Toll Help - Can Someone Explain?

[knik]

We’re flying into MCO from Canada (no tolls where we are from) and renting a car. Aside from exploring Orlando, we plan to drive the Clearwater Beach as well as Daytona Beach. I know we can avoid tolls, but those routes take longer? If we were to go on toll roads is there an option to stop at each booth to pay? Is exact change needed? Or is there a better way to pay tolls for visitors?
Any advice is welcome

 

[erionm]

Check out the Visitor Toll Pass from CFX (Central FL Expressway Authority).

https://visitortollpass.com/

 

[Mommb]

Yes, if you are flying into Orlando International Airport, getting the Visitor Toll Pass will be the easiest way to deal with tolls. If you get this pass at the airport, you can decline toll coverage from the rental car company. You will be changed only for the tolls you use.

 

[EACarlson]

Reminder there are still some limitations on the VTP. It only works with the ten companies that have their cars onsite at MCO. If you're booking using a rental company other than: Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Avis, Budget, Payless, National, Enterprise, Alamo and Sixt the VTP is not an option.
There are no cash booths on 528 from Orlando to Clearwater, it's all automated. The non toll option I believe requires you to go down to 192 and take that to Melbourne, which takes about twice as long as 528.
If you're not using one of the above companies, the options are to pay whatever your rental company wants to charge, which can be usurious. Or get your own transponder. Any EZ Pass compatible transponder will work. They are available on Amazon or from the individual states directly. The NC one was the most recommended prior to the VTP starting.

ETA, I misread Clearwater as Cocoa Beach for some reason. I think you can make both of those destinations with only a minimal time addition from Orlando.

 

[dreamscomealive]

Edit

 

[knik]

Thank you all for the advice! So very appreciated

 

[LAS2AMS]

You can avoid tolls by using an app like Google Maps and selecting the ‘’no toll’ option. Most of the time, avoiding toll roads will add only minutes to your routing. The biggest exception is from the airport to WDW — it’ll add 20-30 minutes each way as you’ll travel down mostly surface streets instead of the freeway. But if you need to pick up some items for your trip, it’s super convenient especially as the popular chain stores near WDW are often crowded with many items out of stock.

Note: even if you program Google Maps to avoid toll roads, sometimes you make a wrong turn or encounter a detour that seemingly forces you onto a toll road. You can pay cash for most of your tolls, but many unmanned booths accept quarters only. I STRONGLY suggest bringing quarters. Make get some small chanfe at or near the airport?

Also… there’s no need to add the toll pass from your rental agency. In the event of a toll evasion “Premium” rental agencies like Avis will charge you actual tolls only. Most other will charge you their daily toll fee — ONLY for the days you evaded the tolls — plus the actual tolls. Some of the value rental companies will charge you a fee for every toll, so it’s best to avoid those rental agencies.

 

[Mikey15]

You can avoid tolls by using an app like Google Maps and selecting the ‘’no toll’ option. Most of the time, avoiding toll roads will add only minutes to your routing. The biggest exception is from the airport to WDW — it’ll add 20-30 minutes each way as you’ll travel down mostly surface streets instead of the freeway. But if you need to pick up some items for your trip, it’s super convenient especially as the popular chain stores near WDW are often crowded with many items out of stock.

Note: even if you program Google Maps to avoid toll roads, sometimes you make a wrong turn or encounter a detour that seemingly forces you onto a toll road. You can pay cash for most of your tolls, but many unmanned booths accept quarters only. I STRONGLY suggest bringing quarters. Make get some small chanfe at or near the airport?

Also… there’s no need to add the toll pass from your rental agency. In the event of a toll evasion “Premium” rental agencies like Avis will charge you actual tolls only. Most other will charge you their daily toll fee — ONLY for the days you evaded the tolls — plus the actual tolls. Some of the value rental companies will charge you a fee for every toll, so it’s best to avoid those rental agencies.

Specifically from WDW to Clearwater (I-4 west to 275 to causeway) or WDW to Daytona (I-4 east to I-95) you can readily avoid tolls altogether, but LAS2AMS is absolutely right that CFX has made it difficult to avoid tolls when leaving MCO airport and heading to resort areas like WDW.

I've definitely done no-toll routes to and from MCO before like the Scrooge McDuck that I am, but they're not easy straight shots, and they definitely add time. Meanwhile with the Visitor Toll Pass (or you can bring an E-ZPass if you'll ever use it in a border state like NY) you won't have to worry.

 

[yes_and_no]

Hope it's okay to use this thread instead of starting another one...

I plan to bring my EZ-Pass and add the rental car plate. My only concern is that the sites say it will work for "CFX", but it's not clear to me how many non-CFX toll roads there are in the Orlando area. I don't plan to do far-flung exploring, I'll just be visiting ESPN Sports Complex, All-Star Resorts, Wyndham Grand Bonnett Creek, and Volcano Bay, along with a few trips to e.g. Walmart and Target.

Or does anyone know of a map of non-CFX toll roads in the Orlando area?! Thanks!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Hope it's okay to use this thread instead of starting another one...

I plan to bring my EZ-Pass and add the rental car plate. My only concern is that the sites say it will work for "CFX", but it's not clear to me how many non-CFX toll roads there are in the Orlando area. I don't plan to do far-flung exploring, I'll just be visiting ESPN Sports Complex, All-Star Resorts, Wyndham Grand Bonnett Creek, and Volcano Bay, along with a few trips to e.g. Walmart and Target.

Or does anyone know of a map of non-CFX toll roads in the Orlando area?! Thanks!

It will not matter. The non-CFX toll roads in Florida (Florida DOT) now also accept E-ZPass: https://www.e-zpassiag.com/about-e-zpass/where-can-i-use-it and click on the state of Florida.

 

[yes_and_no]

It will not matter. The non-CFX toll roads in Florida (Florida DOT) now also accept E-ZPass

Thanks, I must have just found some old info!

 

[Lewisc]

Premium” rental agencies like Avis will charge you actual tolls only.

Premium agencies only charge a toll convenience fee for the days you incur a toll. Avis fee is $7 per day, max of $35. That's the listed fee for cars rented in Florida.

 

[EACarlson]

Thanks, I must have just found some old info!

Yep, it was Memorial Day weekend of 2022 I believe that every toll road in FL began accepting EZPass.