Toll Advice

[gregf71]

June will be the first time that my family and I will visit Orlando and not use Magical Express or a pre-booked airport shuttle. It will also be the first time that we are not staying on Disney property. GASP!

We are coming out because I have a weekend business conference and are then staying for an additional week afterwards to play! It just so happens that one of the conference hotels was also the timeshare that my dad offered us (Hilton Grand Vacations at Sea World), so we will be staying there the entire time, using it as a central hub to visit Disney, Universal, Sea World, and Discovery Cove.

We will be renting a car, so my questions are:

• Am I correct in thinking that the only tolls we will deal with will be from MCO to the Hilton on our arrival day and then back again on our departure day? Thus, driving between the Hilton and the various Orlando theme parks use no toll roads? The I4 is toll free, yes?
• If so, how many toll centers will we hit on the 528 between MCO and the Hilton and any idea how much will it be? I tried to use the toll calculator online and think I put in the correct options. The verdict was $2.25, but if I am driving through more than one toll center, is that amount broken up or for each section? If we are looking at a grand total of $4.50 for the two drives, then a roll of quarters should suffice.

Thanks for the info!

 

[joelkfla]

• Yes, no tolls on I4.
• Yes, $2.25 is the total, and it's at just one toll plaza.

 

[BlueFairy]

My understanding is that all rental cars from major agencies can use the SunPass lane. They photograph your tag or use a built in transponder and bill the rental agency. You can bypass the booth and roll of quarters. You have an agreement in your rental contract that allows them to bill you separately for this service. Maybe a nominal fee added for convenience.

We rented National in March. Our tag was from Maine. We received bills to our credit card once we returned home for each leg of our trip to the airport.

 

[joelkfla]

My understanding is that all rental cars from major agencies can use the SunPass lane. They photograph your tag or use a built in transponder and bill the rental agency. You can bypass the booth and roll of quarters. You have an agreement in your rental contract that allows them to bill you separately for this service. Maybe a nominal fee added for convenience.

We rented National in March. Our tag was from Maine. We received bills to our credit card once we returned home for each leg of our trip to the airport.

That nominal fee can be quite hefty, depending on which rental company.

 

[Capt_BJ]

That nominal fee can be quite hefty, depending on which rental company.

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

 

[joelkfla]

I triple-checked - it is $2.25, not $2.00. (I have a lot of time on my hands since I retired )

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/traffic/os-expressway-toll-plaza-demolition-20160129-story.html

I verified it on the Turnpike website too, which shows $2.25 eff. 1/16.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There is one toll of $2.25 on the northern route (SR-528 to I-4). There are two tolls of $1.50 each ($3.00 total) on the southern route (SR-417 to exit 6).

I prefer SR-417 if I'm driving from MCO to WDW because it avoids busy I-4 entirely.

If you take SR-528 to I-4 or SR-417 to exit 6, there is no entrance toll or exit toll. On both routes, everyone must pay, either electronically or at a traditional "Cash Only" or "Change-Receipts" toll booth.

If you stay on SR-417 beyond exit 6, there are exact-change exit tolls. Exit 6 takes you toward the heart of the WDW property, with efficient access to all WDW resorts. So the easy solution is to exit at exit 6 (no exit toll).

Both routes have attended "Change-Receipts" toll booths available. U.S. paper money is fine. You do not need quarters. You may want to ask for receipts.

Just pay attention. Both routes have open road electronic tolling if you don't exit to the right toward the traditional toll booths. Open road tolling is like driving under a sign at freeway speed. Even if you don't have a SunPass transponder, it reads your license plate. On this forum, we regularly have threads from people who were charged an unexpected toll and service charge. In at least some cases, they probably overlooked the need to exit to the right for cash toll lanes.

There is no need to rent a SunPass transponder. In fact, most rental car companies do not offer transponders at MCO. In most cases, if you go through an electronic toll with a rental car, you are charged the toll plus a daily service charge. Paying cash will avoid any rental car toll service charge. Different car rental companies have different plans. If your rental car company requires "opt in" or "opt out," you can safely opt out. Different car rental companies have different plans: https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

There are no tolls on I-4 around Orlando. So once you're in tourist corridor, you don't have to worry about tolls.

 

[kj2mom]

I know it is not specifically asked but I wanted to just repeat the tip that helped me the most last year was that the cash tolls are to the right and it can feel like you are taking an exit. Don't worry, you are not, you are just going to the toll booth and then merging back on. I was glad I knew that before because I could have potentially seen myself panicking a bit thinking 'no I don't want to get off here' and accidentally using the open road tolling.

 

[ashleyrm]

I triple-checked - it is $2.25, not $2.00. (I have a lot of time on my hands since I retired )

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/traffic/os-expressway-toll-plaza-demolition-20160129-story.html

I verified it on the Turnpike website too, which shows $2.25 eff. 1/16.

I use this site and it verifies the $2.25. It also comes up as $3.25 if taking 417. Which is why I take 528 (because I'm cheap!)

https://www.cfxway.com/TravelersExpressways/TravelResources/TollCalculator.aspx

 

[ScrapYap]

If you visit Orlando very often, you could consider buying a Sunpass transponder for about $20. It's easy to add the rental car to it each time you arrive. (The transponder attaches with suction cups to the inside of the windshield and is intended to be transferable from car to car, indefinitely.) And you save about 25% off the price of each toll. The peace of mind is nice - you never have to worry about having change when you go through an unattended exit/entrance (such as the one near the Walmart). It's also faster - you just sail on through.

 

[Woodview]

There is NO Need to buy Sun Pass or EZ Pass.

Just Follow Cash Pay Lines on Right Lane ... Booth Open will Have Green Light .


Very easy .

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There is NO Need to buy Sun Pass or EZ Pass.

Just Follow Cash Pay Lines on Right Lane ... Booth Open will Have Green Light .


Very easy .

I agree for anyone who only driving between Orlando International Airport and the tourist corridor. I prefer the "Change-Receipt"s lane to the "Cash Only" lane because I like getting a receipt and not having to travel with a pocket full of quarters,

If travel plans also include driving all over the Miami area, then owning a transponder or using the rental car company's toll service can be worthwhile.

 

[Carolina Beth]

Just a tip- if you have a transponder unit in your car (near the rearview mirror) and you DO NOT want to use it, make sure it's in the off position.