Turnpike tolls
 

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).

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.

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'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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Buy the transponder

A roundtrip is over $10.00 with a SunPass transponder.

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.