Paying Tolls - Atlanta to Naples to Disney and Back to Hartsfield!

[Tess]

I am trying to get our ducks in a row for our whirlwind trip in late February and as outlined in the title.

We will be renting a car in Atlanta and driving to Naples, up to Disney and then back to Atlanta. If I am reading Google maps correctly, we should be seeing three tolls on I-4. Again, if I am reading correctly, these toll booths do not accept cash but rather we need a pass OR the plate (rental which could result in even greater fees) will be charged. Is this correct? If so, what are the options?

It has been years since we drove beyond Atlanta on I-75, but I don't recall any tolls on the interstate. Is that still correct?

I hate to pay a huge amount for a pass when the tolls themselves are, again according to Google, about $.80 each or $1.07 without a pass. Any information appreciated.

 

[loves to dive]

There are maybe one or two that still accept cash on the leg that comes after you get off the Turnpike. Yes they will charge the plate, not sure how car rentals handle that. It is cheaper just to buy a toll pass, which is what I do and replenish is every once in awhile. No there are no toll roads on I75 from Atlanta to Orlando until you get on the Florida Turnpike. I think it costs me a little over $8 round trip from Athens, GA to WDW.

 

[erionm]

While they are adding tolled express lanes to I-4 in the Orlando area, they are optional. The general use lanes on I-4 will continue to be toll free.

 

[Colo17]

Huh? Every car I have rented in the last 10 years had toll processing with the rental. But at least with Avis and Hertz if you drive on a toll road they will charge a toll processing fee for your entire rental even if you only drive on one toll road. Fees vary, so check your rental company to see if doing a pass makes sense.

 

[Tess]

Huh? Every car I have rented in the last 10 years had toll processing with the rental. But at least with Avis and Hertz if you drive on a toll road they will charge a toll processing fee for your entire rental even if you only drive on one toll road. Fees vary, so check your rental company to see if doing a pass makes sense.

Yeah, after a bit more investigating--I figured that out. Alamo charges $3.95 - $4.95 per day with a cap at $30 + the tolls. That seemed rather pricey given the cost of the tolls noted above and I was more or less wondering if there was a way to simply pay the tolls. On the bright side, the $3.95 - $4.95 per day only applies to those days on which you drive on a toll road.

We are from MI and don't have tolls here but for the Ohio Turnpike which we rarely travel AND you can still, at least I believe, could pay cash to traverse.

I suppose for a "convenience", letting the car rental company charge us is the easiest. We don't usually rent a car--we fly! This trip has too many legs for that to be a cost effective means of transportation.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

If you have time, you may consider signing up for a SunPass transponder, especially if it's useable on any toll roads in you home region. It shares with many so we opted to get one. It's free, you just have to fund the toll account. It works in GA and FL. You are correct, there's no toll road between Atlanta and FL, just once you cross in to FL. Atlanta's toll roads are within the city, basically any direction from the airport BUT for towards FL.

We used to let the car rental do it but I got tired of the fees plus there's a toll express lane around the Atlanta area that we wanted to have the option to use.

 

[Tess]

If you have time, you may consider signing up for a SunPass transponder, especially if it's useable on any toll roads in you home region. It shares with many so we opted to get one. It's free, you just have to fund the toll account. It works in GA and FL. You are correct, there's no toll road between Atlanta and FL, just once you cross in to FL. Atlanta's toll roads are within the city, basically any direction from the airport BUT for towards FL.

We used to let the car rental do it but I got tired of the fees plus there's a toll express lane around the Atlanta area that we wanted to have the option to use.

Thanks! My eyes were blurring trying to figure out which "pass" would be the best and how to purchase/load them. As I said, toll roads aren't a thing in our area but for the Ohio Turnpike which we rarely use.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Thanks! My eyes were blurring trying to figure out which "pass" would be the best and how to purchase/load them. As I said, toll roads aren't a thing in our area but for the Ohio Turnpike which we rarely use.

We picked SunPass as they have a transponder that can move from vehicle to vehicle. GA's is a sticker and can't move. If SunPass is also valid on the Ohio Turnpike (and it seems to be valid most everywhere along the eastern half of the US) then I'd just order that, especially since there's no cost involved, other than loading the account. I put $10 in it and set it up to auto reload in $10 increments.

The only thing you need to do is update the rental license plate # in the SunPass account online. Easy to do. Hard to remember, but easy to do, LOL

 

[erionm]

We picked SunPass as they have a transponder that can move from vehicle to vehicle. GA's is a sticker and can't move. If SunPass is also valid on the Ohio Turnpike (and it seems to be valid most everywhere along the eastern half of the US) then I'd just order that, especially since there's no cost involved, other than loading the account. I put $10 in it and set it up to auto reload in $10 increments.

The only thing you need to do is update the rental license plate # in the SunPass account online. Easy to do. Hard to remember, but easy to do, LOL

The new SunPass PRO can be used in FL, GA & NC PLUS everywhere E-ZPass is accepted. The older SunPass portable transponder and SunPass stickers can only be used in FL, GA & NC.

 

[Tess]

We picked SunPass as they have a transponder that can move from vehicle to vehicle. GA's is a sticker and can't move. If SunPass is also valid on the Ohio Turnpike (and it seems to be valid most everywhere along the eastern half of the US) then I'd just order that, especially since there's no cost involved, other than loading the account. I put $10 in it and set it up to auto reload in $10 increments.

The only thing you need to do is update the rental license plate # in the SunPass account online. Easy to do. Hard to remember, but easy to do, LOL

Appreciate it! That must be the "Toll By Plate" account--no 25% discount on the toll, but no administrative fee and Free with $10 minimum?

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The new SunPass PRO can be used in FL, GA & NC PLUS everywhere E-ZPass is accepted. The older SunPass portable transponder and SunPass stickers can only be used in FL, GA & NC.

True. I didn't distinguish because the Pro is all you can get now. Stickers are obviously not an option for rentals anyway.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Appreciate it! That must be the "Toll By Plate" account--no 25% discount on the toll, but no administrative fee and Free with $10 minimum?

Ack, it's been a few months since I ordered it. I guess there was a cost for the transponder and yes, there is a discount on the tolls, to make up for it.

You have another option of buying something once you cross over in to FL at one of the turnpike rest areas.

Sorry about the mix up

 

[Tess]

Ack, it's been a few months since I ordered it. I guess there was a cost for the transponder and yes, there is a discount on the tolls, to make up for it.

You have another option of buying something once you cross over in to FL at one of the turnpike rest areas.

Sorry about the mix up

No worries! I appreciate you attempting to help. First time I have had to deal with this type of thing--we have driven from Disney to Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers, but didn't have to deal with any toll situations. I am just looking for the most cost effective and least stressful way to deal with them once we hit I-4 toward 75.

We accidentally got onto a toll road while looking for a Walmart once on our way to Disney from Tampa. It was $.75 but no way to pay it without a "pass" or correct change--which we didn't have. We hit up the store and got change for $1 to get back through the return toll but we fretted about not paying the initial toll. We learned post vacation that they sent a bill for $.75 which we paid by check. So silly since it cost the State of Florida far more to bill it and cash our check than the toll!

Trying to be better prepared for this drive!

 

[erionm]

No worries! I appreciate you attempting to help. First time I have had to deal with this type of thing--we have driven from Disney to Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers, but didn't have to deal with any toll situations. I am just looking for the most cost effective and least stressful way to deal with them once we hit I-4 toward 75.

No mandatory tolls on I-4. As I noted previously, they are adding optional express lanes which will be tolled, but those are limited access and well marked (and not yet open).

 

[Tess]

No mandatory tolls on I-4. As I noted previously, they are adding optional express lanes which will be tolled, but those are limited access and well marked (and not yet open).

I'm confused? What are the three toll booths we pass through when going from the airport to Disney and listed on google.maps?

 

[erionm]

I'm confused? What are the three toll booths we pass through when going from the airport to Disney and listed on google.maps?

Depending on route, those are on SR-528 or SR-417.

 

[GreatLakes]

I've always just used my Ohio EZ Pass in FL. There used to be some places that would take it and others that required a SunPass but I was told by someone on these boards that as of last summer my EZ Pass was acceptable everywhere in FL. I used in for marathon weekend at WDW and so far haven't seen any toll charges from the rental company so it appears to have worked.

I'm sure someone here that knows more about the FL tolls can verify this.

 

[erionm]

I've always just used my Ohio EZ Pass in FL. There used to be some places that would take it and others that required a SunPass but I was told by someone on these boards that as of last summer my EZ Pass was acceptable everywhere in FL. I used in for marathon weekend at WDW and so far haven't seen any toll charges from the rental company so it appears to have worked.

I'm sure someone here that knows more about the FL tolls can verify this.

E-ZPass went live on all FL Toll Roads around Memorial Day 2021. Prior to that, only toll roads in the Orlando area that were owned & operated by the Central FL Expressway Authority (CFX) accepted E-ZPass.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I'm confused? What are the three toll booths we pass through when going from the airport to Disney and listed on google.maps?

Do you mean toll roads on 75 going to I-4?
The shortest route from the airport to Disney does have toll roads, not I-4 though. They aren't mandatory to use, just the quickest way

 

[Tess]

Do you mean toll roads on 75 going to I-4?
The shortest route from the airport to Disney does have toll roads, not I-4 though. They aren't mandatory to use, just the quickest way

It may not be I4 now that I zoomed in on the google map--or it is now showing a different route--now it is showing utilizing 429 to 27 and then on to 75. Good thing we have GPS! I must be remembering one of the few times we rented a car at MCO and drove from there to Punta Gorda and back to Disney. I probably have my knickers in a knot about tolls for no reason at all since we are leaving Disney property and driving to I75 not to the airport.