Toll Question

[pschro1]

We are starting our vacation in Hilton Head where we will be renting a car before driving to Disney. Since we are going to be staying in Hilton Head for a couple days, I don't really want to pay for the tolls through Avis. I like the idea of the visitor toll pass, but since we aren't picking the car up from MCO, this won't work. What are some recommendations for tolls? I am not sure how keen I am on the "uni" pass because I probably will never use it again after this trip. I do have EZ Pass in NY, but I'm not sure the transponder will work in FL.

 

[erionm]

We are starting our vacation in Hilton Head where we will be renting a car before driving to Disney. Since we are going to be staying in Hilton Head for a couple days, I don't really want to pay for the tolls through Avis. I like the idea of the visitor toll pass, but since we aren't picking the car up from MCO, this won't work. What are some recommendations for tolls? I am not sure how keen I am on the "uni" pass because I probably will never use it again after this trip. I do have EZ Pass in NY, but I'm not sure the transponder will work in FL.

Your NY E-ZPass will work on all toll roads in Florida.

https://www.e-zpassny.com/en/about/facilities.shtml

 

[pschro1]

Sweet!

 

[_19disnA]

The various EZ pass websites also show a map of which other states use that same device. I think it is a great idea they work in multiple states. However, have found that tolls/discounts vary wildly from state to state so if you travel a LOT, it is more economical to have a device issued by the state where you most often travel which has the most expensive tolls. The website IMPLIES the prices/discounts are the same regardless of where you got you device and I have found that is NOT true.

 

[erionm]

The various EZ pass websites also show a map of which other states use that same device. I think it is a great idea they work in multiple states. However, have found that tolls/discounts vary wildly from state to state so if you travel a LOT, it is more economical to have a device issued by the state where you most often travel which has the most expensive tolls. The website IMPLIES the prices/discounts are the same regardless of where you got you device and I have found that is NOT true.

Florida is one of the few states that charge the lower electronic toll rate regardless of which state the E-ZPass account is from.

 

[Judique]

We are starting our vacation in Hilton Head where we will be renting a car before driving to Disney. Since we are going to be staying in Hilton Head for a couple days, I don't really want to pay for the tolls through Avis. I like the idea of the visitor toll pass, but since we aren't picking the car up from MCO, this won't work. What are some recommendations for tolls? I am not sure how keen I am on the "uni" pass because I probably will never use it again after this trip. I do have EZ Pass in NY, but I'm not sure the transponder will work in FL.

There was a time when the ez pass I had did not work in Florida so I got a mini sunpass. I lost it with a previous vehicle so I just drove through the tolls after registering my new car on it. Worked everytime. Then I noticed that 'some' of the Florida tolls were appearing on my ez pass anyway, so I stopped adding funds to Sunpass and requested a closeout.

Now everything goes on my Maryland ez pass.

Oh, and had to change transponders eventually when it died. Florida still found me and charged my account.

For me it was convenience rather than stopping to pay with coins or at a manned booth. Then it became unmanned booths so you either had to do toll by plate or get yourself an ez pass.

 

[Judique]

We are starting our vacation in Hilton Head where we will be renting a car before driving to Disney. Since we are going to be staying in Hilton Head for a couple days, I don't really want to pay for the tolls through Avis. I like the idea of the visitor toll pass, but since we aren't picking the car up from MCO, this won't work. What are some recommendations for tolls? I am not sure how keen I am on the "uni" pass because I probably will never use it again after this trip. I do have EZ Pass in NY, but I'm not sure the transponder will work in FL.

Oh and it's possible to take I 95 to I 4 and never pay a toll if you are just going to Disney. However the new ez pass lanes on I 4 always tempt me. I will also do 417 if I know there are backups. I also wander away from Disney quite often and do tolls on 429 and over near Tampa.

 

[hertamaniac]

I also wander away from Disney quite often and do tolls on 429 and over near Tampa.

For me, that is the only way I go to WDW. It cuts off a ton of time and traffic.

 

[erionm]

There was a time when the ez pass I had did not work in Florida so I got a mini sunpass. I lost it with a previous vehicle so I just drove through the tolls after registering my new car on it. Worked everytime. Then I noticed that 'some' of the Florida tolls were appearing on my ez pass anyway, so I stopped adding funds to Sunpass and requested a closeout.

Now everything goes on my Maryland ez pass.

Oh, and had to change transponders eventually when it died. Florida still found me and charged my account.

That's another thing that not all states do the same. Every state gets the vehicle details (including license plate) for all registered e-zpass account holders from all the other e-zpass states. If a valid transponder was not read by the overhead reader, some states (Florida is one) will check for an e-zpass account using the license plate number. Some states will not check that database and will send either a regular toll-by-plate invoice or treat it as a toll violation.

 

[Judique]

That's another thing that not all states do the same. Every state gets the vehicle details (including license plate) for all registered e-zpass account holders from all the other e-zpass states. If a valid transponder was not read by the overhead reader, some states (Florida is one) will check for an e-zpass account using the license plate number. Some states will not check that database and will send either a regular toll-by-plate invoice or treat it as a toll violation.

At first after I lost the actual Sun pass I did receive snail mail from Florida. I called in and had to send them a check for $2.50. (That's what was asked for as I think they had labeled it a violation.) After that it either got charged to my Sun pass account or my ez pass account.