Sunpass mini sticker a good thing or annoying and complicated?

[LuvOrlando]

On our last trip we brought our EZpass that originated in PA, we kept it when we moved to Massachusetts and it worked fine in Florida with rental cars once we added the rental car plate number and deleted it when we dropped it off.

This trip there are more people and our dog so I am feeling angsty that in the swirling things going on I am going to forget my EZpass. Plus, my DD is staying later than the rest of us so I would really like to just absorb her toll situation on the same rental car easily.

I remembered easily using a Sunpass sticker years ago and was thrilled to see they are still around, I can order one and have it here by the end of the week so that sounds great. However, I am also seeing posts about it being difficult to disengage owning the charges from the sticker so people end up paying for the next rental customers tolls.

Anyone out there use the Sunpass sticker mini easily? What is the deal with how this works? It sounds like the sticker is tied to an account, does the account stay live after the trip and can leftover money be linked to another sticker for my next trip or is the unique sticker tied to a unique account so that everything closes when the trip is over and for our next trip I just get refunded and start over again?

I also found this guy with a trick and think it might be a good thing to be able to easily remove the Sunpass when we are done, good idea or no?

 

[Ross Kratter]

I would either bring your E-ZPass or get a SunPass Pro, which attaches to the windshield with suction cups.

 

[dreamer17555]

If flying in and renting a car I would use Visitor Toll Pass (have used it with no issues)

https://visitortollpass.com/

 

[LuvOrlando]

If flying in and renting a car I would use Visitor Toll Pass (have used it with no issues)

https://visitortollpass.com/

We did that Visitor Toll Pass kiosk process 2 trips ago because I thought it would go smoothly but overall our user experience was rough. Locating the kiosk was super aggravating because the only one working was in another terminal and none of the staff we talked to had any idea what we were looking for anyway so it made getting out of the airport super stressful when we were also gathering checked luggage and trying to make it to the rental car on time.... pfft even thinking about it is stressing me out. Once we got it the transponder worked find but picking it up and dropping it off was messy.

I would like to have something with us when we land.

 

[CarolynFH]

I agree with Ross above - either bring yours or get a Sun Pass Pro, which can be easily attached to and removed from the windshield. I think trying to get the sticker off when you arrive at the airport at the end of the trip will be more stressful than necessary. We’ve had a Pro for years and love it, whether driving from Texas or flying and getting a rental. It’s truly portable!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We had two new Sunpasses for two rental cars in Sept and it was a pain. Sat in the garage for probably 15-20 mins setting them up (once we had the license plate numbers). And after all that, they didn’t work - charges never went onto them. So it was a waste. We removed them from the cars when we returned them. Disappointing.

 

[CarolynFH]

We had two new Sunpasses for two rental cars in Sept and it was a pain. Sat in the garage for probably 15-20 mins setting them up (once we had the license plate numbers). And after all that, they didn’t work - charges never went onto them. So it was a waste. We removed them from the cars when we returned them. Disappointing.

Wow, that would be disappointing as well as annoying. We had the SunPass sticker first because at that time we always drove, so we had already set up an account. We ordered the Pro when we got a new car and also started flying at times. So when we have a rental, all we have to do is enter the rental car information into the app in the garage, including the date and time we expect to turn it in. It comes out of our account automatically after that time - and I know that because I check it to be sure it happens!

 

[sam_gordon]

We did that Visitor Toll Pass kiosk process 2 trips ago because I thought it would go smoothly but overall our user experience was rough. Locating the kiosk was super aggravating because the only one working was in another terminal and none of the staff we talked to had any idea what we were looking for anyway so it made getting out of the airport super stressful when we were also gathering checked luggage and trying to make it to the rental car on time.... pfft even thinking about it is stressing me out. Once we got it the transponder worked find but picking it up and dropping it off was messy.

I would like to have something with us when we land.

But wouldn't you now know where to go to get the Visitor pass and where to return it?

If that's not an option, I would simply use your existing EZ Pass. I get the stress of having to remember to remove it at the end of the rental, but set an alarm on your phone, tie a ribbon to the bag where you're going to put it, SOMETHING that's a "second layer" to help remind you.

Personally, I would not do any kind of sticker for a rental car. Even using tape, cling, whatever, what happens if you forget to remove it before turning the car in. Will the rental company charge you for the "clean up" if you forget it?

 

[MICKIMINI]

The sticker was a PIA. We've had the pro for years and it is a breeze.

 

[EACarlson]

Visitor Toll Pass would be what I'm doing. Actually it is what I'm doing next month. And what I did two months ago. Every other option has a much greater likelihood of either additional toll charges or forgetting it and having to get it back. I was willing to take those risks before VTP was an option, but now there is no reason to. I've used the kiosks on both main terminals. They've actually added more machines.

 

[MikeOhio]

Visitor Toll Pass is the way to go. They have maps on the website with all of the pickup and drop-off options so it's very easy with a little up front research. You can also download the app ahead of time and have everything set up. Then all you have to do is scan a QR code at the pickup machine. The pickup options are a bit limited (but easily found by the car rental counters) but there are many drop off boxes.

 

[EACarlson]

Visitor Toll Pass is the way to go. They have maps on the website with all of the pickup and drop-off options so it's very easy with a little up front research. You can also download the app ahead of time and have everything set up. Then all you have to do is scan a QR code at the pickup machine. The pickup options are a bit limited (but easily found by the car rental counters) but there are many drop off boxes.

I get the first time it being goofy, you don't know what you're looking for, it's not all that well marked and it's hiding up against the wall. At least at Terminal A, Terminal B is very easy as it's next to the only baggage claim on that level. But still much better than the alternatives.

 

[brentm77]

I may be in the minority, but I just pay the added fee through the rental car company. The major brands all have the license plates registered already so there is nothing extra you need to do. I looked at my last trip's invoice at is an extra 25% above the toll rate. To me, it's well worth not thinking about it and just heading straight out with the rental car.

Edit: National's fee is $4.95 a day on any day you incurr a toll. It's not a percentage of the tolls.

 

[sam_gordon]

I may be in the minority, but I just pay the added fee through the rental car company. The major brands all have the license plates registered already so there is nothing extra you need to do. I looked at my last trip's invoice at is an extra 25% above the toll rate. To me, it's well worth not thinking about it and just heading straight out with the rental car.

My problem with that is the fees the rental company charges in addition to the tolls. Some rental places only charge you on days your use a toll. Some charge you every day whether you go through a toll or not.

By "25% above the toll rate", are you just counting the toll or that daily fee?

 

[brentm77]

My problem with that is the fees the rental company charges in addition to the tolls. Some rental places only charge you on days your use a toll. Some charge you every day whether you go through a toll or not.

By "25% above the toll rate", are you just counting the toll or that daily fee?

With National Car Rental, my preferred brand, it charges a daily fee only on days a toll is incurred. I looked it up; on those days, the charge is a $4.95 flat fee plus the actual toll amounts. Therefore, I was wrong about the charge being 25%; that was just the percentage it happened to equal on my previous trip. To me, the $5 charge is well worth it on any day I use it, simply for the convenience.

 

[EACarlson]

With National Car Rental, my preferred brand, it charges a daily fee only on days a toll is incurred. I looked it up; on those days, the charge is a $4.95 flat fee plus the actual toll amounts. Therefore, I was wrong about the charge being 25%; that was just the percentage it happened to equal on my previous trip. To me, the $5 charge is well worth it on any day I use it, simply for the convenience.

And the toll cost is doubled. With VTP or an EZPass compliant device, you pay half the pay by plate cost, which is what all of the rental car companies charge. I drive from MCO to Melbourne twice a year. With VTP, it costs me five minutes of my time and approximately $3 in tolls. If I used National's toll service, it would cost me $16, with some of the lower range brands it could cost me over $54 as I would get charged their "toll service fee" for my entire rental period. $8/day for the each of the six days of my rental period and the $6 in actual toll charges.

 

[brentm77]

And the toll cost is doubled. With VTP or an EZPass compliant device, you pay half the pay by plate cost, which is what all of the rental car companies charge. I drive from MCO to Melbourne twice a year. With VTP, it costs me five minutes of my time and approximately $3 in tolls. If I used National's toll service, it would cost me $16, with some of the lower range brands it could cost me over $54 as I would get charged their "toll service fee" for my entire rental period. $8/day for the each of the six days of my rental period and the $6 in actual toll charges.

Interesting. I never realized it was doubled. It's still "in the noise" for me, considering my average bill is less than $25 for an entire trip, but it's good to know. Is it doubled simply becuase they use a more expensive toll subscription? I am based in a state that doesn't have a single toll road, so I am not to familiar with how the different payment options work.

Edit: Also, another question. If you use an alternative, how does National not get billed based on their subscription and the license plate? It seems like a recipe for double-billing.

 

[sam_gordon]

Edit: Also, another question. If you use an alternative, how does National not get billed based on their subscription and the license plate? It seems like a recipe for double-billing.

My understanding if they have an order they go through.

They first check to see if there's a transponder read from the car. If so, that gets billed. Then they check to see if someone other than the car owner has registered the plate. If so, that gets billed. Failing that, the car owner, in this case the rental company, gets billed. So, in theory, there's no double dipping.

If I use my transponder and then the rental company hits me with toll fees, I go back to show my receipt from the transponder.

 

[erionm]

Interesting. I never realized it was doubled. It's still "in the noise" for me, considering my average bill is less than $25 for an entire trip, but it's good to know. Is it doubled simply becuase they use a more expensive toll subscription? I am based in a state that doesn't have a single toll road, so I am not to familiar with how the different payment options work.

Tolls charged through a car rental agency are at the Toll by Plate rate which can be double the electronic toll rate. I believe part of the Toll by Plate rate is an administrative fee charged by the toll road operator (Central FL Expressway Authority or State of Florida) which is separate from any fees charged by the car rental agency.

If you use the VTP or other interoperable transponder, tolls are charged at the electronic rate regardless of what state that transponder was issued in.

 

[EACarlson]

Interesting. I never realized it was doubled. It's still "in the noise" for me, considering my average bill is less than $25 for an entire trip, but it's good to know. Is it doubled simply becuase they use a more expensive toll subscription? I am based in a state that doesn't have a single toll road, so I am not to familiar with how the different payment options work.

Edit: Also, another question. If you use an alternative, how does National not get billed based on their subscription and the license plate? It seems like a recipe for double-billing.

It's common practice to offer toll transponder customers a discount, how much of a discount is dependent on the tolling jurisdiction. In the case of FL, when transponders first came into use, it was half the price of cash. When they took out the booths, they kept the discount. When you go through a toll booth, there is usually a sign that says, pay by plate rate and transponder rate. The difference is allegedly due to the cost savings in not having to chase down the owner for payment.

Every toll goes through a process that was mostly explained correctly by @sam_gordon. Checks go in the following order:
Transponder. If there is a transponder signal found, nothing else is checked.
License Plate of resident toll program. In the case of 417 to WDW, that's CFX. The license plate is checked against the list of registered plated in the EPass program operated by CFX.
License Plate of non-resident programs. The license plate is checked against all compatible programs, NY EZPass, IL IPass, Sunpass, etc.
License Plate of Plate Pass. This is the last check before it goes to general check and where almost all of the rental programs live. Any registered plates here just saves the jurisdiction time in routing the toll to the correct place.
Non-registered plates. This is how you end up with a $2 toll costing $37 when the civil fine for not paying the toll online gets charged. There are some states that will not give out vehicle owner information.
Almost all tolling programs now have an option to pay online within a few days to not have to pay the civil fine. I don't know how that works with vehicles registered in Plate Pass though.