Cashless tolls are becoming more and more common on U.S. roads with the ability to gain travel data from transponders and the benefit of increased profits from unmanned toll plazas.
It’s not just the road companies who are profiting from these tolls — rental car companies have also spotted an opportunity to make money, quite often from unaware drivers who don’t read the small print or those that haven’t checked out the toll situation for their journey.
Forget throwing your quarters in the basket or handing them over to a booth attendant — cashless tolls work with electronic payments only, and this doesn’t mean payment with a credit card. Vehicles are billed by reading a transponder on the car or by scanning a license plate as vehicles drive through an open lane.
Transponders are often the cheapest option, and drivers need to register an account to benefit from these reduced toll rates. License plate scanning often has higher toll rates, with a bill sent to the registered keeper’s address, which also often comes with an admin fee.
Car rental companies have different policies for how they handle toll payments. Some charge flat fees for each day of the rental, regardless of whether you pass through a toll or not. Some charge a daily fee for every day that you use tolls, and both of these options also charge for the cost of the tolls, of course.
The third option is an all-inclusive rate that is charged every day of your rental that includes the toll fee and any administrative charges.
For some policies, you will need to opt-in, and for others, you will need to opt-out, so be sure to read the small print and inquire with the company when booking or picking up your car, so you don’t get caught short.
This may seem like an obvious option, but in some situations, you may only be saving a matter of minutes by taking the toll route. If you’re traveling for pleasure, non-toll roads will often offer a more exciting or scenic drive, so enjoy the road trip and avoid the nasty bill.
Mapping systems such as Google Maps allow you to define your route options with the choice to avoid tolls.
Paying cash won’t always get you the cheapest toll rate possible, but it will be a lot cheaper than incurring a possible admin fee per day or even per toll from the rental car company.
Make sure you approach the toll plazas at a reasonably slow speed so that you can establish which lane you need to pass through to pay cash.
Some toll roads accept multiple transponders, so it’s worth doing your research beforehand to see if your personal transponder is accepted.
A particular region often works with the same system for electronic payment, so if you’re planning a road trip around the likes of Florida, then you’ll have no problem using the same SunPass transponder throughout your journey.
SunPass transponders can be purchased from CVS Pharmacy, Publix Super Markets, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Sedano’s Markets, and Walgreen’s. You will purchase a mini transponder (which won’t work again once removed from the windshield) or a portable device.
If you’re using your own transponder or another method of payment, then be sure to close the box for the car rental company’s transponder. This should prevent the signals from being read, but to be extra safe, you can also use a mylar/antistatic bag to cover the transponder.
This is not possible in all cases, but there are some roads and bridges that allow you to pay your tolls directly. California’s State Routes 73, 133, 241, and 261 allow payment 5 days before or after traveling on that road. Crossings of the Golden Gate Bridge are also directly payable up to 30 days before travel or up to 48 hours after.
As you will have seen within the information above, car rental companies can charge wildly different fees. Map out your route to see how many tolls you will encounter, as you may want to go with a company that offers an all-inclusive package versus a company that charges an admin fee per day of usage.
from I-405 in Costa Mesa to I-5 in San Juan Capistrano
One-time payment: $8.65
depending on time of day
from the 605 to Alameda St. Downtown
from the Artesia Transit Center to Adams Blvd.
from State Route 84 south of Pleasanton to State Route 237 in Milpitas
from the SR-55/SR-91 interchange in Orange County to McKinley in Riverside County
dependent on direction, time of day, and public holidays
from I-405 near Laguna Beach to I-241
Oso Parkway (South Terminus) to Freeway 91 at Anaheim
FasTrack: $9.82-$10.31 dependent on day/time
from Jamboree Rd. in Irvine to Santiago Canyon Rd.
FasTrak: $2.59-$3.19 dependent on day/time
from Hacienda Drive in Pleasanton to Greenville Road in Livermore
from State Route 78 in
Escondido to State Route 163 in San Diego
License Plate Account: $8.20
One-time payment: $8.20
Northbound from Alcosta Boulevard. to Livorna Road; Southbound from Rudgear Road to Alcosta Boulevard
from I-25 (north of 144th Avenue) to US 36 in the west
GoPass
Mainline plaza: $4.10
Ramp gantries: $1.35
Non-auto-bill customers:
Mainline plaza: $5.10
Ramp gantries: $2.35
from Federal Boulevard in Westminster to Table Mesa Drive in Boulder
License Plate Account: $0.25-$10
dependent on direction/distance/day/time
from the I-25 Interchange in Lone Tree to the I-25 Interchange with Northwest Parkway
License Plate Account: $22.55
from Downtown Denver (20th Street) to US 36
from US 36 to 120th Avenue
License Plate Account: $3.79-$7.15
dependent on day/time
from Empire through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels to Idaho Springs
ExpressToll: $3-$15 dependent on time
License Plate Account: $6.75-$25
Broward County
from the Sawgrass Expressway to the Florida Turnpike
from the South Dixie Highway to Miramar Plaza
Toll-By-Plate: $0.80-$5.09
from I-10 in Duval County to Blanding Boulevard in Clay County
Toll-By-Plate: $0.45-$3.45
dependent on distance
from I-95 to Buckman Bridge
Only SunPass holders may use the lanes. No Pay By Plate is available
Toll-by-plate: toll + $2.50 administrative fee
from NW 21st Street to NW 12th Avenue
Toll-By-Plate: $0.66-$1.32
dependent on distance
Toll-by-plate: $2
from Downtown Miami to Miami International Airport
Toll-By-Plate: $0.56-$4.52
from the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike in Three Lakes to the Palmetto Expressway
Toll-By-Plate: $.46-$1.86
from the junction of I-95 and SR836 to Broward Boulevard near Fort Lauderdale
Toll-By-Plate: $3
Toll-By-Plate: $3
from W. Flagler Street to NW 154 Street and along I-75
from the Palmetto Expressway to NW 170 Street in
Miami-Dade County
Kelly Park Road interchange to State Road 46
Pay By Plate: $3.11
From Miami Lakes to Biscayne Park
Toll-By-Plate: $0.94-$1.88
from US 17-92 and Kinny Harmon Road to Cypress Parkway in Polk County
Pay By Plate: $0.70-$2.25
Toll-By-Plate: $0.92
from US 98 to the I-275 in Tampa
Toll-By-Plate: $0.54-$6.91
dependent on distance
from the junction of I-75 and I-595 in Sunrise to SW 6th Avenue in Deerfield Beach
Toll-By-Plate: $2.68
from Old Bainbridge Road in Northwestern Tallahassee
to to North Meridian Road in Northeastern Tallahassee
Pay By Plate: $1.69
from the Brandon Parkway to US-92
Toll-By-Plate: $0.86-$7.59
dependent on distance
from Chamblee Tucker Rd. to Old Peachtree Rd. in Gwinnett County
from Akers Mill Rd. to Hickory Grove Rd. and along I-575 from I-75 to Sixes Rd.
from McDonough Road (State Route 155) in Henry County to Stockbridge Highway (State Route 138) in Clayton County
from Lansing to Deerfield
Online payment: $1.50
from the Kennedy Expressway to the Wisconsin State Line
Online payment: $0.90-$7.90
from Lake Street to I-290
Online payment: $0.40-$2.50
Registered Plate: $3.16
Unregistered Plate: $4.20
Registered Plate: $3.16
Unregistered Plate: $4.20
Registered Plate: $3.16
Unregistered Plate: $4.20
from Gaithersburg in Montgomery County to Laurel in Prince George’s County
Video Toll: $1.40-$5.78
Non-Massachusetts issued E-ZPass: $1.75
Pay By Plate: $2.05
Pay By Plate: $1.75
Pay By Plate: $1.55
from the New York state line to Boston
Non-Massachusetts issued E-ZPass: $0.30-$9.35
Pay By Plate: $0.60- $13.55
dependent on distance
Tolls by Mail: $15
dependent on time
Tolls by Mail: $15
Toll by Mail: $1.00
Tolls by Mail: $1.25
E-ZPass: $1.18
Vehicles 7 feet 6 inches or greater
Tolls by Mail: $2.00
E-ZPass: $1.90
Tolls by Mail: $9.50
Tolls by Mail: $4.75
Rockaway Resident E–ZPass: $1.49
Rockaway Resident E-Token:$2.05
Tolls by Mail: $7.00
Tolls by Mail: $9.50
Tolls by Mail: $4.75
Rockaway Resident E–ZPass: $1.49
Rockaway Resident E-Token:$2.05
Tolls by Mail: $9.50
Tolls by Mail: $9.50
Tolls by Mail: $9.50
dependent on time
Tolls by Mail: $15
Tolls by Mail: $19.00
Staten Island Resident E–ZPass:$5.50
Staten Island Resident E-Token: $9.80
Staten Island Resident Carpool HOV E-ZPass (E-Ticket): $3.40
Tolls by Mail: $1.75
E-ZPass: $1.66
Vehicles 7 feet 6 inches or greater
Tolls by Mail: $3.50
E-ZPass: $3.32
Tolls by Mail: $5.00
Tolls by Mail: $1.25
E-ZPass: $1.18
Vehicles 7 feet 6 inches or greater
Tolls by Mail: $2.00
E-ZPass: $1.90
from I-277 (Exit 11) in Charlotte and N.C. 150 (Exit 36), in Mooresvill
from Durham County to the NC540 in Wake County
Tolls by Mail: $0.58-$5.17
dependent on distance
from Stallings to Marshville in Union County
Tolls by Mail: $0.29-$3.92
dependent on distance
Tolls By Pate: $2.60
Tolls by Mail: $5.00
Findlay Township
from US 22 to I-376/Pittsburgh Airport
E-ZPass: $1.10
Tolls By Pate: $1.60
Vehicles 7 feet 6 inches or greater
E-ZPass: $1.60
Tolls By Pate: $2.40
Tolls by Mail: $2.20-$4.40
E-ZPass: $1.20-$2.00
dependent on distance
Vehicles 7 feet 6 inches or greater
Tolls by Mail: $4.40 – $8.80
E-ZPass: $2.50 – $5.00
dependent on distance
Tolls By Pate: $12.20
from PA-51 to US 422
Tolls By Pate: $2.70-$7.00
dependent on distance
from US Route 119 nearNew Stanton to US Route 22inDelmont
Tolls By Pate: $1.25-$8.05
dependent on distance
from US 183 interchange to the eastern limits east of SH 130
Tolls By Pate: $0.87-$6.12
dependent on distance
from Cesar Chavez Street to Parmer Lane
from Presidential Blvd to SH 130 in east Austin
Tolls By Pate: $1.37
from US 290 to SH 71
Tolls By Pate: $0.65-$3.72 +$1 statement fee per bill
dependent on distance
from Hines Blvd/McKinnon St. to US 380/University Dr.
Tolls By Pate:$0.53-$8.16
dependent on distance
from SH 183 to I-35 E in Dallas
from I-20 to I-30/US 67
Tolls By Pate: $0.78-$14.75
dependent on distance
from Downtown Dallas to the President George Bush Turnpike
from Denton County to Dallas County
Tolls By Pate: $0.99
Tolls By Pate: $1.98
Tolls By Pate: $0.99
from Sienna Parkway to US 90
Tolls By Pate: $0.58-$2.54
dependent on distance
ZipCash: 50% more
dependent on distance
from Downtown Fort Worth south to Cleburne
Tolls By Pate: $0.59-$25.82
dependent on distance
from West of SH 26 to East of International Parkway (DFW Airport)
from Freeport Parkway to SH 5/McDonald Street
Tolls By Pate: $0.56-$6.74
dependent on distance
from I-30 to north of US 287
1626 to the MoPac Expressway
Tolls By Pate: $1.50
from the Hardy Toll Road to George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Tolls By Pate: $1.25
from I-69 in Riverpark to I-69 in Valley Ranch
Tolls By Pate: $0.54-$3.78
dependent on distance
from I-610 near central Houston to Interstate 45
Tolls By Pate: $1.00-$3.50
dependent on distance
from US 69 to Westheimer Lakes
Tolls By Pate: $0.50-$6.02
dependent on distance
SH 26 in Grapevine to SH 183 in Irving
from SH 6 to IH 610
Tolls By Pate: $1.00-$3.50
dependent on distance
from RM 620 to Leander
Tolls By Pate: $0.65-$7.30
dependent on distance
ZipCash: 50% higher rate
dependent on distance
from Ridgeline Boulevard west of US 183 eastward to SH 130
Pay By Mail: $0.98-$6.57
dependent on distance
from SH 45SE to I-10 in Seguin
Tolls By Pate: $0.65-$6.82
dependent on distance
from US 287 to Sublett Road
Tolls By Pate: $2.44
from Hollister Street to Brown Road
Tolls By Pate: $1.75
from US69 nearLindale toSH110nearWhitehouse
Tolls By Pate: $0.59-$12.46
dependent on distance
from US 236 to Aquia
from George Washington Memorial Parkway to Us 236
from I-495 to Route 29 in Rosslyn
Dominion Boulevard
Pay By Plate: $3.16
Tolls By Pate: $3.16
from the 393 Express Lanes to US 738
Norfolk
from the Elizabeth River to Little Creek Road
Registered Pay By Pate: $3.57-$3.98
Unregistered Pay By Plate: $5.35-$5.76
dependent on time of day
Registered Pay By Pate: $3.57-$3.98
Unregistered Pay By Plate: $5.35-$5.76
dependent on time of day
South Norfolk Jordan Bridge
Pay By Plate: $2.80
Bellevue, Lynnwood
from Lynnwood to Bellevue
SR 167 HOT Lanes
from Renton to south of Auburn
SR 99 Tunnel
Pay By Mail: $1.00-$4.25
dependent on day and time
Pay By Plate: $1.50-$4.55
Short term account: $2.75-$5.80
Pay By Mail: $3.25-$6.30
dependent on time of day
Everyone hates getting their car rental bill and seeing unexpected charges on there, however, with a bit of pre-planning, this can be avoided.
Cashless tolls are only going to become more common on U.S. roads, so make sure you check out the policy for your prospective car rental company before booking, purchase your own transponder, or map out your journey for alternative toll-free routes.
