SunPass Mini?

[nancydrew79]

Has anyone stopped at a Publix once making it to Florida and purchased a SunPass Mini? I know the one con to doing this that I can think of would be wasting a few dollars that might not get used. But a major pro is not having to merge in and out of traffic (we were almost ran over many times, lol not used to that aggressive of traffic). I would almost be willing to give a few bucks to just bypass the stop and go all together. Thoughts?

 

[Funwith4kids]

If you haven't already...Check out www.sunpass.com.

"HOW SOON CAN YOU USE
YOUR SUNPASS MINI?
If you use a credit card and open your prepaid account before noon, your SunPass Mini will typically be ready to use after 4 p.m. If you open your account after noon, your SunPass Mini will typically be activated by 6 a.m. the next morning.
Once opened, you can check your balance anytime by visiting www.SunPass.com.:

 

[nancydrew79]

We will be staying a night somewhere around Tallahassee, so that's fine

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

CVS drug stores also carry them as do service plazas along Florida's Turnpike.

Since they give you $5 worth of free tolls when you buy this, it's basically free. Really no reason not to have one if you travel Florida. Keep in mind that it has to be affixed to the windshield and thus it cannot be moved from car to car as you can with the regular Sunpass.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Pixie Princess]

I have one and love it. The best $5 I've ever spent. It is great not having to stop at the toll booths, especially late at night.

 

[Funwith4kids]

I don't think we can pre-order (buy ahead and have it shipped) the mini-pass like you can for the regular sunpass unit. Will it work if we can get one before arrival and activate the day before we leave (flying) even though we won't have the rental car plate info?

 

[NJFireman22]

We bought the regular Sun Pass transponder, only because you can move it from
car to car. I have used it in rental cars many times, to my own car when driving to Fla. It really does save time and money. It is still small enough to pack in a bag, and TSA has never questioned it, in our carry on baggage.

 

[Funwith4kids]

Thanks for the response. We are wondering about the mini if we could get ahold of a couple ahead of time (2 cars) our cost would be $10 instead of $50. Fall back plan could be what you suggest with the "regular" sunpass.

 

[JB2K]

Has anyone stopped at a Publix once making it to Florida and purchased a SunPass Mini? I know the one con to doing this that I can think of would be wasting a few dollars that might not get used. But a major pro is not having to merge in and out of traffic (we were almost ran over many times, lol not used to that aggressive of traffic). I would almost be willing to give a few bucks to just bypass the stop and go all together. Thoughts?

I was able to buy my SunPass Mini from eBay, last year (it was new in the package and never activated). Activated it and stuck it on my windshield a few days before we left for Florida.

IMO, the biggest perk about having SunPass was that we bypassed the toll gates and cruised at fulll speed in dedicated lanes, while everyone else at the toll plazas were waiting, waiting, waiting in line...

And yes, I have some $ left-over, but as the SunPass Mini is a windshield sticker, it will remain there until the next trip...

 

[Funwith4kids]

I think we are going to see if we can use the mini's on our rental when we arrive, but want to activate them before we leave so we can use them straight away on our car rental when we arrive.

Anyone in Florida or will be in FL by mid March that would be willing to purchase 2 SunPass Mini Sticker transponders at one of the over 1100 Publix Super Markets and CVS/pharmacy stores in Florida that sell them and mail them back to us in cold and snowy central IL? We'll reimburse you. PM me if so. TIA!

 

[Capt_BJ]

I think we are going to see if we can use the mini's on our rental when we arrive, but want to activate them before we leave so we can use them straight away on our car rental when we arrive.

Anyone in Florida or will be in FL by mid March that would be willing to purchase 2 SunPass Mini Sticker transponders at one of the over 1100 Publix Super Markets and CVS/pharmacy stores in Florida that sell them and mail them back to us in cold and snowy central IL? We'll reimburse you. PM me if so. TIA!

Most rentals already have a "deal" where you can use the electronic lanes and the tolls will simply be charged to the same CC that you use for the rental.

Ask when you p/u the vehicle . . . or call and ask now.

 

[clkelley]

I wouldn't use a SunPass mini on a rental. It has to be fixed permanently and the next renter could run up charges on your account.

I have a SunPass mini for my truck and when pulling a camper, it's a lifesaver!! I was also there for almost 3 weeks on business and drove my own truck down. My work and hotel was almost 45 miles from Disney, so on weekends, driving the 417 was great!!! No change, no stopping, loved it!!

 

[Funwith4kids]

Most rentals already have a "deal" where you can use the electronic lanes and the tolls will simply be charged to the same CC that you use for the rental.

Ask when you p/u the vehicle . . . or call and ask now.

Here's the "deal"... "Rent A Toll's Pass24 on Dollar and Thrify cars will provide coverage of unlimited tolls for a flat daily fee of $5.95 or a weekly $27.95 for the time the car is rented. "

Not planning to be on the road everyday and spend $6 worth of tolls to make this worth it times two since there will be 2 vehicles.


To PP, can't we just take the mini off the windshield at the end of our rental period? Or what if tape it to the windshield?

 

[dioxide45]

The mini uses the windshield as its antenna, so I am not sure if just taping it would work.

 

[MercoBear]

I would be scared of not being able to get the mini off and having the rental car charge me some fee. We bought the normal one so we could move it between cars.