Help with toll fees

[epfootballcutie04]

We are going to Florida in August. We will be renting a car and will have to go through some toll booths on our way to SSR. Just wondering if anyone can give me a idea of how much you have to pay each time you go through one. Just want to make sure I have the correct change. Thanks

 

[OKW Lover]

Assuming that you take the (recommended) south exit from the airport, there are two $1 tolls between the airport and exit 6 where you get off to go to WDW. There are toll collectors in the booths (no exact change lanes) so don't worry if you don't have the ones.

 

[epfootballcutie04]

thanks for the info

 

[Fortywinks]

Go to http://www.sunpass.com
They have a dynamic link where you can calculate your toll based on booth connections.

 

[JimC]

417 is the southern exit out of MCO. It is a bit longer and a bit more expensive, but often is faster than taking the northern exit to 528 and I-4. Tolls to the first Disney exit (#6) on 417 will be $2, more if you go all the way down to 192. 417 is split between Sun Pass and the Expressway Authority. I recommend their toll calculator because it covers both systems.

 

[Dean]

I wonder how many people not in the area have bought a transponder. We bought one a few years ago and really love it. I forget the exact cost but I think it was around $25 total including the suction cup mount we ordered to change between vehicles. I estimate it saves us a total of about 10-15 minutes most trips and some of the tolls are a little cheaper as well. There's a little gas savings as well. For any of the tolls that you have to exit to pay cash but can stay at speed and not exit with a transponder such as the one on 429 (new toll road behind WDW), it really makes a difference. It's not for everyone but can be a nice option for some people.

 

[GatorMickey]

Check with your rental company. Sometimes they will include the transponder in the rental fee. Ask for the Sunpass if it is an option. And to those that come from the north side of Florida, the new toll road (429) is excellent! Hardly any traffic and cuts off about 20 minutes drive time. But watch your speed once you first get on Disney property.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I wonder how many people not in the area have bought a transponder. We bought one a few years ago and really love it. I forget the exact cost but I think it was around $25 total including the suction cup mount we ordered to change between vehicles. I estimate it saves us a total of about 10-15 minutes most trips and some of the tolls are a little cheaper as well. There's a little gas savings as well. For any of the tolls that you have to exit to pay cash but can stay at speed and not exit with a transponder such as the one on 429 (new toll road behind WDW), it really makes a difference. It's not for everyone but can be a nice option for some people.

We bought a Sunpass transponder earlier this year. By luck, it was the day that they were only charging $12.50 for a transponder (the 50th anniversary of the Florida turnpike system). We've used it once and it's great. No more fumbling around for money, no more waiting in line to pay the toll. We're doing our first Disney cruise next year and it will be nice to have the transponder in the car with us as we drive from WDW to Port Canaveral.

 

[Fortywinks]

We bought a Sunpass transponder earlier this year. By luck, it was the day that they were only charging $12.50 for a transponder (the 50th anniversary of the Florida turnpike system). We've used it once and it's great. No more fumbling around for money, no more waiting in line to pay the toll. We're doing our first Disney cruise next year and it will be nice to have the transponder in the car with us as we drive from WDW to Port Canaveral.

Purchased one after our recent Memorial Holiday weekend trip ($25 for the transponder). Haven’t had a chance to use it, but we are planning a trip back to the resorts in June. Great advantage of not having to wait in line or look for change. There is also a small discount on tolls. We make several trips a year to WDW.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

For those interested you can purchase a SUNPASS at Publix grocery and CVS/Pharmacy stores throughout Florida, at service plazas along Florida's Turnpike as well as on-line at www.sunpass.com They cost $25.00 and you also have to put down a lump sum towards tolls...I believe a $20 minimum. It's easist to tie the SUNPASS to a credit card and whenever your toll balance drops below $10 it automatically replenishes by charging another $20 to your credit card.

SUNPASS is only valid in Florida. There are 4 transponder systems in Florida (SUNPASS, E-Pass, O-Pass & Lee-Way) and SUNPASS is valid at all of them no matter what the toll logo says. SUNPASS does not work with E-ZPass from the northeast United States and E-ZPass does not work in Florida.

BobK/Orlando

 

[JimC]

The good news is:

1. Sun Pass and E-Pass toll booths in Florida honor each other's transponders

2. They can be used to pay for parking at MCO garage


The bad news:

This is true of Florida and the EZ-Pass system in the NE US. Each transponder is contractually tied to one specific vehicle license plate. You MUST re-register the transponder before using it on another vehicle. This is easy to do by phone or on-line. Failure to do so can be very expensive. I have spoken with the agencies about using transponders in rental cars and they advise phoning in to register the license plate when you pick up the car. Then re-registering your regular car after returning the rental.

As a prior poster indicated the NE US EZ-Pass system and the Florida systems do NOT permit cross use.

 

[Dean]

The bad news:

This is true of Florida and the EZ-Pass system in the NE US. Each transponder is contractually tied to one specific vehicle license plate. You MUST re-register the transponder before using it on another vehicle. This is easy to do by phone or on-line. Failure to do so can be very expensive. I have spoken with the agencies about using transponders in rental cars and they advise phoning in to register the license plate when you pick up the car. Then re-registering your regular car after returning the rental.

As a prior poster indicated the NE US EZ-Pass system and the Florida systems do NOT permit cross use.

Jim, I can only speak for Sunpass. You are not restricted to one vehicle per transponder but you are restricted to one transponder per vehicle. You can list multiple vehicles. What you can't do is share one transponder on a given trip but you could use a single transponder on vehicle A this trip and B next trip assuming both were listed on the account. I currently have 3 vehicles listed on my account and have used the transponder with all 3 within the past year. I don't know the max # of vehicles one can have listed on an account at a given time.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Jim, I can only speak for Sunpass. You are not restricted to one vehicle per transponder but you are restricted to one transponder per vehicle. You can list multiple vehicles. What you can't do is share one transponder on a given trip but you could use a single transponder on vehicle A this trip and B next trip assuming both were listed on the account. I currently have 3 vehicles listed on my account and have used the transponder with all 3 within the past year. I don't know the max # of vehicles one can have listed on an account at a given time.

The reality though is that the transponder works in any car. If a person registers the transponder to their usual car and then takes it with them and uses it in a different vehicle, the transponder IS going to work. There is no one standing there making sure the transponder and car match up! I've used my unit in many a rental car without incident. While this may be against their rules, it works just fine. It is important that if you register the transponder to a 4 wheel, 2-axle automobile that it only be used for that purpose. Carry that transponder into large pickup with 3 axles and then you're creating toll violations.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Dean]

The reality though is that the transponder works in any car. If a person registers the transponder to their usual car and then takes it with them and uses it in a different vehicle, the transponder IS going to work. There is no one standing there making sure the transponder and car match up! I've used my unit in many a rental car without incident. While this may be against their rules, it works just fine. It is important that if you register the transponder to a 4 wheel, 2-axle automobile that it only be used for that purpose. Carry that transponder into large pickup with 3 axles and then you're creating toll violations.

BobK/Orlando

I'm sure that's true.

 

[Fortywinks]

The reality though is that the transponder works in any car. If a person registers the transponder to their usual car and then takes it with them and uses it in a different vehicle, the transponder IS going to work. There is no one standing there making sure the transponder and car match up! I've used my unit in many a rental car without incident. While this may be against their rules, it works just fine. It is important that if you register the transponder to a 4 wheel, 2-axle automobile that it only be used for that purpose. Carry that transponder into large pickup with 3 axles and then you're creating toll violations.

BobK/Orlando

I think the issue may be a legal one. The transponder id # is registered to an indivudal account number (DL # on account). If for some reason when you go through the toll booth and the transponder doesn't register (which can happen) you are considered in violation. When you recieve that letter in the mail (photo with your tag number) and citation you do have recourse provided the vehicle information matches the account information, otherwise you may be subject to the fine. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[fla4fun]

Also, make sure you get the Sunpass, not the E-pass transponder. There have been tons of complaints in the news about E-pass accounts being messed up. Many people are being charged multiple times at each toll booth. One woman has even had her license suspended for toll infractions when her account has plenty of money in it! I haven't heard of any problems with the Sunpass, and I've had mine for quite a while now and never been double billed or had it not register as I drove through. I got my Sunpass at Publix Grocery.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I think the issue may be a legal one. The transponder id # is registered to an indivudal account number (DL # on account). If for some reason when you go through the toll booth and the transponder doesn't register (which can happen) you are considered in violation. When you recieve that letter in the mail (photo with your tag number) and citation you do have recourse provided the vehicle information matches the account information, otherwise you may be subject to the fine. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

If a driver goes through a SUNPASS/E-Pass only lane without a transponder, they do take a photo of the vehicle and tag. But no citation is sent out unless the same vehicle has numerous violations in a designated time period. The equipment also can sense situations where the person has a transponder on board but it has a weak battery. In the case of E-Pass the owner is sent a letter directing them to a Lowe's store or E-Pass service center for a free new flat-cell battery. SUNPASS users are instructed how to change the battery on their own since it's easier to open and takes a standard replacement battery.

I conceed that using the transponder in a different vehicle than that registered is a violation of the rules but I don't see it as an issue. In the very rare event the transponder does not operate and the toll equipment takes a photo of the vehicle, they're not going to send out a letter unless there are numerous violations. Tests by SUNPASS and E-Pass have found toll accuracy exceeding 99%. I have 2 E-Pass transponders and 1 SUNPASS transponder and I've located 1 error in five years of use. I like the E-Pass a little better because it does light up and beep as you pass through a toll. the old SUNPASS units used to do that; not sure about the newer ones now being sold.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Snoozan]

Back to the original OP's question - I'd be sure to have a few quarters as well as the 2 $1's for tolls for 417-Greenway as if you take some of the other exits(maybe to go to a grocery store), there are some unmanned toll booths with a toll of $.25
or $.50, so best to be prepared.

 

[Fortywinks]

.
I conceed that using the transponder in a different vehicle than that registered is a violation of the rules but I don't see it as an issue. In the very rare event the transponder does not operate and the toll equipment takes a photo of the vehicle, they're not going to send out a letter unless there are numerous violations. Tests by SUNPASS and E-Pass have found toll accuracy exceeding 99%. I have 2 E-Pass transponders and 1 SUNPASS transponder and I've located 1 error in five years of use. I like the E-Pass a little better because it does light up and beep as you pass through a toll. the old SUNPASS units used to do that; not sure about the newer ones now being sold.

BobK/Orlando

Section 7 of the Sunpass customer agreement very clearly states:
"All vehicles in which the User intends to use a Transponder must be listed within the account, but a vehicle license plate may not be listed in more than one account. The year, make, model and color of the vehicle as well as the license plate number and issuing state must be provided and updated as changes occur. "
This would clearly be a violation of the agreement. I think we need to be clear and trust that no one here would endorse purposely breaking those rules. My orginal point, even though it may be rare I think is still valid.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you use the transponder in a car that is not associated with it and also the transponder misregisters, then the full fine will be levied against the owner of the car. In the case of the rental, you would have to quietly pay the fine, or try to 'fess up regarding not letting the toll authority know what car you are driving.

Other complications could occur too. If you do not call and dissociate your transponder account from the car quickly enough,the next person to rent the car might rack up a violation and that would be charged to your account.

Using the north airport exit, go left at first light and follow that side road about a mile and a half to the next interchange (Tradeport #9) of Route 528 (Beach Line; Bee Line). Then you pay only one 75 cent toll.

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