December 10, 2021
Toll Roads in the USA
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
Let's face it, no one likes paying tolls. Aside from the added expense, the inconvenience is often annoying, particularly on roads where you have to stop and pay tolls multiple times.
More states have toll roads, bridges, or managed lanes than don't. However, that doesn't mean you'll certainly encounter them. Many states have only a few roads or bridges with tolls. And for those that have managed lanes, these can easily be avoided.
It gets even more confusing when trying to figure out how to pay tolls in a rental car. The first step is to realize where you will run into tolls — so let's see where they are in America.
More states have toll roads, bridges, or managed lanes than don't. However, that doesn't mean you'll certainly encounter them. Many states have only a few roads or bridges with tolls. And for those that have managed lanes, these can easily be avoided.
It gets even more confusing when trying to figure out how to pay tolls in a rental car. The first step is to realize where you will run into tolls — so let's see where they are in America.
Toll Roads in the USA
By Aleksandrs Buraks | Published December 10, 2021
Let's face it, no one likes paying tolls. Aside from the added expense, the inconvenience is often annoying, particularly on roads where you have to stop and pay tolls multiple times.
More states have toll roads, bridges, or managed lanes than don't. However, that doesn't mean you'll certainly encounter them. Many states have only a few roads or bridges with tolls. And for those that have managed lanes, these can easily be avoided.
It gets even more confusing when trying to figure out how to pay tolls in a rental car. The first step is to realize where you will run into tolls — so let's see where they are in America.
More states have toll roads, bridges, or managed lanes than don't. However, that doesn't mean you'll certainly encounter them. Many states have only a few roads or bridges with tolls. And for those that have managed lanes, these can easily be avoided.
It gets even more confusing when trying to figure out how to pay tolls in a rental car. The first step is to realize where you will run into tolls — so let's see where they are in America.
Florida
Florida is the state with the most toll roads. It is also the state with the most problematic payment system for car rental customers.
The main system used in Florida is the SunPass. Unfortunately, the system has two types of transponders — one that you may be more familiar with that can be turned off and one that is a sticker stuck on the windshield of the car that can neither be removed nor turned off.
What makes this confusing and a nightmare for renters is the fact that in parts of the state, particularly in the Orlando area, there are toll booths that accept cash payments. But if you are in a car that has a sticker-type transponder (used by almost all of the low-cost car rental companies), then it will register even if you pay the toll in cash. This means that the rental company will charge you exorbitant fees afterward if you didn't pay for their toll package.
SunPass has introduced the Visitor Toll Pass, a free temporary pass that you can pick up at Orlando International Airport. This will work well for customers that rent cars from companies that have transponders that are either removable or able to be switched. For those companies that use the sticker-type transponder, the Visitor Toll Pass is still of no use — you will be forced to either pay for the rental company's toll package or avoid toll roads altogether (which is hard to do, as even when leaving the airport your best route to almost anywhere is a toll road).
In Miami, the toll roads are strictly electronic, so this above scenario at least doesn't happen. But many rental companies use the fact that you need a transponder as a reason to charge hefty prices for toll packages — some include unlimited tolls and some include just the use of the transponder.
So keep in mind the toll situation when booking your rental car — a cheap rate may not be as cheap once you add in the toll package that you will have to pay for.
The main system used in Florida is the SunPass. Unfortunately, the system has two types of transponders — one that you may be more familiar with that can be turned off and one that is a sticker stuck on the windshield of the car that can neither be removed nor turned off.
What makes this confusing and a nightmare for renters is the fact that in parts of the state, particularly in the Orlando area, there are toll booths that accept cash payments. But if you are in a car that has a sticker-type transponder (used by almost all of the low-cost car rental companies), then it will register even if you pay the toll in cash. This means that the rental company will charge you exorbitant fees afterward if you didn't pay for their toll package.
SunPass has introduced the Visitor Toll Pass, a free temporary pass that you can pick up at Orlando International Airport. This will work well for customers that rent cars from companies that have transponders that are either removable or able to be switched. For those companies that use the sticker-type transponder, the Visitor Toll Pass is still of no use — you will be forced to either pay for the rental company's toll package or avoid toll roads altogether (which is hard to do, as even when leaving the airport your best route to almost anywhere is a toll road).
In Miami, the toll roads are strictly electronic, so this above scenario at least doesn't happen. But many rental companies use the fact that you need a transponder as a reason to charge hefty prices for toll packages — some include unlimited tolls and some include just the use of the transponder.
So keep in mind the toll situation when booking your rental car — a cheap rate may not be as cheap once you add in the toll package that you will have to pay for.
California
Whether you will encounter tolls and need to worry about how to pay them depends on what part of the state you travel to.
There are toll roads in Orange County and tolled bridges in the Bay Area.
For the bridges in the Bay Area (like the Golden Gate Bridge), you can either pay using a FastTrak transponder or register online after you pass through the toll point and pay. If you don't do this, you will be charged as if it were a violation, which means the rental company will be sent the bill and will charge you for the toll and an added fee. So just make sure to pay after you pass through the toll point and you won't need to take their toll package.
In Orange County, you can also do the same. You can pay the tolls either 5 days before or 5 days after you use the roads.
There are also express lanes all over the state. But as noted below for other states, these are entirely avoidable, so if you don't have a FastTrak transponder, then just avoid them.
Many rental companies in California offer toll packages for using a transponder. They all also charge administrative fees for any tolls that are sent to them if you don't pay for them on your own. Unlike in Florida, you do not absolutely have to purchase their toll package and use the transponder, though you may find it worth it for the convenience.
There are toll roads in Orange County and tolled bridges in the Bay Area.
For the bridges in the Bay Area (like the Golden Gate Bridge), you can either pay using a FastTrak transponder or register online after you pass through the toll point and pay. If you don't do this, you will be charged as if it were a violation, which means the rental company will be sent the bill and will charge you for the toll and an added fee. So just make sure to pay after you pass through the toll point and you won't need to take their toll package.
In Orange County, you can also do the same. You can pay the tolls either 5 days before or 5 days after you use the roads.
There are also express lanes all over the state. But as noted below for other states, these are entirely avoidable, so if you don't have a FastTrak transponder, then just avoid them.
Many rental companies in California offer toll packages for using a transponder. They all also charge administrative fees for any tolls that are sent to them if you don't pay for them on your own. Unlike in Florida, you do not absolutely have to purchase their toll package and use the transponder, though you may find it worth it for the convenience.
Northeast
There are numerous toll roads in the Northeast, chief among them is the New Jersey Turnpike. The system used in the Northeast for paying for tolls is E-Z Pass.
In some states, cash payments are accepted. In others, like Massachusetts, you must either pay with E-Z Pass or via a mailed invoice. If you are charged by invoice, expect the rental company to charge an administrative fee too.
Most rental companies offer the possibility to rent an E-Z Pass transponder. Whether this is necessary depends on which state you are traveling in.
In many cases, though, you can use your own E-Z Pass transponder and account if you have one. The rental companies will not charge you extra for doing this.
In some states, cash payments are accepted. In others, like Massachusetts, you must either pay with E-Z Pass or via a mailed invoice. If you are charged by invoice, expect the rental company to charge an administrative fee too.
Most rental companies offer the possibility to rent an E-Z Pass transponder. Whether this is necessary depends on which state you are traveling in.
In many cases, though, you can use your own E-Z Pass transponder and account if you have one. The rental companies will not charge you extra for doing this.
Managed lanes elsewhere
Many states now have managed HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes. In some cases, you can still use them as an HOV lane and those without enough people in the car will be charged. In other cases, all cars using the lanes are charged.
You can find managed lanes around large cities. They almost always use electronic payments either with a transponder or pay-by-plate. Where pay-by-plate is available, the tolls are usually higher using it than if using a transponder.
When in a rental car, you may not have a transponder. If you do, then you will surely be charged a service fee for using it. If passing through managed lanes using pay-by-plate, expect the car rental company to charge you a service fee for every toll you incur — this can add up fast.
Your best bet in a rental car in a location that doesn't have other toll roads is to just avoid the managed lanes altogether. In many places in the USA, you do not need a transponder nor worry about paying afterwards as the only tolls are for managed lanes which can easily be avoided.
You can find managed lanes around large cities. They almost always use electronic payments either with a transponder or pay-by-plate. Where pay-by-plate is available, the tolls are usually higher using it than if using a transponder.
When in a rental car, you may not have a transponder. If you do, then you will surely be charged a service fee for using it. If passing through managed lanes using pay-by-plate, expect the car rental company to charge you a service fee for every toll you incur — this can add up fast.
Your best bet in a rental car in a location that doesn't have other toll roads is to just avoid the managed lanes altogether. In many places in the USA, you do not need a transponder nor worry about paying afterwards as the only tolls are for managed lanes which can easily be avoided.
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
Aleksandrs has over 10 years of experience in marketing with a focus on creating stellar content that provides topical insights using data. Having taken five road trips across Europe and one in the U.S., he is passionate about traveling by car. His favorite countries to visit are Denmark and Thailand. You can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.