SunPass Q

[dkostel]

Hello,
I was wondering if Alamo and National have the automatic sunpass transponder in the rental cars like Hertz does? For 4 days it ended up costing me an extra $14 and the only tolls I encountered were between WDW & MCO. The other driving I did was toll free. What a scam! Anyway I was just going to order my own as I often rent while at WDW. So, are they in Alamo/National cars and can you refuse them with other agencies?

Thanks

 

[vicki_c]

I just rented from Alamo a few weeks ago. It is an OPTION on your reservation, you don't have to accept it.

 

[dioxide45]

I think Alamo may use a PlatePass service. There are no transponders. The toll system uses the license plate of the car that is going through the express toll lanes to record the toll and bill accordingly. There is nothing to decline or accept. If you go through a cash lane, pay cash and PlatePass isn't even used. Buy a SunPass and use the express lanes, then the toll transponder is registered and PlatePass isn't used.

 

[vicki_c]

From Alamo:

The Toll Pass Program offered in Colorado, Florida, Dallas and Houston, TX is a service which allows the customer to drive through a designated toll based lane and have the tolls charged to their credit card.

Vehicles will be equipped with video tolling capability. When one of our rental vehicles passes through a designated toll based lane, the vehicle's toll charges are calculated electronically and charged to the same credit card that is used to rent the vehicle.

Every rental is set up in advance. No pre-enrollment or sign up is required. Simply select the toll pass service at time of rental.

You don't have to accept it. I know because we declined it on our last rental (it's $2.50/day) because we already have a SunPass.

 

[richmo]

I think Alamo may use a PlatePass service. There are no transponders. The toll system uses the license plate of the car that is going through the express toll lanes to record the toll and bill accordingly. There is nothing to decline or accept. If you go through a cash lane, pay cash and PlatePass isn't even used. Buy a SunPass and use the express lanes, then the toll transponder is registered and PlatePass isn't used.

I thought I read somewhere that the PlatePass system wasn't in use yet for the E-pass tolls in the Orlando area. I could be wrong though...check it out!

If you travel to Florida often, you could buy a SunPass portable transporter online and bring it whenever you travel. They also have a SunPass Mini that is less expensive to purchase, but is permanently mounted to the window -- it can't be transferred to another car (although I've seen some posts that suggest you can just affix it with tape and remove it, but SunPass claims that they are using the glass as an antenna)

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I thought I read somewhere that the PlatePass system wasn't in use yet for the E-pass tolls in the Orlando area. I could be wrong though...check it out!

The PlatePass system is valid in E-PASS lanes. It needs to be too because nearly all the tolls around Orlando are on Expressway Authority roads and thus E-PASS. Very few are on Turnpike operated roads showing the SunPass logo.

PlatePass really isn't an electronic system at all. When someone goes through a SunPass or E-PASS marked toll without paying, a camera snaps a photo and owners are identified and sent bills (or traffic citations for repeat offenders). When the owner is identified to be a rental car company then they too are notified and the renter is billed under the so called PlatePass system.

$2.50/day for this convenience is rather steep, in my opinion, if your only intent is to drive between MCO and Disney. Both TOLL 417 (Greeneway) and TOLL 528 (Beachline) have just 2 toll plazas each way. It's really only worthwhile if you're going to zipping all over Orlando or heading down to South Florida.

BobK/Orlando