Platepass "warning" on Dollar Rental

[Camilo]

Folks,
I haven't been to Orlando/Kissimmee area for the last 3 years.
Today, while renting an SUV for April from Dollar (using code AJKRQ), I sawthe following warning on the terms and conditions:

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PLATE PASS
Please note: There are toll roads within this area that have converted or will be converting to all-electronic tolling or cashless tolling. In these areas there is no option for a rental car to stop and pay the tolls in cash. If your travels will take you on a toll road in an area where there is no option to stop and pay cash for the tolls, PlatePass All-Inclusive Tolling is the perfect solution. If you choose not to select the PlatePass pre-paid tolling option and travel on one of these all-electronic toll roads, and do not have your own tolling device in the vehicle, the applicable toll will be paid for you and an administrative fee of $15.00 per occurrence with a maximum of $105.00 will be charged.

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While renting, there was an option to add PLATEPASS for 8.99 a day.

Question: is this an issue for the Disney/Universal area? Are there many tolls with no option to pay cash? Should we spend the 90.00 (10 days X 8.99) for this device?

Thanks for your help....

Camilo

 

[BigTigger]

PlatePass seems to be a variable cost item. When I rent from Dollar in Boston it's $10.95 per rental. When I rent in Newark it's $17.95 per rental. $8.99 per day seems awfully high given tolls in the Boston and NYC area are much higher (like the $14 George Washington bridge toll).

I'd call Dollar on this and see if you can get a flat fee for Orlando. That being said, all tolls to/from Disney on the 417 have manned lanes. If you get off on Orange Blossom Trail or John Young or take Osceola parkway you will find only automated or exact change lanes. If you just go to/from Disney you can pay cash at the two tolls you'll hit each way. Get a receipt though, so you can prove you paid if Dollar chases you later.

 

[seashoreCM]

Each rental company has its own toll policy and procedure and options. All have service charges on top of the tolls. Sometimes you need to flip off a switch on the tolling device (transponder) on the windshield. Sometimes you need to decline the option on the contract before signing that and going out to the car lot.

There are no electronic-only toll plazas in the MCO airport and Orlando and Universal and Disney area. But there are several plazas where you need to go down what looks like an exit ramp to pay using cash.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Are there cash options for all tolls over to Kennedy Space Center from WDW?

 

[Shannon G]

Each rental company has its own toll policy and procedure and options. All have service charges on top of the tolls. Sometimes you need to flip off a switch on the tolling device (transponder) on the windshield. Sometimes you need to decline the option on the contract before signing that and going out to the car lot.

There are no electronic-only toll plazas in the MCO airport and Orlando and Universal and Disney area. But there are several plazas where you need to go down what looks like an exit ramp to pay using cash.

Also, be aware that, while there are no cashless tolls in the WDW area, there are some ramps that are exact change only, and if you find yourself without exact change in a rental car, you'll end up getting hit with a charge from the rental car company for not only the toll itself, but a fee from the car rental agency.

 

[MillauFr]

I just bought my own Sunpass transponder for $4.99 to avoid the outrageous fees from the rental car agency.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you run into difficulty at an exact change only booth, find out the name and address of the toll agency for that plaza (might be posted on the wall next to the coin basket) and send in the payment right away. (Don't wait until you get back home.)

 

[mikehn]

Set your GPS to avoid toll roads all together.

 

[seashoreCM]

I have not heard of any conversion to all electronic tolls on either 528 (Andersen's Way) or 417 (Greene's Way) to Cape Canaveral

 

[deedisneydream97]

Millau....how did you get away with only $4.99 for the transponder? That one has to be applied to the windshield in order to work property. I just ordered the portable $19.99 one, because I was under the impression that the $4.99 one was more or less a permanent one. Sigh, oh well. It will still be worth it.....3 trips this year using a rental and one trip driving. We've gotten hung up at one of the ramp booths a couple of times.....and I actually took one of the envelopes and when I got home I wrote a check for 75 cents, along with a note about our rental car, the make, model and license plate number. Don't want to do that any more.

 

[MillauFr]

Millau....how did you get away with only $4.99 for the transponder?

The $4.99 transponder is a sticker that you put on the windshield of the car. When you return the rental car you remove it.

 

[nacho113]

The $4.99 transponder is a sticker that you put on the windshield of the car. When you return the rental car you remove it.

But it can't be re-used and you have to load at least $10 onto the account to activate it, with some kind of top-up option.

From Sunpass site:

The SunPass Mini Sticker transponder needs to be permanently affixed to the windshield of just one vehicle. Once attached, the SunPass Mini Sticker transponder must not be removed from the windshield as it will be destroyed in the process. Removal of or attempt to remove a SunPass Mini Sticker Transponder from the vehicle windshield will render the unit useless.

The SunPass Portable transponder costs $19.99 plus tax and the SunPass Mini Sticker transponder costs $4.99 plus tax (all out of state customers are required to pay a flat 6% sales tax). Transponders are available online at SunPass.com and at all authorized SunPass retailers. Both units allow motorists to have tolls electronically deducted from a prepaid account. Both require a minimum opening balance of $10 for a personal account.

 

[deedisneydream97]

I guess I should have read the web site a little better. I was under the impression that the sticker was like the inspection stickers....hard to remove once they are applied. Could have saved $15 (that's a counter service lunch!!!!!). Either way.....I will be happy to not have to lose a few minutes at the tolls booths and curse on our way back to the airport when we realize we forgot to leave some coins handy for the ramp! Strange that Florida does not use the easy pass.....it is good all the way through Georgia.

Enjoy your quicker trips!

 

[deedisneydream97]

Sorry, Nacho, did not see your post. So, they can't be reused. So maybe I did make a good decision.

 

[HelenParr]

I think you made good choice. We got the $20 transponder, and have been thrilled with it. We register the rental plate at MCO before we leave the garage - done online with smart phone. That way if the transponder fails to register at the toll, the car is still on your Sunpass account (not defaulting to rental company). Remember to remove the rental car from your Sunpass account when car is returned.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I just got the $19.99 one too. I got nailed once on the toll penalties from Alamo. Apparently I went thru a toll too quickly, after putting in my quarters. (I brought a roll with me to avoid problems; FAIL). I go to WDW about 2X a year, I will get my $$ worth.

 

[florep1]

We're renting Dollar in May. I'm contemplating getting a Sunpass transponder for my own use and decline the Platepass. How do I ensure I won't get charged for the Platepass when we go through the Sunpass lanes? Is Platepass located on the plate itself, or do they give you a transponder when you choose to sign up for it? Looking at the Sunpass website, I don't see an on/off switch for the transponder.

 

[MillauFr]

If you have a transponder the charges will default to the transponder account.

 

[nacho113]

We're renting Dollar in May. I'm contemplating getting a Sunpass transponder for my own use and decline the Platepass. How do I ensure I won't get charged for the Platepass when we go through the Sunpass lanes? Is Platepass located on the plate itself, or do they give you a transponder when you choose to sign up for it? Looking at the Sunpass website, I don't see an on/off switch for the transponder.

Platepass seems to be the default way of billing tolls if you dont have a transponder. Platepass doesn't use a transponder in the plate or anywhere, when you drive through the SunPass lane and it doesn't detect a transponder in the vehicle, a photo will be taken of the vehicles licence plate and the toll will be billed this way to the owner or the plate. This would be the rental car company who will in turn pass along these costs to you (plus any applicable admin fee).
Platepass can take several days to process so don't be surprised if you get a charge on your credit card a few days after you have returned the vehicle, if you happen to get a toll charged this way while you have the vehicle.
If you have a transponder you shouldn't get dinged by Platepass.

 

[Applemomma]

There are plate tolls in the Tampa area...we discovered them by accident and ended up going through two $1.06 per plate ones...zero options to be able to avoid them...on the way to Clearwater. Told the rental agency that's where we were going and nothing was said so it should be interesting if I get a bill in the mail.