SunPass

[WhitGB]

I searched and read all the posts on the sunpass. Am I correct that I need to order a portable transponder so I can use it on the rental car?

I would then need to call in the plate# once I receive the car?

Also, when do I attach my credit card to the account? I would assume when I receive it? We are not going until early Nov, but would like to have this done.

Thanks.

 

[DCTooTall]

You may want to check with your Rental agency. Some Car Rental Agencies in Florida have a SunPass already in each of their cars. You would then pay them a small fee for it's use (like $1 per day), plus the actual charges incurred via the tolls.

Even if you don't want to use their included sunpass, It may be worth talking to them so that you don't run into an issue with getting your own and having the system basically double-bill you by seeing both sunpasses going thru the lane.

Last time I rented a car in Florida it was with Avis and they had Sunpasses in all their cars. I can't speak for the other Agencies in the area. At least with Avis, since I didn't want to pay their fee, I went to the cash toll booth and paid there instead of using the pass. Since I didn't use a lot of toll road travel, it didn't seriously impact my travel time.

 

[WhitGB]

We did use the rental agency's sunpass last year but it was about $5.95/day. We are making more than one trip in the next couple of months and thought the portable would be worth the price.

 

[DCTooTall]

We did use the rental agency's sunpass last year but it was about $5.95/day. We are making more than one trip in the next couple of months and thought the portable would be worth the price.

In that case it definately might be for you. My only concern would be the possibility of the system reading both transponders in the car resulting in a double-billing (plus the agency fee).

You may still want to check with the agency (probably the local desk) to see if there is a way to either remove the sunpass already in the car, or deactivate it to prevent it's being read.

 

[dioxide45]

Rental car agencies do not use SunPass in any of their vehicles. So you don't need to worry about double charges from SunPass and from the rental agency. The car rental companies use PlatePass. When you go through a toll and don't have a transponder the toll system takes a photo for violations. When you drive through with a rental car (without your own transponder) the toll system takes a photo. The PlatePass system then matches that up with the rental car company and sends that information to them to match up with renters based on the date and time of the toll drive through.

If you buy your own SunPass portable transponder, then when you drive through the toll plaza, no photo is taken and the transponder registers and the toll deducted.

Unfortunately I think the portable units are only available in Florida. You must register the transponder and apply funds to it before use. Once there are funds on your account, you are good to go by using that transponder in any vehicle. You may want to register the vehicle. This is where SunPass is great for rentals. You can register your rental vehicle up three days after you first drive it through a toll plaza with your transponder. If for some reason the transponder doesn't register, SunPass matches up the license plate with the registered vehicle.

There is no need to call in from the airport when you pick up your car. If you have a laptop with you and will have Internet at your hotel. Just register the car with SunPass when you get to your hotel.

Here is an article on the SunPass website about using SunPass with rental cars.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Rental car agencies do not use SunPass in any of their vehicles.

This is incorrect. Some rental agencies use the PlatePass system as you described but a number of them use an actual SunPass (in rental cars in Florida) or E-ZPass (in rental cars in the Northeast & Midwest). In the latter situation, there is an actual transponder in a little metal box installed on the windshield. If you want to use their service, you slide open the little door on the little box. You're billed for the tolls plus that daily service fee. If you have your own transponder, keep that little door shut and hold your portable transponder up to the windshield as you pass through the toll plaza sensors.

And to the O/P, yes, you need the portable unit. And while they ask you to keep them updated with the current tag number, I've never done that and things work just fine.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Tara]

We LOVE our SunPass transponder! No fumbling for change and we can use the high-speed toll lanes on 417. Perfect and so worth the $25 it cost. Next week is (I think?) our 5th or 6th trip using it. Works like a charm every time.

 

[dioxide45]

This is incorrect. Some rental agencies use the PlatePass system as you described but a number of them use an actual SunPass (in rental cars in Florida) or E-ZPass (in rental cars in the Northeast & Midwest). In the latter situation, there is an actual transponder in a little metal box installed on the windshield. If you want to use their service, you slide open the little door on the little box. You're billed for the tolls plus that daily service fee. If you have your own transponder, keep that little door shut and hold your portable transponder up to the windshield as you pass through the toll plaza sensors.

And to the O/P, yes, you need the portable unit. And while they ask you to keep them updated with the current tag number, I've never done that and things work just fine.

BobK/Orlando

You are likely correct, we just never had a rental car from MCO that had a transponder. All used the PlatePass system. Even with the system you described, you would be able to use your own transponder and no double billing would occur.

 

[WhitGB]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

So the big question is, being from WI, can I order one and have it sent to my home?

I see on the the posters was from NY, how did you handle obtaining yours?

TIA

 

[JB2K]

In that case it definately might be for you. My only concern would be the possibility of the system reading both transponders in the car resulting in a double-billing

The best workaround to this situation is to put the transponder (SunPass) you are not using into the silver-colored bag they initially provide you.

Once the pass is in the bag, it cannot be read when you pass-through toll plazas.

 

[JB2K]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

So the big question is, being from WI, can I order one and have it sent to my home?

I see on the the posters was from NY, how did you handle obtaining yours?

TIA

Yes, you can order one by going to the SunPass Website.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

So the big question is, being from WI, can I order one and have it sent to my home?

I see on the the posters was from NY, how did you handle obtaining yours?

TIA

SunPass transponder owner in Massachusetts here. I simply went to the website and ordered one back in 2005; they shipped it to me and I have been using it when in Florida ever since. We aren't in FL all that much but it is such a convenience that we have found it worth it for us.

I love going thru the tolls on the BeeLine and the Greeneway at 60, and then not having to stop when getting off at Osceola Parkway...

We were going to use it on our own car (a wheelchair van) this coming year on our Vero trip, taking the AutoTrain down, but Southwest had rates too good for us to turn down and National for some reason rented us a minivan (which also works for us) for a reasonable price during our school's February vacation - shocking. So we'll use it in the rental again.
We pretty much only get a car when heading somewhere other than WDW since wheelchair transport is easier using Disney transport than fussing with a rental and DS's chair. But when headed to Disney's Vero Beach resort as we love to do, we have to have a vehicle.

 

[WhitGB]

Thanks for the information everyone. I am going to purchase one tonight once the kids go to bed.

 

[Pumbaa_]

CT resident here, we bought our sunpass this spring and love it!

It was great not having to pull over to pay the toll and just to zoom zoom through

It was $25 to purchase and we had to load the card with $25 and leave a cc on file so when it got below a certain $$ it woulod automatically reload

I updated the vehicle info when we got to the hotel. Do read the instructions on where to place the transponder though

 

[Disneyadore]

Thanks for the information everyone. I am going to purchase one tonight once the kids go to bed.

I would look into or call the rental company first and ask.
Hertz has Plate Passes and they are great.

 

[Tara]

I've never encountered a rental company that included the toll transponder automatically -it's always been an opt-in option. I wouldn't have any concerns about using a Sunpass transponder of my own in a rental, though I guess if I were worried, I'd carefully check my bill before leaving the garage.