Tolls... cash only?

[leebee]

Sun Pass, E Pass, EZ Pass, visitortollpass.com. It's getting confusing. Can I just pay cash at toll booths in Florida? We are renting from either Thrifty or Alamo. We will be going from MCO to Disney Springs (hotel is here), out to Cocoa Beach, a one-day trip over to Universal, then back to MCO. Can I just pay cash at any of the toll booths along the way? Even if there is not an attendant, will I be able to get receipts for my payments?

I hesitate to pay cash because last time we rented from Thrifty in Ohio, we used our EZ Pass but were also charged by Thrifty for using their transponder (which was OFF/closed but charged anyhow). Fortunately I had my online EZ Pass records and could prove to Thrifty where we were, what we'd done, and they reversed all the charges. With all the different toll options in the WDW area, it seems that cash is easiest, but I really want to be able to get receipts. Is it still possible to pay tolls "old school" in the WDW area? Is there ANY way to do one toll transponder system for the entire area?

Related thought... is there any way to shield or block the transponder provided by the rental company, to make SURE we aren't double charged?

 

[bop28]

We just came back and rented with Alamo. Visitor toll pass was great and accurate. The toll pass desk where you pick up your hang tag, is just inside the door from the crosswalk where you get your rental car. This toll pass will be the only number that the toll readers recognize. You don't even have to alert the rental company that you won't be using theirs. I was told this from toll pass representative and she was right. It's free to use and the tolls are discounted. Sign up online with the dates you want to use it. It starts automatically when you leave the airport and stops when you return. There are several boxes around the airport for you to return the hang tag after you return your car.

 

[joelkfla]

Sun Pass, E Pass, EZ Pass, visitortollpass.com. It's getting confusing. Can I just pay cash at toll booths in Florida? We are renting from either Thrifty or Alamo. We will be going from MCO to Disney Springs (hotel is here), out to Cocoa Beach, a one-day trip over to Universal, then back to MCO. Can I just pay cash at any of the toll booths along the way? Even if there is not an attendant, will I be able to get receipts for my payments?

You will be able to pay cash; the route you described should not take you thru any cashless toll points.

I'm pretty sure all of the mainline toll booths are attended, so you will be able to get change and request a receipt if you go thru an attended lane. If you go thru an automated exact change lane, you cannot get a receipt. You might encounter an exact change toll if you get on or off the expressway at some exits.

Is there ANY way to do one toll transponder system for the entire area?

All 3 of the local toll passes are valid anywhere within FL. Only E-Zpass is limited.

Related thought... is there any way to shield or block the transponder provided by the rental company, to make SURE we aren't double charged?

You can shield it or possibly turn it off, but if you accidentally go thru a cashless lane, or your coins don't register properly, the license plate will be recorded and you will eventually be billed by rental company's toll servicing vendor for a hefty "convenience fee."

 

[Leigh L]

Sun Pass, E Pass, EZ Pass, visitortollpass.com. It's getting confusing. Can I just pay cash at toll booths in Florida? We are renting from either Thrifty or Alamo. We will be going from MCO to Disney Springs (hotel is here), out to Cocoa Beach, a one-day trip over to Universal, then back to MCO. Can I just pay cash at any of the toll booths along the way? Even if there is not an attendant, will I be able to get receipts for my payments?

I hesitate to pay cash because last time we rented from Thrifty in Ohio, we used our EZ Pass but were also charged by Thrifty for using their transponder (which was OFF/closed but charged anyhow). Fortunately I had my online EZ Pass records and could prove to Thrifty where we were, what we'd done, and they reversed all the charges. With all the different toll options in the WDW area, it seems that cash is easiest, but I really want to be able to get receipts. Is it still possible to pay tolls "old school" in the WDW area? Is there ANY way to do one toll transponder system for the entire area?

Related thought... is there any way to shield or block the transponder provided by the rental company, to make SURE we aren't double charged?

As far as I understand, you should be able to pay cash. We used to do it all the time.

In August we rented from Budget in MCO and put the transponder in off position and we got to the toll to pay cash, and the attendant said it's "Already charged and I can't undo it."
We called Budget in Orlando immediately (and proceeded to sit on hold for 45 minutes) and, in the meantime, DD changed Google Maps to avoid tolls and DH got us to Coronado without tolls. Took longer but not too long, but I was on hold, so maybe it just seemed not too long, lol. Thrifty said the attendant should have been absolutely able to take cash. (Maybe he just didn't feel like changing it? Who knows?)

What ended up happening was Budget said they'll remove the daily charge for the transponder and said they'd charge us for the one toll. Fair enough. DH doubled checked this at the desk after dropping off the car at MCO at the end of our trip. They confirmed. On our next CC statement, it read weird. It looks like they charged us fully for the one toll and the daily transponder use fee (7 days) and then lowered our overall rental fee so it balanced out, maybe even a little in our favor when I did the math.

Edited for Correction: I looked up my reservation, it was Budget, NOT Thrifty

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Related thought... is there any way to shield or block the transponder provided by the rental company, to make SURE we aren't double charged?

If you rent from Alamo, there is no transponder in the car. If you go through the express lane, toll-by-plate is used instead. You will be charged the cash toll plus a 20 cent per toll transaction fee plus a $3.95 per usage day convenience fee (charged ONLY on days where you incur toll charges), all billed back to your credit card some time after completion of the rental. The Visitor Toll Pass program is an excellent option for your planned trips, so long as you are picking up and dropping off the rental car at MCO.

 

[gharter]

We just came back and rented with Alamo. Visitor toll pass was great and accurate. The toll pass desk where you pick up your hang tag, is just inside the door from the crosswalk where you get your rental car. This toll pass will be the only number that the toll readers recognize. You don't even have to alert the rental company that you won't be using theirs. I was told this from toll pass representative and she was right. It's free to use and the tolls are discounted. Sign up online with the dates you want to use it. It starts automatically when you leave the airport and stops when you return. There are several boxes around the airport for you to return the hang tag after you return your car.

This!
Exactly what we did. It was really easy to get, use and return. Will definitely do again. Nice to not have to stop at the booths.
Or pay the extra fee for the car rental transponder.

 

[Capt_BJ]

a few notes:

- in the greater Orlando area you can pay cash tolls anywhere that I'm aware of BUT it is easy to miss a cash toll plaza (they can look like exits to out of towners) .... they may not be attended and need exact change (a roll of quarters will get you from MCO to Port Canaveral or WDW) ... unattended lanes don't give receipts .... sitting in a cash lane behind 10 other vehicles watching the 'pre-paid' zip by is not fun

- IMO Budget appears to be the last company with physical transponders and these are not in ALL their cars. Most problems in the last year discussed here seem to be with B and physical transponders.

- when using your own transponder or the 'free loaners' of the Visitor program it is IMPORTANT to register the rental in the system (usually an APP with your phone). When a transponder 'burps' the system will read the car tag and search the database for the tag being registered to a transponder (this is what you do via an app). If the system can't associate the tag to a transponder, the toll goes to the registered owner (rental company) and THIS is when rental company extra fees may kick in.

- some rental companies are quite reasonable about how they handle this ... and others are outright crooks!
See https://www.sunpass.com/en/tolls/rentalVehicles.shtml

example: I'll not mention what company but a major national . .
If not enrolled at time of reservation or at the rental counter, and user incurred toll charges by utilizing a dedicated or express lane, a $9.99 administrative fee + toll is assessed for each infraction to a maximum fee of $90.00.

another

will be charged an administrative fee $15 per toll plus the cost of each toll, with a maximum admin fee of $90 per rental agreement.

 

[joelkfla]

- in the greater Orlando area you can pay cash tolls anywhere

That's no longer true. By state law, any new construction must utilize cash-free tolling.

AFAIK, the only cash-free location close to the tourist area at this time is the interchange between 417 & the Turnpike.

But as new roads come online and as new interchanges are added to existing roads, there will be more. That will include the Wekiva Pkwy, which when complete in 2022 will be a convenient way to bypass downtown Orlando on the west for motorists on I-4 westbound coming from I-95.

Also, express lanes, which have started opening on 528 and will be opening on I-4 and the Turnpike in 2021, will be transponder only. Vehicles in the express lanes without a transponder will be cited.

 

[dina444444]

I've used the visitor toll program twice now with Alamo and it's worked out great both times and I plan to use it again on my upcoming 2020 trips.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I will be taking the portable SunPass that I bought a few years ago for the convenience. For me it's only one trip to Orlando per year, so I will be in the hole financially for a while, but for the price of a couple of Disney hot dogs I like the time savings. If I do end up with Budget and my transponder has to duke it out with theirs, hopefully I win.

 

[NotUrsula]

The other "proof" option you have if you have a passenger in the car (I don't recommend trying to do it & drive at the same time), is to take a photo as you pass through the tollgate, showing the green light on. Your camera's time-stamp should be accurate and will match the tollbooth stamp. I've never known a rental car company to refuse to accept such a photo as proof of a paid toll.

 

[bumbershoot]

We just came back and rented with Alamo....
This toll pass will be the only number that the toll readers recognize. You don't even have to alert the rental company that you won't be using theirs.

That definitely works with Alamo, because they only go by plate as far as I know. No transponder. And I’ve never had to notify them or national either way.

Other rental companies will be different though, and her words might not be correct for them.

You will be able to pay cash; the route you described should not take you thru any cashless toll points.

I'm pretty sure all of the mainline toll booths are attended, so you will be able to get change and request a receipt if you go thru an attended lane. If you go thru an automated exact change lane, you cannot get a receipt. You might encounter an exact change toll if you get on or off the expressway at some exits.

Agreed.

In August we rented from Budget in MCO and put the transponder in off position and we got to the toll to pay cash, and the attendant said it's "Already charged and I can't undo it."

That’s weird that she could see that.

sitting in a cash lane behind 10 other vehicles watching the 'pre-paid' zip by is not fun

I’m always too intent on making sure I have quarters in hand to look off to the side to see the other lanes. Highly recommend putting your mental blinders on.

some rental companies are quite reasonable about how they handle this ... and others are outright crooks!

Eh. They don’t hide the info. If you’re doing your due diligence as an informed car renter there are no surprises. IMO that’s not crook-like activity.