Purchasing SunPass?

[jsmla]

We have plans to travel to south Florida in late August and will be renting a car. I have always used the cash lanes for the Turnpike and Orlando area but we're thinking about purchasing a portable transponder that can be used both in our rental and my car.

Do I have this right? I got the impression that south Florida doesn't have cash lanes in the same way that Orlando does.

I'm assuming a portable transponder can be used in different cars, right?


Thanks!

 

[joelkfla]

We have plans to travel to south Florida in late August and will be renting a car. I have always used the cash lanes for the Turnpike and Orlando area but we're thinking about purchasing a portable transponder that can be used both in our rental and my car.

Do I have this right? I got the impression that south Florida doesn't have cash lanes in the same way that Orlando does.

I'm assuming a portable transponder can be used in different cars, right?


Thanks!

Yes, lots of people do that. You can purchase one online here: https://www.sunpass.com/purchase.

There are some toll roads in South Florida that do not take cash. Cars without transponders are billed by the license plate, which would invoke the "convenience" charge for rentals. Cashless tolling is on the way in the Orlando area, too. So far, the only ones I'm aware of are the connection between 417 and the Turnpike and a few alternate exits, but the local Expressway Authority has already started upgrading it's toll facilities to enable cashless tolling in the future.

 

[jsmla]

Thanks!

 

[kiki02]

Instead of ordering on line, in the snail mail, can these be purchased anywhere in Fl? thanks

 

[joelkfla]

Instead of ordering on line, in the snail mail, can these be purchased anywhere in Fl? thanks

Yes, lots of places, including Publix, & Walgreens or CVS drug stores, but, unfortunately, I don't think any place at OIA sells them.

 

[Sue M]

Also the Turnpike rest stops sell them too. I also rent a car when I fly into FLL. I always think about buying a portable transponder, but just end up going thru Sunpass Lane. We use Alamo. They have their Admin fees capped. But some car companies, usually the supposedly cheap discount companies (Dollar, etc) have the highest admin fee. I think Sunpass web site has a chart with fees from rental companies. You can look up what your rental company charges for fees using Sunpass Lane vs buying transponder.

 

[jsmla]

Thank you everyone! We decided to purchase one. We'll use it in our tent all on our Miami/Key West vacation and then I'll have it for my WDW trips.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I bought one 2 years ago. After I pick up the rental car, I enter the license plate and car info on my cel phone.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Maybe I don't thoroughly understand other ways to use Sunpass. I have Sunpass, but I live here. I have it set to take $100 from my CC when my account balance falls below $50.
Not sure how that would play for the out of state vacationer..?? Perhaps there's another way to set up the charges..??

MG

 

[Sue M]

Maybe I don't thoroughly understand other ways to use Sunpass. I have Sunpass, but I live here. I have it set to take $100 from my CC when my account balance falls below $50.
Not sure how that would play for the out of state vacationer..?? Perhaps there's another way to set up the charges..??

MG

You can load what ever amount of money on it as you want I think? I was thinking of using their toll calculation tool and figuring out the toll cost from Lauderdale to Orlando to get an idea of how much I'd need to load on it. Plus extra for my 10 days before Wdw in FtvLauderdale. I use The Sawgrass a lot.
So I would save on Alamo admin fee plus I've noticed Sunpass toll is cheaper than cash toll.
Still thinking about it.

 

[Capt_BJ]

you pick the when and how much for the replenish ... and do not have to do it automatically at all, you can use the app, monitor your balance and add manually as needed ... if your account runs out the Sunpass will still work but they will start sending e-mails and postcards telling you to pay up or else .... technically it is a 'violation' but they take into account you may forget to update a changed credit card etc ...

I have mine set to replenish at $10 and add $25 then ... I use mine for airport parking as often as I use it for tolls

 

[jerseygal]

We were charged the transponder fee for eight days when we rented through Budget in May, think it was something like $19.95 for the rental period, for use of the convenience of the transponder. Would absolutely do it again if traveling a lot on toll roads. We told them at the rental counter, then you flip the switch to on in the rental vehicle. The actual cost of the tolls was tracked by Sunpass and the cost of the transponder plus the cost of the tolls was billed separately by Budget to the credit card we gave Budget on file. It was SO WORTH it for convenience, would do it again. We use Easypass in the TriState Area, Turpike, Parkway, Bridges, etc and "gone" are the days for us fumbling for tolls and waiting in NON EASY PASS lanes.

 

[puffkin]

We also have a transponder and just enter the license plate on our cell phone through the app when we rent the car. I have it set to auto replenish once I hit $10 with I believe $15 so not a lot of money sitting in holding at any given time. Super easy. We typically go 2-3 times a year to Florida so it is worth it for us.

 

[chapie1968]

Yes, lots of people do that. You can purchase one online here: https://www.sunpass.com/purchase.

There are some toll roads in South Florida that do not take cash. Cars without transponders are billed by the license plate, which would invoke the "convenience" charge for rentals. Cashless tolling is on the way in the Orlando area, too. So far, the only ones I'm aware of are the connection between 417 and the Turnpike and a few alternate exits, but the local Expressway Authority has already started upgrading it's toll facilities to enable cashless tolling in the future.

We are just about annual travelers to Orlando area. Do you think if I order this today I would have it before we departed for our visit on Aug 27th?

Or do we really not need one for basic travel from airport to resort areas? They aren't cashless yet, correct?

 

[joelkfla]

We are just about annual travelers to Orlando area. Do you think if I order this today I would have it before we departed for our visit on Aug 27th?

Or do we really not need one for basic travel from airport to resort areas? They aren't cashless yet, correct?

Sorry, I don't have any experience to know how long it takes the Turnpike to send them out. Maybe someone who has ordered one will see this and share.

Yes, you don't really need one to get between OIA & WDW. You can bring a roll of quarters, or stop at the attended toll booths as long as you don't get off at the Osceola Pkwy. exit or any of the exits along the way, which take cash but require exact change.

 

[chapie1968]

Sorry, I don't have any experience to know how long it takes the Turnpike to send them out. Maybe someone who has ordered one will see this and share.

Yes, you don't really need one to get between OIA & WDW. You can bring a roll of quarters, or stop at the attended toll booths as long as you don't get off at the Osceola Pkwy. exit or any of the exits along the way, which take cash but require exact change.

Okay, thank you. I think I'll just bring my quarters as I usually do because we're not travelling anywhere other than from the airport to the resort areas and back this trip. Maybe while I'm down there I'll pop in and pick one up physically for future use.

 

[Capt_BJ]

according to the Sunpass site they ship within 7 days.

I believe they use US mail . . .

 

[Fire14]

Maybe I don't thoroughly understand other ways to use Sunpass. I have Sunpass, but I live here. I have it set to take $100 from my CC when my account balance falls below $50.
Not sure how that would play for the out of state vacationer..?? Perhaps there's another way to set up the charges..??

MG

I broke down and bought one about 5 years ago. BEST THING I ever did!!!!. Mine is set to replensish if below 5.00 with 15.00 from card on file but I could just add as needed also. Does anyone know if Ohio/IN/IL are able to use sunpass system yet?

 

[katallo]

Wondering about EZ pass mid Atlantic. Rumor has it we''ll be able to merge soon.

 

[Donna M]

Wondering about EZ pass mid Atlantic. Rumor has it we''ll be able to merge soon.

That's what I'm waiting for, but I think I'll end up buying the Sunpass.

Anybody know when they plan to merge?