Tolls--driving from TN

[poober25]

We are driving from TN to the Orlando area soon. My daughter and her husband recently drove to Ft. Lauderdale for a cruise. They told me that pretty much all of the toll lanes are now unmanned, and, according to them, cashless. They got a fairly sizeable bill once they got home. I'm looking at toll calculators and it looks there are not places to pay at the location I will be going through. What is the best way to handle this? I read somewhere there's a $25 charge if you don't have a Sunpass, and somewhere else there's a $2.50 admin fee. I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do to not get hit with a $25 charge because I literally can't pay tolls at the "booth" TIA

 

[erionm]

On the FL Turnpike, it will be an administrative fee ($2.50) if you don't have an interoperable transponder. They charge the admin fee along this toll road because there isn't a cash option.

Optional express lanes (like the new one that runs down the middle if I-4 in the Orlando area) will charge $25 plus tolls if no transponder.

 

[sam_gordon]

On the FL Turnpike, it will be an administrative fee ($2.50) if you don't have an interoperable transponder. They charge the admin fee along this toll road because there isn't a cash option.

Optional express lanes (like the new one that runs down the middle if I-4 in the Orlando area) will charge $25 plus tolls if no transponder.

See if you can get a Sunpass or Epass transponder (someone will be along to say which is better). We got an epass a number of years ago and have used it for multiple trips with multiple vehicles (just don't forget to change the license plate depending on the car you're using).

 

[erionm]

See if you can get a Sunpass or Epass transponder (someone will be along to say which is better). We got an epass a number of years ago and have used it for multiple trips with multiple vehicles (just don't forget to change the license plate depending on the car you're using).

If using rental vehicles, SunPass is better because the app easily allows you to add a rental car and specify the start and end dates. With EPASS, you would have to modify the vehicle to change the information.

 

[sam_gordon]

If using rental vehicles, SunPass is better because the app easily allows you to add a rental car and specify the start and end dates. With EPASS, you would have to modify the vehicle to change the information.

Epass is not difficult to modify the vehicle. I thought where you could use them differs.

 

[erionm]

Epass is not difficult to modify the vehicle. I thought where you could use them differs.

Where they can be used depends on the actual transponder. All SunPass and EPASS transponders can be used in FL, GA & NC. SunPass PRO and Uni (previously called EPASS Xtra) can also be used anywhere E-ZPass is accepted.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Consider purchasing a 19-state compatible transponder before you head to Florida. The one-time charge will be a lot less than paying service fees for toll-by-plate transactions. Both SunPass PRO (www.sunpass.com) and Uni by Epass (cfxway.com) can be purchased in advance from their web sites. The Uni transponder is also available from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Prepaid-Port...qid=1678988770&sprefix=Unipass,aps,121&sr=8-2). Some report that the SunPass app is a little easier to manage changing license plate information when using a rental car, but we find that easy enough to do for our Uni.

 

[jimmymc]

From the Sunpass website, all of these options will work in Orlando. You can get a Peach Pass or Sun Pass on your drive down to Orlando and set it up right away. There will be a small fee, but the savings from a single trip are usually enough to cover it.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm from Georgia and got the Sunpass on line. It was easy, you have the option of two different kinds. I got the cheapest, which is a sticker. Since I go to WDW at least once a year having the sticker was o.k. for me and if I wanted to drive in Atlanta (which I don't) I could use the express lanes there. I usually keep about $20 on it. Last time I went down in August 2022, it was less than $10 total for the tolls. I will admit, I miss throwing my quarters in the drawer and now have a bag in my car with lots of quarters, fast food places hate me.

 

[EACarlson]

View attachment 746788

From the Sunpass website, all of these options will work in Orlando. You can get a Peach Pass or Sun Pass on your drive down to Orlando and set it up right away. There will be a small fee, but the savings from a single trip are usually enough to cover it.

Also IL IPass and any other E-ZPass compatible transponders that haven't yet bowed to the pressure to change their name.

 

[jimmymc]

Here's a place where you can order online. There is even a cheap sticker option if you only think you'll use it in Orlando.

https://www.cfxway.com/e-pass/get-e-pass/

 

[Capt_BJ]

If driving your own 'owned' vehicle, Florida 'toll by plate' sends one bill a month with a $2.50 admin fee:

TOLL-BY-PLATE is a payment option for customers who do not have SunPass or any other Florida accepted transponder when travelling on electronic toll collection facilities. With TOLL-BY-PLATE, a photo is taken of a vehicle’s license plate when no SunPass or any other Florida accepted transponder is detected as it travels under the tolling equipment.

A Toll Enforcement Invoice is then mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle for the toll(s) incurred over a 30-day period, plus a $2.50 administrative charge. TOLL-BY-PLATE cannot be used on Florida Managed Lanes. If you travel in a managed lane without a SunPass or any other Florida accepted transponder, you will be subject to a $25 daily violation charge.

SunPass is Florida’s Prepaid Toll Program and is the preferred method of payment for tolls. SunPass customers always pay the lowest toll amount and can save an average of 25% on tolls.


The 'crazy' fees come into play when you are in a rental and use toll by plate BECAUSE then the bill goes to the owner of the vehicle - rental company - who uses a third party to collect from you. In this situation what you get charged varies widely (see https://www.sunpass.com/en/tolls/rentalVehicles.shtml) OR hitting the new 'express lanes' on I-4 or SR-528 in Orlando

Investing in a transponder IS what I recommend. You get a discount on the tolls rather than pay a processing fee - just don't forget to take it with you if using in a rental!!!! I've had SUNPASS for years and used it in rentals as well as my POV and the APP makes things EASY. I even have a spare SUNPASS I loan to visiting family and friends . . .

{p.s. I'll guess you are coming down 75 and plan to pickup FL Turnpike to slide over to Orlando. It IS possible to to get from 75 to Orlando WITHOUT using the turnpike/toll road .... a lil time on lesser roads but not BAD roads ... just not highways. I'd still recommend the toll road and a transponder BUT rock your boat as you see fit.}