Electronic toll boths and rental cars

[katallo]

We've seen the information about renting a car and purchasing the Toll Saver or EZ Pass. I think there are the electronic toll booths in southern Florida. Have they progressed to the Orlando/Clearwater area? From what we've learned you need to have a Toll Saver, etc to get through the areas with electronic only, but not sure if we are right. Thanks

 

[dioxide45]

We've seen the information about renting a car and purchasing the Toll Saver or EZ Pass. I think there are the electronic toll booths in southern Florida. Have they progressed to the Orlando/Clearwater area? From what we've learned you need to have a Toll Saver, etc to get through the areas with electronic only, but not sure if we are right. Thanks

I don't think there are any toll roads you would travel on from Orlando to the Tampa/Clearwater area.

 

[bumbershoot]

The car rental companies seem to be *lying* about the Orlando area. We went on a few toll roads while there, in December and September, and never once saw an electronic-ONLY tollbooth.

Bring quarters, that's for sure, and make sure the navigator can clearly and quickly tell the driver which lane to be in, but I found no need for a pass in the Orlando area.

 

[candy0730]

We traveled to Clearwater from Orlando last month and there was not a single toll the whole way. Also, the tolls we encountered between MCO and WDW both take change and have attendants in case you don't have exact change. We made sure to get a receipt just in case.

 

[DVC-Don]

There are some off ramps in the WDW area where the booths are not manned, but there is always a lane for exact change.

 

[betmust]

We will be arriving in Orlando Wednesday. From the airport, we take 417 up to Disney. I know there are tolls but does anyone know if there are those electronic ones on this road?

Thank you

 

[Capt_BJ]

see http://www.floridasturnpike.com/tools_paytoll.cfm

the place causing the confusion is what's commonly called the 'turnpike extension' which serves as the Miami by-pass, beginning near the Dade-Broward line and running west of Miami to reconnect with US-1 where US-1 leaves the mainland to head down the Keys. This portion of the turnpike system has gone totally cashless and uses either Sun-Pass (E-Pass) or a "toll-by-plate" photo system where you get sent a bill for the toll by the state. What the rental companies are doing is charging a large premium for forwarding a toll-by-plate fee to the renter but at this time, that system is not employed in the Orlando area


Beginning Saturday, Feb. 19, all Turnpike tolls are collected electronically between the U.S. 1 (Exit 1) and County Line Road (Exit 47) interchanges in Miami-Dade County, and cash tolls are not accepted. Motorists will use either SunPass or TOLL‑BY‑PLATE, and everyone will enjoy the benefit of paying their toll without having to stop.

also, in Miami there are 'pay' HOV lanes on I-95 that are cashless, but they are optional use HOV lanes so the toll is not 'required'

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

ALL toll plazas in the Orlando metropolitan area (Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County) still accept cash and this is not going to be changing anytime soon.

In the Tampa area, only TOLL 618 (Selmon Expressway aka Crosstown Expressway) which runs east-west from Brandon to Downtown Tampa to the MacDill AFB area is cashless. Tourists are unlikely to use this road since I-4 runs parallel to it and is free.

BobK/Orlando

 

[bumbershoot]

We will be arriving in Orlando Wednesday. From the airport, we take 417 up to Disney. I know there are tolls but does anyone know if there are those electronic ones on this road?

Thank you

They have pass lanes, but they also have cash lanes. You'll have two manned boths at 1.25 each. Change and receipts will be possible at each of these. The toll when you get off for Disney will be unmanned, exact change only, and if I recall correctly will be either .50 or .75. So get some quarters for that one.

 

[katallo]

Thanks for all of the great info!

 

[Rabscuttle]

We will be arriving in Orlando Wednesday. From the airport, we take 417 up to Disney. I know there are tolls but does anyone know if there are those electronic ones on this road?

Thank you

There are electronic tolls on that very road but there are also booths beside those electronic areas where you can pay with exact change or get change back from an attendant. It seems like the rental companies are trying to push these devices.

 

[Fire14]

I just traveled from MCO to Port canaveral and there was attended or cash lanes entire trip. I bought a sunpass for personal sanity/connvience.