SunPass? Is That Right ? ? Should I get it when I rent through Enterprise

[jcvalenti]

Leaving in 5 days for a 12 day stay. I got a pretty great deal on a minivan through Costco ($400.88 for a Grand Caravan or equivalent, plus a free extra driver). I know I can decline the insurance, but one thing I can never figure out is whether to get the toll road pass or not, and I know different car companies handle it differently.

Should I consider getting this from Enterprise ?

We are staying offsite and spending the first couple days at Universal Studios. We don't do a lot of toll road driving (if any) during our Disney stay, so it's basically just the first couple days and then at the end. I'm willing to pay a small price for the convenience of not having to haul around rolls of quarters, but I know some of the car companies soak you with uncapped "per day" fees if you don't disable the SunPass transponder.

Any insight ? Thanks !

 

[Capt_BJ]

Enterprise handles this better than most IMO ... you don't have to 'do' anything ... https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

Participation is automatic.

Opt-in decision is made when the driver elects to use EXPRESS, SunPass ONLY, E-PASS ONLY or LeeWay ONLY lanes.

Nothing to decide at time of rental.

$3.95 fee per usage day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

19.75 maximum fee per rental period plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

this will probably appear a lil while AFTER your trip is complete, as a sep' charge to the same card you used for the rental. It takes a while for the toll company to send the bill to the rental company

 

[MIChessGuy]

According to the Sunpass website, Enterprise charges $3.95 for each day that you use a toll road, plus the cost of the toll(s) themselves. Three days of toll road usage would result in a convenience charge of $11.85. The maximum convenience charge per rental period is $19.75. Enterprise seems to be a bit better than some of the other rental companies that charge you for every day of your car rental, whether or not you use a toll road or even drive the car at all.

I have actually purchased a moveable Sunpass transponder thing for use in Florida rental cars. I add the car's info to my account at the Sunpass website (and add funds if necessary), then stick the transponder into the car. At the end I pack up the transponder and delete the rental info from my Sunpass account. This may be too cumbersome for many people, though. All the Orlando-area toll roads offer cash lanes and will continue to do so for some time, as I understand it. So I guess there's three options: (1) Take the Enterprise toll deal; (2) Buy your own Sunpass and use it in the rental car; or (3) Use the cash lanes. As Disney vacations go, the convenience fee in your case doesn't seem too bad, so maybe (1) is the best option.

 

[jcvalenti]

Enterprise handles this better than most IMO ... you don't have to 'do' anything ... https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

Participation is automatic.

Opt-in decision is made when the driver elects to use EXPRESS, SunPass ONLY, E-PASS ONLY or LeeWay ONLY lanes.

Nothing to decide at time of rental.

$3.95 fee per usage day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

19.75 maximum fee per rental period plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

this will probably appear a lil while AFTER your trip is complete, as a sep' charge to the same card you used for the rental. It takes a while for the toll company to send the bill to the rental company

Thanks. Doesn't sound that bad - if I only drive toll roads on the first and last day, it will only cost $7.90 beyond the tolls ... so I'm dropping $8 to avoid having to haul down change, pull over at every toll booth, and get in fights with the wife when she dozes off as we approach a booth. I suppose it's worth the price of an Epcot beer for that.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you pay cash, it is a good idea to get a receipt whenever possible. This may mean waiting in a queue to use a non-exact-change lane.

Should you use an exact change lane and something goes wrong, it is a good idea to find out the address and send in the toll or an explanation or a dispute letter right away. The address might be posted in the toll booth. Do not wait until you get back home.

 

[jcvalenti]

Actually, looking over that Sunpass site, it looks like Enterprise has - by far - the fairest scheme of them all. I will definitely just use the SunPass Express lanes. Thanks for helping me cross one more worry off the "pre vacation checklist"

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks. Doesn't sound that bad - if I only drive toll roads on the first and last day, it will only cost $7.90 beyond the tolls ... so I'm dropping $8 to avoid having to haul down change, pull over at every toll booth, and get in fights with the wife when she dozes off as we approach a booth. I suppose it's worth the price of an Epcot beer for that.

It is SO easy to pay tolls when goin between airport and universal and airport and wdw. I cannot even imagine paying and extra $8 for a half hour's drive.

Get some ones, get some quarters. Put them in the center console. It'll be a dollar or 1.25 and you'll have ample warming for the amount at each booth. No need for the wife to wake up, let alone for there to be an argument, for something SO simple.

 

[monorailsilver]

We rented from enterprise in Tampa for our stay in ft. Myers.

We used the cash lanes when ever possible and got a receipt. The only time we got dinged was our way back to the airport in Tampa and we had to take the east loop due to high traffic going over the big bridge. There were no toll booths and it was just something on the highway.

Next April we will do the same thing. The only toll we will have is when we head over to sanibel and if luck is on my side, to Tampa to see the Yankees if they are playing the week we are there.

 

[Fire14]

Way back in Dino years, I bought a moveable sunpass for 20.00 bucks or whatever it was and loaded min. on it. I used it in Rental cars for rest of that years trips and for some reason didn't get another rental in FL for few years. Just this past May I used my Sunpass again and it still works like a charm. I save money on tolls ( there is slight discount for sunpass users)and don't have to worry about rental car company charges. I'm just now to point that I need to reload more funds on it.

 

[jcvalenti]

I don't even think not activating the sunpass is an option on Enterprise, from what I find on the Sunpass site, so it's a moot point. I know it's usually not that big of a hassle to pony up with cash, but if it's only $8 or $12, I don't have a problem with ponying that up to avoid having to play hunt for the quarters. Last trip down I went cash and spent 10 minutes at just one toll plaza waiting for 6 cars to roll through the cash lane during a shift change.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Way back in Dino years, I bought a moveable sunpass for 20.00 bucks or whatever it was and loaded min. on it. I used it in Rental cars for rest of that years trips and for some reason didn't get another rental in FL for few years. Just this past May I used my Sunpass again and it still works like a charm. I save money on tolls ( there is slight discount for sunpass users)and don't have to worry about rental car company charges. I'm just now to point that I need to reload more funds on it.

if you still have that dino version, go to the sunpass web site. They will upgrade it for free as it is soon to be non-functional. The system is being updated in pursuit of nation wide compatibility of electronic toll systems. The first generation Florida systems will not work soon . . .

 

[Fire14]

if you still have that dino version, go to the sunpass web site. They will upgrade it for free as it is soon to be non-functional. The system is being updated in pursuit of nation wide compatibility of electronic toll systems. The first generation Florida systems will not work soon . . .

I will check sunpass website for info. I'd hope they would email me something if I was affected.

 

[monorailsilver]

if you still have that dino version, go to the sunpass web site. They will upgrade it for free as it is soon to be non-functional. The system is being updated in pursuit of nation wide compatibility of electronic toll systems. The first generation Florida systems will not work soon . . .

That would be so nice! I love that I can use the EZ pass in so many states.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't even think not activating the sunpass is an option on Enterprise, from what I find on the Sunpass site, so it's a moot point. I know it's usually not that big of a hassle to pony up with cash, but if it's only $8 or $12, I don't have a problem with ponying that up to avoid having to play hunt for the quarters. Last trip down I went cash and spent 10 minutes at just one toll plaza waiting for 6 cars to roll through the cash lane during a shift change.

It's only moot if you go in the sunpass lane. If you exit and to to the tollbooth nothing gets pinged.

I've never felt that we waited overly long at a toll booth. And we literally get a roll of quarters and many ones so there's no hunt. We make it as easy on ourselves as possible.

You're willing to pay for a convenience. I think paying more IS the inconvenience. Knowing ourselves is important. Your op didn't sound like you had experienced the tollbooths.

 

[Fire14]

if you still have that dino version, go to the sunpass web site. They will upgrade it for free as it is soon to be non-functional. The system is being updated in pursuit of nation wide compatibility of electronic toll systems. The first generation Florida systems will not work soon . . .

I will check sunpass website for info. I'd hope they would email me something if I was affected.

Looks like mine is ok. I haven't received anything and mine doesn't require batteries.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Looks like mine is ok. I haven't received anything and mine doesn't require batteries.

CORRECT

if it doesn't need batteries or "beep" then is already the newer version. Mine that were replaced were bought around 2007 . . . and I got e-mails and mailings telling me all about the program (good reason to ensure you info is correct in their records)

and for those into details, yes if you read the details about how Enterprise (and Alamo and National) handle electronic tolls in Florida, it appears they have all the cars entered as a fleet in the Toll by Plate program, so you don't see a Sunpass.

Here's a secret .... if you forget the Sunpass you can still 'use it'! As long as you go online and register the rental's plate to your Sunpass account; it really doesn't matter if the Sunpass is in the car! When you pass thru a "sunpass" lane, the system looks first for a transponder; if none is found it captures the plate number and runs that number against those registered in the Sunpass database. {and then goes to fleet accounts and other special cases} I have one Sunpass but 4 plates registered to the account. The Sunpass is in the kitchen yet all the tolls appear on my bill! I learned this when my DINO version had a dead battery and daughter forgot to tell me that ... for a year. No harm, no foul.... and more importantly, no tickets or fines. The dead battery finally came to light when we could not use the SUNPASS lane at the airport parking lot - there it is transponder or nothing.

 

[Fire14]

CORRECT

if it doesn't need batteries or "beep" then is already the newer version. Mine that were replaced were bought around 2007 . . . and I got e-mails and mailings telling me all about the program (good reason to ensure you info is correct in their records)

and for those into details, yes if you read the details about how Enterprise (and Alamo and National) handle electronic tolls in Florida, it appears they have all the cars entered as a fleet in the Toll by Plate program, so you don't see a Sunpass.

Here's a secret .... if you forget the Sunpass you can still 'use it'! As long as you go online and register the rental's plate to your Sunpass account; it really doesn't matter if the Sunpass is in the car! When you pass thru a "sunpass" lane, the system looks first for a transponder; if none is found it captures the plate number and runs that number against those registered in the Sunpass database. {and then goes to fleet accounts and other special cases} I have one Sunpass but 4 plates registered to the account. The Sunpass is in the kitchen yet all the tolls appear on my bill! I learned this when my DINO version had a dead battery and daughter forgot to tell me that ... for a year. No harm, no foul.... and more importantly, no tickets or fines. The dead battery finally came to light when we could not use the SUNPASS lane at the airport parking lot - there it is transponder or nothing.

Good to know if I forget sunpass I can just put info into acct. my info is correct as I haven't moved and I do get emails/newsletters so I either over looked the change out or didn't read that email.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I'd also observe that it is very difficult to get a cell phone connection inside the MCO garage. I ended up driving out to a hotel parking lot just outside the airport and entering my rental car info into my Sunpass account. Then I got on the Beachline and everything worked great.

 

[DemoBri1]

According to the Sunpass website, Enterprise charges $3.95 for each day that you use a toll road, plus the cost of the toll(s) themselves. Three days of toll road usage would result in a convenience charge of $11.85. The maximum convenience charge per rental period is $19.75. Enterprise seems to be a bit better than some of the other rental companies that charge you for every day of your car rental, whether or not you use a toll road or even drive the car at all.

I have actually purchased a moveable Sunpass transponder thing for use in Florida rental cars. I add the car's info to my account at the Sunpass website (and add funds if necessary), then stick the transponder into the car. At the end I pack up the transponder and delete the rental info from my Sunpass account. This may be too cumbersome for many people, though. All the Orlando-area toll roads offer cash lanes and will continue to do so for some time, as I understand it. So I guess there's three options: (1) Take the Enterprise toll deal; (2) Buy your own Sunpass and use it in the rental car; or (3) Use the cash lanes. As Disney vacations go, the convenience fee in your case doesn't seem too bad, so maybe (1) is the best option.

When you purchased the SunPass did you do so while in Florida or did you purchase before you arrived. I'm thinking of doing the same thing myself, but they seem to want a license plate number to purchase online first, and obviously I won't have that information.

 

[MIChessGuy]

When you purchased the SunPass did you do so while in Florida or did you purchase before you arrived. I'm thinking of doing the same thing myself, but they seem to want a license plate number to purchase online first, and obviously I won't have that information.

I purchased one ahead of time through the Sunpass website. My recollection is that I put my personal car's plate number into the "license plate" field, even though I didn't plan to drive down this time. I added the rental car's plate number to my Sunpass account shortly after exiting the MCO garage. (Very weak data signal inside the garage, so couldn't do it in there.) There is an Apple app that you can download for this purpose. There doesn't appear to be an official Android app for Sunpass, though I noticed that the main Sunpass website has a "Mobile" section which I guess works out about the same.