Originally Posted by FredJacobs (Post 2386878)

Be careful with rentals. Some of the cars are already equipped with transponders. If you pay a toll with one of these transponders the rental company adds a surcharge. To avoid the surcharge, you have to go through the cash line. The car's transponder will not work there - your own may work in the cash line. Ask the toll collector.

Originally Posted by MrLonzo (Post 2386622)

Still learning the ins and outs of Florida's convoluted toll system. I've decided on the Sun Pass Pro transponder which I've seen on Amazon for about $30. Until I buy a car, I'll be using it for my car rentals, and mostly in Florida. Here are my questions:

1. Is the $30 price a one-time fee? Any monthly, annual, or renewal fees?

2. Any additional fees to add other cars?

3. Does the transponder require maintenance (batteries, charging, etc.)?

4. How long does the transponder last normally? Is there a warranty?

I trust the answers from TV residents more than my Google searches, so thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2386840)

SunPass and E-Pass work in Florida and possibly Georgia but not much farther than that.

E-Z Pass works in the northeast. Most of the southeast states, including Florida, now accept E-Z Pass also.

SunPass + E-Z Pass = SunPass Pro
E-Pass + E-Z Pass = UNI

Since it appears that every toll road that previously accepted SunPass or E-Pass now accepts E-Z Pass, I can't see a functional difference between the SunPass Pro, UNI, or E-Z Pass.

States that used to only accept SunPass/E-Pass *might* have discounts for using SunPass Pro or UNI over using E-Z Pass.

Some States that sell E-Z Pass charge a maintenance fee if you don't have an address withing that State. A MD E-Z Pass will costs $1.50 per month if you have a Florida address. I haven't seen anywhere to buy a Florida E-Z Pass.

It appears the only significant difference between the three is cost. One might have a lower cost to purchase than the others and E-Z Pass comes with a maintenance fee if purchased from certain States.

I returned my MD E-Z Pass when I established Florida residency and now use a Sunpass Pro.

Originally Posted by TVTVTV (Post 2386943)

From SoNomad:
UniPass - Its main advantage is its portability: you can easily transfer UniPass from one vehicle to another. Moreover, this transponder is compatible with motorcycles and rental cars, allowing you to travel hassle-free.

It is easy to add/change/swap car info.I think there is not much difference between them after all.

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 2386634)

Curious about the batteries. Our transponder is a sticker that lives on our windshield just to the right of the rear-view mirror. It gets read automatically. Sunpass will email us when the account balance gets low, and we just replenish it with a credit card. No problem.

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star (Post 2386682)

SunPass Pro offers a discount on Florida tolls. On a round trip from Wildwood to Orlando, the discount would be $1.12

Originally Posted by Priebehouse (Post 2386987)

And, why are you not on the SunPass website where all your questions are answered?

Originally Posted by Slick327EFI (Post 2386826)

While both E-ZPass and SunPass Pro are electronic toll collection systems, the key difference is that E-ZPass primarily functions in the Northeast region of the United States, while SunPass Pro, a product of Florida's SunPass system, can be used in Florida and most states where E-ZPass is accepted, making SunPass Pro a more versatile option for wider travel across the country; if you primarily drive in the Northeast, E-ZPass is likely sufficient, but if you frequently travel outside that area, SunPass Pro would be the better choice.
Redundancy:
If you already have an E-ZPass, you do not need to purchase a SunPass Pro as it will work in the same areas.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2386875)

SunPass.com does not sell the device for half the price, Amazon retailers are selling it for twice the price. Save money and order it from sunpass.com.

Do you own a car now? Use that plate for the account. It doesn't matter if that plate never goes through a Florida toll booth, just use that plate that you own to create the account. Create the account with your current plate, order the device sent to your house, add the rental car when you get here and have the information.

Chances are Sunpass.com wants you to create an account in order to collect credit card information and a shipping address. If you buy the device on Amazon they already have that information. If you buy it in person at Walgreen's (or elsewhere) they will ask for your credit card and don't need your address. Sunpass.com seems to be trying to simplify the process by collecting the information as part of creating the account.