car information, even if you don't plan to use the sticker on that car. When you get the rental car, you can add the license plate information. Even if you have a sticker, you can add rental car information. I have done this a few times (last time was 11/2014).

This is what I did. I bought the sticker and used the license plate from my personal car. When I got to MCO I added the rental car's plate. Work great and I didn't have any outrageous charges from the rental car company.

 

[bumbershoot]

Leaving it here for now since I know a lot of people rent one-way cars for the MCO>PC trip.

If that's all you're doing, why why why are you going to use sunpass or the National program? Get a roll of quarters and some ones and use the tollbooths. SO EASY. (some people have experienced backups. I haven't. If I did, still, SO EASY. sit and chat without road noise for a few minutes)

The ONLY area of FL right now that requires a pass of some sort is right around Miami and only on a certain road. Going from PC to MCO does NOT require it, and they still have manned, cash, tollbooths.

 

[Tara619]

If that's all you're doing, why why why are you going to use sunpass or the National program? Get a roll of quarters and some ones and use the tollbooths. SO EASY. (some people have experienced backups. I haven't. If I did, still, SO EASY. sit and chat without road noise for a few minutes)

The ONLY area of FL right now that requires a pass of some sort is right around Miami and only on a certain road. Going from PC to MCO does NOT require it, and they still have manned, cash, tollbooths.

I agree with just using quarters. There are two $1 toll booths between MCO and PC. We've just used quarters for both our recent cruises. If your rental has the plastic epass thing, there's a lever to turn it off so you won't be charged.

 

[MadamG2U]

We are driving down to WDW, we have EZ pass will that be ok to use instead of a SUNPASS?

 

[phinz]

The ONLY area of FL right now that requires a pass of some sort is right around Miami and only on a certain road.

The Florida Turnpike from FLL, southbound all the way to Florida City/Homestead is all electronic.