Rental cars & tolls

[hollerfolk5]

I will be renting a car at MCO. I have seen alot about Sunpass and boxes. What does all that mean? I would just rather pay my tolls with cash and not have to worry about any additional fees. What would I have to tell the rental agency so that I do not get charged for it? Thanks!!!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Sunpass and boxes are methods of paying e-tolls. You can still choose the cash lanes off to the side on most roads.

It would help if you said which company you are using....each has its own e-toll policy. See here.

Bottom line is that some use e-tolls as a profit center (Dollar & Thrifty) and other offer it as a convenience with a very nominal fee (Alamo, Enterprise, and National).

 

[hollerfolk5]

I will probably use Alamo. Do I need to tell them when exiting garage that I do not want to use it? Will there be a box or something in the rental car?

 

[skelooch]

Make sure you decline auto tolls paying and make sure the car you get doesn't have one pre-installed, if it does make sure it is turned off or see an attendant before leaving the garage.

 

[hollerfolk5]

To decline: is that an option when I reserve online or check in on the kiosk? Where is it located in the car?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Make sure you decline auto tolls paying and make sure the car you get doesn't have one pre-installed, if it does make sure it is turned off or see an attendant before leaving the garage.

To decline: is that an option when I reserve online or check in on the kiosk? Where is it located in the car?

As I said before, it depends on the company. Some are done by plate, some might have boxes. Look at the link I posted above. It explains each company's opt-in or opt-out policy, and the method used (plate versus box).

With Alamo/National/Enterprise, there's nothing to decline and no box, it's done by plate. Your decision to opt-in or out is made when you drive through the toll.

 

[hollerfolk5]

Thanks for the help. I will just pick the cash only lanes!!

 

[gmeh1]

I will probably use Alamo. Do I need to tell them when exiting garage that I do not want to use it? Will there be a box or something in the rental car?

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

You opt in when you use it. If you don't use it, you don['t get charged, very simple. You do not have to notify anyone.

 

[seashoreCM]

Suggest getting a receipt for each cash toll you pay. This will require that you don't use an exact change lane.

Check the papers you sign at the start of your rental to be sure that there are no fees for toll privileges included.

Some rental companies charge you the minimum daily fee for each of the remaining days of your rental after you use the toll privileges even once.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

You opt in when you use it. If you don't use it, you don['t get charged, very simple. You do not have to notify anyone.

Excellent, very useful link!

At Orlando, if the only tolls I expect to encounter are the two tolls from the airport to WDW and the two tolls coming back, I just make sure I stay in the cash lanes for all of them. You have to watch for them. It looks as if you're exiting from the toll road. (If you just stay on the main part of a toll road, you can go though open road tolling without even knowing it.

Driving all over the Miami area, using the rental car company's toll system is well worth the cost.

 

[gmeh1]

To decline: is that an option when I reserve online or check in on the kiosk? Where is it located in the car?

At Alamo/National it is the toll by plate system. YOu don't have to accept or decline it. If you use it you will be charged if you don't use it you won't be charged. It is very simple. You cannot turn it on or off. https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar read about Alamo/National/Enterprise

 

[Moparlar]

Make sure you ask or read you rental agreement, I have my own Sunpass that I use when we go to florida. Alamo does not let you opt out. And they didn't say anything when we rented the car. So I put my sun pass in the window as always. Then after we got to the hotel I found paperwork in the glove box explaining the way they collect tolls. I called and complained but was told it could not be turned off. I did get the them to refund my toll when we got there and returned the car along with the 6 dollar use fee. My next rental next month is with Dollar and it appears that they let you opt out but I will be sure to ask.

Larry

 

[Greysword]

At Alamo/National it is the toll by plate system. YOu don't have to accept or decline it. If you use it you will be charged if you don't use it you won't be charged. It is very simple. You cannot turn it on or off. https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar read about Alamo/National/Enterprise

Make sure you ask or read you rental agreement, I have my own Sunpass that I use when we go to florida. Alamo does not let you opt out. And they didn't say anything when we rented the car. So I put my sun pass in the window as always. Then after we got to the hotel I found paperwork in the glove box explaining the way they collect tolls. I called and complained but was told it could not be turned off. I did get the them to refund my toll when we got there and returned the car along with the 6 dollar use fee. My next rental next month is with Dollar and it appears that they let you opt out but I will be sure to ask.

Larry

OK, so this is interesting. If I bring my own Sunpass box and register the rental's plate with Sunpass before leaving the garage, any thoughts on who gets notified of the toll (Rental company or my account)?

 

[gmeh1]

Make sure you ask or read you rental agreement, I have my own Sunpass that I use when we go to florida. Alamo does not let you opt out. And they didn't say anything when we rented the car. So I put my sun pass in the window as always. Then after we got to the hotel I found paperwork in the glove box explaining the way they collect tolls. I called and complained but was told it could not be turned off. I did get the them to refund my toll when we got there and returned the car along with the 6 dollar use fee. My next rental next month is with Dollar and it appears that they let you opt out but I will be sure to ask.

Larry

There is no way with Alamo/National to opt out, but, you can avoid this situation by registering the rental car on your Sunpass account. I am surprised you were charged anything and that anyone knew what the charges would be as that does not get billed to your credit card for about two weeks after your rental and your transponder should have picked up the signal when you passed the toll. The plate is only recorded IF you don't have a transponder, no signal, it takes a picture. You only get charged IF you use it. If you read the link I posted, you will have a better understanding on how our system works.

 

[gmeh1]

OK, so this is interesting. If I bring my own Sunpass box and register the rental's plate with Sunpass before leaving the garage, any thoughts on who gets notified of the toll (Rental company or my account)?

your account. It will not register the plate because it not "trip the camera". I have a feeling the pp was reimbursed as a customer satisfaction issue rather than having incurred any tolls.

 

[Moparlar]

There is no way with Alamo/National to opt out, but, you can avoid this situation by registering the rental car on your Sunpass account. I am surprised you were charged anything and that anyone knew what the charges would be as that does not get billed to your credit card for about two weeks after your rental and your transponder should have picked up the signal when you passed the toll. The plate is only recorded IF you don't have a transponder, no signal, it takes a picture. You only get charged IF you use it. If you read the link I posted, you will have a better understanding on how our system works.

When I called the number in the car they said there was no way to use my transponder. They never said use my transponder and it won't take a picture. So I asked for the 1 toll back that could have possibly been billed on my sunpass and their plate system also. If that is the case I will just use my sunpass next time

 

[Moparlar]

your account. It will not register the plate because it not "trip the camera". I have a feeling the pp was reimbursed as a customer satisfaction issue rather than having incurred any tolls.

It was definately a customer satisfaction refund. They said I should have been told at checkout and wasn't. So they reimbursed what the toll would have been.

 

[HelenParr]

I just had an odd experience with my Alamo rental and my sunpass. Registered the plate with sunpass, per usual. Had many tolls (visiting family and Disney World). Visa bill (couple weeks later) shows eight dollars and change for Alamo. Assuming transponder missed but I can see from surpass activity (dates and charges) it missed a couple times but tagged back to my sunpass account later as it should. Just got the bill so I have not called or emailed Alamo yet. Never had this happen. Hoping it is easily resolved. More interested in the mystery than the eight bucks.