Turnpike tolls

[MrLonzo]

Thanks in advance for any insight on using the toll roads! I’ll be getting a rental car at the Orlando airport in November and driving to the Villages. My research shows it would be about $8 in tolls round trip via Turnpike. In addition, the rental car company charges about $4/day for each day the SunPass transponder is used.

Because I won’t be using the turnpike much during my stay, I’m wondering if I can decline use of the car rental company’s SunPass and just pay cash? (I'd rather not use 'Toll-by-the-Plate'). Do the toll booths (Exits 259 and 304) accept cash? Or would it be cost effective to get my own SunPass Mini account ($4.99) just for the month I’ll be there? Are there extra ‘daily’ charges to use this?

(note: Last time I visited, I got a surprise bill for tolls from the rental car company for $85 – just trying to avoid that this time).

[Rainger99]

Do you have an E-ZPass? If so, bring it with you. If not, get one before you get down here. E-ZPass Is better than Sun Pass. I don’t think you can pay tolls with cash. I think it is all electronic tolling now - with a few exceptions.

[Bill14564]

Cash is no longer accepted on the turnpike from Orlando to the Villages, it is either SunPass/E-Pass/EZ-Pass or toll-by-plate.

You can probably use side roads to avoid the Turnpike if you want.

There are no daily charges for your own SunPass. If you will be coming back I would do that. Better to pay SunPass for the device and carry some small balance for a device you will be able to use again than give more money to the rental company.

[JohnN]

I'd just get the Sun Pass transponder, keep it and use it next time you come down. I think it's $10 at the tollroad rest areas but they put $10 on your account, so it costs nothing. Like the other poster mentioned, they don't take cash anymore.

[MartinSE]

I will make another vote for sun pass, we got one a few years back and only use it very seldomly, but it is always there and holds a small balance in case I need to run to Orlando for something.

[asianthree]

Years ago you could use cash coming from MCO to TV...that's changed to by plate. Refuse the rental car format.. Take the turnpike using by plate until you get to the first service station..stop buy a transponder add $20. It will be more than enough money for return trip to MCO. Pack in your carry on. When you return just add money as you go. Right now all tolls are suspended, because is Hurricane.. Unsure how long that will stay in force, but you can look for that information on their website. The suspended tolls saves us about $13 for each trip to Disney three times a month

[Dusty_Star]

If you've got enough time you could buy a SunPass online & bring it with you. It now works in states other than Florida, so you might be able to use it elsewhere. As another poster asked, if you already have a transponder from another state, it is most likely compatible & you can use that.

[Rainger99]

I think it's $10 at the tollroad rest areas but they put $10 on your account, so it costs nothing.

The price for the Mini is $4.99 and the Pro is $14.95. I don’t think they put any money on your account when you buy the SunPass. You have to put $10 on the account in addition to the purchase price. They are not free.

[ohioshooter]

Don’t know how long this will last, but no tolls yesterday. Went to Winter Garden and the signs said no tolls don’t slow at gate.

[Altavia]

Pack in your carry on. When you return just add money as you go.

Be aware if the van taking you to the airport passes through toll, the pass in your luggage may be charged if detected

[Bilyclub]

Years ago you could use cash coming from MCO to TV...that's changed to by plate. Refuse the rental car format.. Take the turnpike using by plate until you get to the first service station..stop buy a transponder add $20. It will be more than enough money for return trip to MCO. Pack in your carry on. When you return just add money as you go. Right now all tolls are suspended, because is Hurricane.. Unsure how long that will stay in force, but you can look for that information on their website. The suspended tolls saves us about $13 for each trip to Disney three times a month

You can't take the turnpike by plate with a rental without incurring the daily fee for tolls, whether or not you use it again. You can order a transponder and have it delivered to your house. Once you get the rental enter the plate number at the SunPass website and you are good to go. The only way the quoted post works is if the SunPass people at Turkey Lake Plaza can remove any charges incurred on the way there and transfer them to the new account.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

i have had a Sun Pass since they first came out for business/pleasure travel. The mini with suction cups is very convenient versus the EZ pass with a more permanent velcro window attachment.

If you will only be using a toll rfid in FL, i would get the SunPass mini, if you will driving the east coast, I would get the EZ pass. EZ pass is good from Boston to Miami

[Stu from NYC]

Buy the transponder

[Bilyclub]

A roundtrip is over $10.00 with a SunPass transponder.

[asianthree]

Be aware if the van taking you to the airport passes through toll, the pass in your luggage may be charged if detected

OP is renting a car.. however if you wrap your transponder in foil, has not happen…have travel with ours since 2012, on shuttles, and never had a toll charge.

[Bilyclub]

OP is renting a car.. however if you wrap your transponder in foil, has not happen…have travel with ours since 2012, on shuttles, and never had a toll charge.

You can request a foil baggie from the SunPass website for no charge.

[Altavia]

Looks like you could use a visitors toll pass:

Visitor Toll Pass - Welcome (https://visitortollpass.com/)


Florida Finally Gives Tourists a Way to Avoid Rental Car Rip-Offs on Cashless Roads | Frommer's (https://www.frommers.com/tips/car-bus-rail/florida-finally-gives-tourists-a-way-to-avoid-rental-car-ripoffs-on-cashless-roads)

[MrLonzo]

Looks like you could use a visitors toll pass:

Visitor Toll Pass - Welcome (https://visitortollpass.com/)


Florida Finally Gives Tourists a Way to Avoid Rental Car Rip-Offs on Cashless Roads | Frommer's (https://www.frommers.com/tips/car-bus-rail/florida-finally-gives-tourists-a-way-to-avoid-rental-car-ripoffs-on-cashless-roads)

This 'Visitor Toll Pass' seems to be the best solution for my situation. I like the idea of my credit card being charged for the toll when I use it rather than having to preload money onto a transponder account.

Haven't heard of this before -- thank you!!!

[Babubhat]

Buy a 5 dollar tag at Publix. You can turn it on and off online or via app

[Keefelane66]

Thanks in advance for any insight on using the toll roads! I’ll be getting a rental car at the Orlando airport in November and driving to the Villages. My research shows it would be about $8 in tolls round trip via Turnpike. In addition, the rental car company charges about $4/day for each day the SunPass transponder is used.

Because I won’t be using the turnpike much during my stay, I’m wondering if I can decline use of the car rental company’s SunPass and just pay cash? (I'd rather not use 'Toll-by-the-Plate'). Do the toll booths (Exits 259 and 304) accept cash? Or would it be cost effective to get my own SunPass Mini account ($4.99) just for the month I’ll be there? Are there extra ‘daily’ charges to use this?

(note: Last time I visited, I got a surprise bill for tolls from the rental car company for $85 – just trying to avoid that this time).
If you do not choose the rental car option toll transponder and use toll by plate rental car company will bill you the toll plus administrative fees.
I got an ezpass thru Massachusetts, FREE just had to add $25 to account and replenishment is automatic. Works anywhere ezpass is accepted east of the Mississippi.Florida charges $19.
I believes you can buy the portable ezpass transponder at airport activate thru smartphone.
The ez

[kkingston57]

Eliminating actual toll worker booths has created a cluster(you know what) especially when dealing iwith rental cars. This is more of a problem in FLorida due to out of state cars, rental cars etc and tourism. How much money is this saving, especially since cash tolls are higher.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Unipass. Buy it once for $15. Put $10 on it. No minimum monthly charges, you can add money or switch it from one car to another easily on the website. Good for toll roads in 19 states!

Uni - One Toll Pass. 19 States. (https://www.cfxway.com/uni/)

[MrLonzo]

Buy a 5 dollar tag at Publix. You can turn it on and off online or via app

Do you have a link, or more info on this??

[Hape2Bhr]

i have had a Sun Pass since they first came out for business/pleasure travel. The mini with suction cups is very convenient versus the EZ pass with a more permanent velcro window attachment.

If you will only be using a toll rfid in FL, i would get the SunPass mini, if you will driving the east coast, I would get the EZ pass. EZ pass is good from Boston to Miami

I have the mini stick on (from Publix). I don't think these are transferable from one vehicle to another.

[Mrmean58]

Thanks in advance for any insight on using the toll roads! I’ll be getting a rental car at the Orlando airport in November and driving to the Villages. My research shows it would be about $8 in tolls round trip via Turnpike. In addition, the rental car company charges about $4/day for each day the SunPass transponder is used.

Because I won’t be using the turnpike much during my stay, I’m wondering if I can decline use of the car rental company’s SunPass and just pay cash? (I'd rather not use 'Toll-by-the-Plate'). Do the toll booths (Exits 259 and 304) accept cash? Or would it be cost effective to get my own SunPass Mini account ($4.99) just for the month I’ll be there? Are there extra ‘daily’ charges to use this?

(note: Last time I visited, I got a surprise bill for tolls from the rental car company for $85 – just trying to avoid that this time).

All of your questions could be answered from the E-ZPass website. Google can be your best friend.

[MandoMan]

Thanks in advance for any insight on using the toll roads! I’ll be getting a rental car at the Orlando airport in November and driving to the Villages. My research shows it would be about $8 in tolls round trip via Turnpike. In addition, the rental car company charges about $4/day for each day the SunPass transponder is used.

Because I won’t be using the turnpike much during my stay, I’m wondering if I can decline use of the car rental company’s SunPass and just pay cash? (I'd rather not use 'Toll-by-the-Plate'). Do the toll booths (Exits 259 and 304) accept cash? Or would it be cost effective to get my own SunPass Mini account ($4.99) just for the month I’ll be there? Are there extra ‘daily’ charges to use this?

(note: Last time I visited, I got a surprise bill for tolls from the rental car company for $85 – just trying to avoid that this time).

Yes, you can exit to the cash lane. Just don’t miss it. If you drive on through with your own car, you will be photographed and billed by mail, which is inconvenient but not very expensive. But with a rental car, the rental company may charge you for paying your fine.

[Footer]

The Sunpass Mini works only in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. EZPass and IPass (Illinois) work everywhere but Georgia. Sunpass Pro works everywhere.

Order by mail whichever one is better for you and add the rental car license plate to your account for the time you are in Florida.

[Bill14564]

All of your questions could be answered from the E-ZPass website. Google can be your best friend.

E-ZPass is new to Florida; I'm surprised they have a site that answers this question. I tried Google and found over a dozen sites with multiple pages in each - can you provide a link to the one site that has the answers?

[Bill14564]

Yes, you can exit to the cash lane. Just don’t miss it. If you drive on through with your own car, you will be photographed and billed by mail, which is inconvenient but not very expensive. But with a rental car, the rental company may charge you for paying your fine.

There is no cash lane to use on the exit to Wildwood (301 / The Villages). The cash lane that used to exist east of Okahumpka has been replaced by a ___Pass or Toll-By-Plate only.

[broiler]

Purchase the Sunpass transponder now from their website. Go online and add the rental car license plate when you get the car. Delete the rental car after you have returned it.

[Dusty_Star]

Looks like you could use a visitors toll pass:

Visitor Toll Pass - Welcome (https://visitortollpass.com/)


Florida Finally Gives Tourists a Way to Avoid Rental Car Rip-Offs on Cashless Roads | Frommer's (https://www.frommers.com/tips/car-bus-rail/florida-finally-gives-tourists-a-way-to-avoid-rental-car-ripoffs-on-cashless-roads)

This looks like a fantastic solution - Thank you! :BigApplause:

[Bay Kid]

i have had a Sun Pass since they first came out for business/pleasure travel. The mini with suction cups is very convenient versus the EZ pass with a more permanent velcro window attachment.

If you will only be using a toll rfid in FL, i would get the SunPass mini, if you will driving the east coast, I would get the EZ pass. EZ pass is good from Boston to Miami

So my EZ pass I use in Virginia will work on Florida toll roads?

[Jameson]

I used something called a Visitor Toll Pass when I was in your position. It's a tag that hangs on the rearview mirror. You can find info at visitortollpass dot com. I picked up the tag at a spot next to the baggage area. A lady was there to help. After we got our rental car if I remember right we took a picture of the car and registered it before we left the garage. I think they have a sensor on your way out of the airport that also then confirms your car info. You return the tag on your way out of town. It was far cheaper than dealing with the rental companies version of this.

BTW I don't think it is available at Tampa, just the Orlando airport.

[gobuck827]

So my EZ pass I use in Virginia will work on Florida toll roads?

Yes. It used to only be valid on the FL turnpike but I just read on their web site that it is accepted @ the toll roads administered by the Central Florida Expressway Authority now.

[Dusty_Star]

So my EZ pass I use in Virginia will work on Florida toll roads?

Here is a link to a map that shows where you can currently use your EZ Pass, in brief it is most of the eastern United States. For some of the greyed states like Connecticut & South Carolina they are grey because they don't have any tolls. I think I read that Congress wanted all states to be compatible by ... 2016. That didn't exactly happen, but I think they are still working towards that goal. I think California is still one of the outliers. E-ZPass Group - About E-ZPass (https://www.e-zpassiag.com/about-e-zpass/where-can-i-use-it)

[Dusty_Star]

Here is a link to a map that shows where you can currently use your EZ Pass, in brief it is most of the eastern United States. For some of the greyed states like Connecticut & South Carolina they are grey because they don't have any tolls. I think I read that Congress wanted all states to be compatible by ... 2016. That didn't exactly happen, but I think they are still working towards that goal. I think California is still one of the outliers. E-ZPass Group - About E-ZPass (https://www.e-zpassiag.com/about-e-zpass/where-can-i-use-it)
I forgot to mention SunPass works in all of the EZPass compatible states.

[Bill14564]

I forgot to mention SunPass works in all of the EZPass compatible states.

I believe Maryland is E-ZPass only, SunPass will not work there.

SunPass Pro, which is a combination of SunPass and E-ZPass, will work in Md, but not a basic SunPass.

[Drrichross]

The Sunpass Mini works only in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. EZPass and IPass (Illinois) work everywhere but Georgia. Sunpass Pro works everywhere.

Order by mail whichever one is better for you and add the rental car license plate to your account for the time you are in Florida.

Just male sure you remove the rental plate from your account when you leave. I forgot to remove it once and 3 weeks later got about $20 taken out of my account because someone else was traveling all over the state in that rental car. Luckily it texts you when money gets taken out.

[clasyldynpa]

Thanks in advance for any insight on using the toll roads! I’ll be getting a rental car at the Orlando airport in November and driving to the Villages. My research shows it would be about $8 in tolls round trip via Turnpike. In addition, the rental car company charges about $4/day for each day the SunPass transponder is used.

Because I won’t be using the turnpike much during my stay, I’m wondering if I can decline use of the car rental company’s SunPass and just pay cash? (I'd rather not use 'Toll-by-the-Plate'). Do the toll booths (Exits 259 and 304) accept cash? Or would it be cost effective to get my own SunPass Mini account ($4.99) just for the month I’ll be there? Are there extra ‘daily’ charges to use this?

(note: Last time I visited, I got a surprise bill for tolls from the rental car company for $85 – just trying to avoid that this time).
Download the app Waze and specify when destination addresses, No Tolls, you won’t need the sun or E-Z pass. Plus it is a pleasant drive on those back roads.

[Dusty_Star]

I believe Maryland is E-ZPass only, SunPass will not work there.

SunPass Pro, which is a combination of SunPass and E-ZPass, will work in Md, but not a basic SunPass.

You are correct, I have the SunPass Pro & it works, sorry I keep forgetting the mini.

[NavyVet]

My transponder (the one with suction cups) came with a protective foil bag.

[Bill14564]

You are correct, I have the SunPass Pro & it works, sorry I keep forgetting the mini.

We have one of each. I always forget to check if we're carrying the right one when we travel north....have been lucky so far.

[Miekies]

If you choose to get the Sun Pass make sure you register your rental to it. There is a section for rental cars. Just putting a pass in the car will still result in a up charge because they run license plate to verify its on the account

[DAVES]

Cash is no longer accepted on the turnpike from Orlando to the Villages, it is either SunPass/E-Pass/EZ-Pass or toll-by-plate.

You can probably use side roads to avoid the Turnpike if you want.

There are no daily charges for your own SunPass. If you will be coming back I would do that. Better to pay SunPass for the device and carry some small balance for a device you will be able to use again than give more money to the rental company.

I would suggest they call SunPass surely they are not the only one with this issue.
I BELIEVE they tie your credit card to your Sun Pass account and they keep it filled. We do not carry a balance on our credit card. Beware, I know someone who with a trip etc exceeded his credit limit on the card. They tried to add to his
Sunpass balance and it would not work on his overspent card. I do not know the resolution. Fines for not paying the toll etc.

[DAVES]

Just male sure you remove the rental plate from your account when you leave. I forgot to remove it once and 3 weeks later got about $20 taken out of my account because someone else was traveling all over the state in that rental car. Luckily it texts you when money gets taken out.

What ever happened to simple. E-Z pass? EZ to get the dirty end of the stick?

[Bill14564]

Just male sure you remove the rental plate from your account when you leave. I forgot to remove it once and 3 weeks later got about $20 taken out of my account because someone else was traveling all over the state in that rental car. Luckily it texts you when money gets taken out.

What ever happened to simple. E-Z pass? EZ to get the dirty end of the stick?

That's the system working the way it is intended to... the way you *usually* want it to.

When our device has not worked correctly (dead battery I think) and we drove through a toll lane we did not get penalized for not paying the toll. Instead, the system looked up our plate to see if we had a registered account. Finding that we did, it billed the account just as if the device had worked. That's the way we wanted it to work to avoid any penalty.

If you register a rental plate to your account but neglect to unregister the plate when you return the car, the system still works the same way. The next time the car is driven through a toll lane it will look up the plate, find your account, and bill that account. The system doesn't know that you no longer own that car until you tell it.

[Rainger99]

When our device has not worked correctly (dead battery I think) and we drove through a toll lane we did not get penalized for not paying the toll. Instead, the system looked up our plate to see if we had a registered account. Finding that we did, it billed the account just as if the device had worked. That's the way we wanted it to work to avoid any penalty.

Did you have a Sunpass or an E-Zpass?

I have an E-ZPass and it didn't register (low battery) last time I was in Orlando. I got an invoice from Sunpass for the full tolls plus an administrative fee of $2.50.

[Bill14564]

Did you have a Sunpass or an E-Zpass?

I have an E-ZPass and it didn't register (low battery) last time I was in Orlando. I got an invoice from Sunpass for the full tolls plus an administrative fee of $2.50.

The low battery issue was with an E-ZPass in MD. I haven't had a problem (yet) with the SunPass or SunPass-Pro here in Florida.

[Bilyclub]

You can enter a starting and ending date and time when entering license plates into the SunPass system.

[nancyre]

Check with the rental car company- they may require the charge they told my son that.
If you bring your ezpass that might solve it if you can show it to them at the counter.

[affald]

Do you have an E-ZPass? If so, bring it with you. If not, get one before you get down here. E-ZPass Is better than Sun Pass. I don’t think you can pay tolls with cash. I think it is all electronic tolling now - with a few exceptions.

I have both. Why would you say ezpass is better? Is ezpass accepted everywhere in Florida?Thank you

[ElDiabloJoe]

I have both. Why would you say ezpass is better? Is ezpass accepted everywhere in Florida?Thank you

Here ya go:

Difference Between SunPass and E-Pass | Difference Between (http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-sunpass-and-e-pass/)

[Bill14564]

Here ya go:

Difference Between SunPass and E-Pass | Difference Between (http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-sunpass-and-e-pass/)

E-Pass is not E-ZPass.

E-Pass is an alternative to SunPass and works only in the FL/GA area.

E-ZPass is the device that works in the northeast (MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, etc)

[ElDiabloJoe]

E-Pass is not E-ZPass.

E-Pass is an alternative to SunPass and works only in the FL/GA area.

E-ZPass is the device that works in the northeast (MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, etc)

Ahh good point. Maybe this one would be better (below Miami Herald article).

Either way, I'm a big fan of the UniPass. (https://www.cfxway.com/uni/). When you see the map of tollroads covered by UniPass and notice that Connecticut, Vermont, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, and South Carolina are excluded, keep in mind that neither Tennessee, Mississippi, nor Connecticut have toll roads, and Alabama has no toll roads, but it does have four (4) toll bridges.

South Carolina has only one, The 17.7 mile Southern Connector (Interstate 185) in Greenville County. Greenville Co is north-west of Columbia, and sits about halfway between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. Should you need to use that road, it requires the not-used-anywhere-else Palmetto Pass (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmetto_Pass), according to Wikipedia.

So, with UniPass, on the east coast you are really only screwed out of Vermont. Not a huge loss, I think very few Villagers make their way up to Vermont with any regularity.

UniPass is on Amazon or other various sales outlets for about $15.00. It has suction cups so you can move it from car to car. Just gotta go onto their website and pre-load it with a few bucks. I did $10. There are no monthly account maintenance or minimum usage fees. If you move it from one car to another (including a rental), you gotta just go online or the app and remove one car and add the new one. It only holds one car at a time. I would rather it did two or three (for family use), but they didn't ask me. People rarely do, lol.

MiamiHeraldSunpass&EZPass. (https://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/article251996678.html)

[DALEPQ]

I learned the hard way.
Year+ ago flew into Orlando Sanford, late arriving, rented car from Dollar.
Counter person made no mention about tolls.
Drove to them, thinking could pay cash, no way.
Ended up bringing charged by the rental car co. $9.95 extra penalty fee for EACH toll.
Able to negotiate a lower settlement, but still costly!
Morale of this, is; bought Epass and have used it easily not only in FL, but thru IL, as well.
Can fund in $10. increments. Can do all, including buying pass on-line.
Get the pass and avoid the hassle!!