Toll Road and Space Centre - Electronic Tag and Rental Cars

[kylieh]

Hi - we're discussing hiring a car as opposed to taking an escorted trip to Kennedy Space Centre. I noted the most direct route has a toll road. Do the car rental companies have electronic tolling with a tag or via number-plate or similar or do we need to use cash each time we go through?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Yes, most of the car rental companies participate in electronic tolling, however, you need to keep in mind that some overcharge for this service by charging a "service charge" each day of your rental regardless of whether you use the car (or go through a toll booth) that day. This website will give you more information: https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

And yes, you can always pay tolls using cash - the cash toll lanes are usually on the far right.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Hi - we're discussing hiring a car as opposed to taking an escorted trip to Kennedy Space Centre. I noted the most direct route has a toll road. Do the car rental companies have electronic tolling with a tag or via number-plate or similar or do we need to use cash each time we go through?

We were just there last week and like PP said the rental companies charge a lot to use the toll service. We just brought along a roll of quarters to keep in the rental car and went through the cash lane.. From WDW to Cocoa Beach there were 3 toll plazas, $0.75. $1, and $1.50. HTH!

 

[kylieh]

Thank you both, including for the link and how much the tolls are. We're thinking of hiring with Hertz, so for the period we're using will be $10 + tolls. We may go with that option (we're coming from Australia, already driving on the other side) so it's one less think to think about. Cheers!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Hertz cars that participate in the program actually have the SunPass transponder unit installed on inside of the windshield. It's in a little metal box. If you want to use the transponder you open the "door" on the transponder so that it registers at each toll plaza you travel through.

Many rental companies instead participate in a Toll-by-Plate program. In those cases you don't carry a transponder but instead your rental car's tag/license plate is photographed at each toll plaza as though you were a toll violator. The toll authorities match these up to the owner (the rental car company) and bills them and they subsequently bill your credit card.

Either way, keep in mind that as you travel to Disney, to the space coast or anywhere in Florida, you stay in the lanes marked SunPass or E-PASS and travel by at highway speeds. You bypass the toll booths. Even if your transponder is a SunPass, you can use it in the Orlando-area lanes carrying the E-PASS only signs.



BobK/Orlando

 

[kylieh]

Hertz cars that participate in the program actually have the SunPass transponder unit installed on inside of the windshield. It's in a little metal box. If you want to use the transponder you open the "door" on the transponder so that it registers at each toll plaza you travel through.

Many rental companies instead participate in a Toll-by-Plate program. In those cases you don't carry a transponder but instead your rental car's tag/license plate is photographed at each toll plaza as though you were a toll violator. The toll authorities match these up to the owner (the rental car company) and bills them and they subsequently bill your credit card.

Either way, keep in mind that as you travel to Disney, to the space coast or anywhere in Florida, you stay in the lanes marked SunPass or E-PASS and pass by at highway speeds. You bypass the toll booths.

BobK/Orlando

Thanks Bob - quick follow up question. In Australia we drop our speed a bit when we go through the EPass Lanes, say from 100km/h to 70km/h, or in some cases even 40km/h. Does the same thing apply.

Sorry about the metric! I'm quick at converting feet/inches/weights, but km and miles still get me!

 

[safetymom]

You continue to go the speed limit of the highway if you have the transponder. No need to slow down. There are some toll booths you go through you need to drop to 25 miles an hour. It will be indicated on the highway what to do.

 

[Brandis]

Probably not useful if it is a once-in-a-lifetime visit, but we visit at least once a year, often more, and I bought a Sunpass transponder for $25 transponder and bring it with me every visit.