Sunpass question

[goofy4tink]

I have my own Sunpass acct. I have always had to pull off the highway to input the car info into the acct. Can I get away with just putting the transponder on and going? I can't get a decent signal in the garage, and hate pulling over at night.

 

[debster812]

I have my own Sunpass acct. I have always had to pull off the highway to input the car info into the acct. Can I get away with just putting the transponder on and going? I can't get a decent signal in the garage, and hate pulling over at night.

Di-I'd probably get out of the garage, and make for whichever cell phone lot was on my way out of MCO. I'd then get the Sunpass set up, and if you're using any kind of navigation, get that set, and then you're off and running. We usually do this when we leave the garage in Ft Myers

 

[OKW Lover]

Try it once you go through the license check on leaving the car rental area. Just pull over to the side (but not too far from the outside wall of the garage) and see if you have a good enough signal there.

To answer your direct question, it might work without registering. Maybe you could try it and give us the benefit of your experience.

 

[JimMIA]

It WILL work without registering. The SunPass transponder will pay the toll...period. That's the advantage of having the transponder vs. the sticker.

If you have any doubts, go to: https://www.sunpass.com and check there. They also have phone support -- manned by actual live human beings who render very good customer service.

 

[Syndrome]

Apparently you don't even need the transponder either ........just the plate number tied into your Sunpass account !

We had a recent rental and took our best estimated guess on the car rental return time .........I am going to say it was within about a 1 hour window .
Dropped off the rental car at MCO (Dollar) and REMOVED our Sunpass .
As (bad) luck would have it , the rental car company almost immediately turned the car over after we returned it to a new customer , and off he went . He managed to get through 2 tolls before our Sunpass "time" expired and we were charged for it ......even though I had the transponder IN MY HAND !
Sunpass was unforgiving about it, and did not credit our account. They said to chalk it up as a couple dollar learning experience !

From now on, I always deactivate the Sunpass plate # from the rental car as soon as I drop it off !

Also .......we rent primarily from Sanford now, and the rental cars are outside . Makes it much easier to set up the Sunpass BEFORE you leave the rental car agency.
I know what you mean when you rent from MCO with your own Sunpass ! As soon as you exit the garage ......you are up to speed with no where to pull over to set up the Sunpass ........make for a nerve racking exit from MCO !

 

[katallo]

This happened to our friend as well. As soon as I pass the last toll, I remove the tag number from the account. It is difficult at MCO because the garage has very poor reception.

 

[snowmedic]

Can I get away with just putting the transponder on and going?

Yes. You don't need to update your account with the license plate number. When my friends drive to Disney I will let them use my transponders, EZ-Pass and Sunpass. I know how much the tolls are, they pay me, I load the transponders and away they go. I don't ask for there plate number, both places have my email and regular address, if there is a problem they know how to get a hold of me.

 

[goofy4tink]

Excellent! Thanks guys. I'm going to just stick it up there and go. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[Capt_BJ]

here's the deal ... you register the tag with SUNPASS as a backup to the transponder .....

When you go thru a toll gate the system will

1 - look for the transponder, if found it processes the toll, else

2 - the tag is read and first the SUNPASS database is checked to see if the tag is associated with a valid account, if found the toll is processed normally - this backs up the transponder in case of a boo boo INCLUDING the transponder not in the car {I only have mine with me about half the time, it moves around 5 cars, all 5 tags are in the system - associating multiple tags only works with the portable $20 version; but this is why registering your rental tag is recommended, it facilitates the backup 'toll by plate' to the SP account - and as noted removing a rental tag promptly is a good idea} else

3 - the 'fleet database' is checked, this is where most rental car companies have their data and the tolls are managed by a third party ... if found the toll is processed thru the third party who bills you thru the rental company; else

4 - if all this fails the system processes as 'not found' and what happens next depends on where in the state you are; this usually is a private vehicle so I'll keep it simple. In areas where the tolls are 'electronic only' {Miami area primarily}, the system collects your tolls for a month and uses the address associated with the TAG to send a bill with a small service charge. Failure to pay the bill is a violation. In areas with cash option for payment (greater Orlando, most of the turnpike north of Miami), a violation can be issued as you have simply 'run the toll booth' but folks have said a one time boo boo did not result in a violation ... they only go after repeat offenders.

 

[JimMIA]

In areas where the tolls are 'electronic only' {Miami area primarily}, the system collects your tolls for a month and uses the address associated with the TAG to send a bill with a small service charge

The service charge is not that "small." It's $2.50, which is more than the toll at most toll locations. So you get charged the regular "cash toll" + $2.50.

I recently got a new car and went through a toll plaza before I put my SunPass on. $1.37 + $2.50 fee made the total $3.87...almost triple the regular toll.