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Paying tolls when you’re driving a rental car is largely unavoidable, but you can avoid paying hefty fees just to activate the device that allows you to pay tolls.
In July, the Central Florida Expressway Authority, which is based in Orlando, began issuing free temporary toll passes to travelers who rent cars at Orlando International Airport. Travelers can download an app, register using a credit card and get a toll pass which comes in the form of a QR code that can be hung from a rearview mirror. These temporary toll passes allow travelers to avoid being charged extra fees to use a rental car company’s toll transponder, a small electronic device that attaches to the car’s windshield.
This program, the Expressway Authority said, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and in the future could be a model for other destinations. Until then, there are other tips and tricks that can keep you from getting stuck with an inflated car rental bill from toll-related surcharges.
See if there is an app for your area of travel
No single toll-pay app covers roads across the country. And some apps can only be used for personal cars, rather than rentals. But there are several that cover sections of the United States and let you pay tolls from your phone.
GoToll lets you pay for tolls on roads in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. Another toll-paying app, Ecotoll, covers much of California, Texas and the Northeast.
Bring your own toll pass (but don’t open the rental car’s transponder)
Before bringing your own transponder along, check which brand provides service where you are traveling. If you’re using an E-ZPass — which is accepted in about 17 states across the Midwest and East Coast — you don’t need to update any information about your rental car to your personal E-ZPass account. But some other brands may require you to register your rental car with your account within a certain time frame.
Just put the transponder on your dashboard and let it pay the tolls. But make sure not to activate the transponder that’s already provided in your rental car. This will start charging you a daily usage fee. And if you do so while you’re also using your own E-ZPass, you’ll be charged twice.
Buy a toll pass for your travel region
Check online to see which system is in use at your destination, and then pick up the right toll transponder online or at a participating retailer like a rest stop or grocery store. Costco, Wegman’s and Walmart all sell transponders.
Once you’ve made your purchase, you will have to go online and create an account or call to register your device. And finally, attach it to your car. (But remember, don’t touch the rental car’s transponder.)
Utilize a toll by mail program
The state of New York offers a Tolls by Mail program that allows you to be sent a bill for your toll charges. This service can be used for rental cars through its “Pay Toll Now” feature: Users create a short-term account using their license plate and can pay using their credit card for up to 30 days. (By doing so, you can avoid any toll surcharges that your rental company may tack on.) While this program is specific to New York, some other states, like Florida and Texas, have similar programs, but they may not offer the option for rental cars.
Check first with the toll authority of the state in which you are traveling.
Know the roads
Depending on where you plan on traveling, you might be able to avoid toll roads altogether. Your trip may be longer, but it also may be more scenic. Many map and traffic apps, like Google Maps or Waze, also have an option to avoid toll roads, which will prompt the app to only suggest routes without tolls.
For more travel advice, visit our collection of Travel 101 tips and hacks.
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