There are about 6,000 miles of toll roads in the US, according to the Federal Highway Administration, so it is more likely you will encounter one while driving your rental car. VroomVroomVroom has compiled this brief guide to help you understand how different car rental companies handle toll charges in the USA.
Please be aware that the cost may vary per location, type of vehicle and the pass you choose for payment. E-ZPass is the most established and widely used system in most states, stretching from Illinois up to Maine and down to North Carolina. Note that most rental car companies usually charge a service fee, but they also sometimes offer special toll passes that are cheaper than the usual cost. Click here to see toll prices for the Most Popular Tunnels and Bridges.
Hertz Toll Road Payment
Hertz rental vehicles are PlatePass enabled for use on covered tollways. Note that PlatePass will only activate if you drive on covered tollways, including, but not limited to, highways, bridges, and tunnels without using a personal transponder or another form of payment for tolls approved by the applicable toll authority. You will be charged for each toll at the highest, undiscounted toll rate plus a $5.95 convenience fee for each calendar day when tolls are incurred. There is no maximum PlatePass convenience fee.
In case you need to use tollways not covered by PlatePass, you will need to pay cash or use a transponder compatible with the tollway. If you do not pay for tolls with cash or transponder, you will be issued a toll violation. Please note that PlatePass is not available on tollways in Alabama, Alaska, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, or California roads: I-10, I-110, SR 91, I-15 Express Lanes, SR 125, I-580, I-680, SR 237, and the Contra Costa Express Lanes.
Enterprise Toll Road Payment
You may rent a transponder from Enterprise at the rate of $3.95 per rental day, not to exceed $19.75 per rental period, plus the amount of each toll and any other charges by EZ Pass or their service administrator. The transponder rental fee will appear on your Rental Agreement.
Alternatively, you may simply use the cash toll lanes and pay for your tolls as you incur them. If you do not rent a transponder or use your own and you do not stop and pay cash for your tolls, you will be billed for any unpaid tolls plus any citations or fees imposed along with an administrative fee, all as described in your Rental Agreement.
Alamo Toll Road Payment
You may rent a transponder from Alamo (available at select locations) at the rate of $3.95 per rental day, not to exceed $19.75 per rental period, plus the amount of each toll and any other charges by EZ Pass or our service administrator (see Additional Terms and Conditions below). The transponder rental fee will appear on your Rental Agreement.
Alternatively, you may simply use the cash toll lanes and pay for your tolls as you incur them. If you do not rent a transponder or use your own and you do not stop and pay cash for your tolls, you will be billed for any unpaid tolls plus any citations or fees imposed along with an administrative fee, all as described in your Rental Agreement. Note that some of the bridges and tunnels in the Northeast US only accept "electronic payments" and do not accept cash. Additionally, cashless bridges and tunnels are subject to change.
Advantage Toll Road Payment
PlatePass enables Advantage rental car customers to avoid waiting in toll lines to pay cash or coins by using EXpressToll lanes in Colorado, the SunPass Only and E-Pass designated lanes in Florida, North Carolina Quick Pass, EZ TAG (non-gated) lanes in Texas, and Good to Go in Washington on State Road 520 Bridge and Tacoma Narrows Bridges only.
Customers will be charged the cash or pay-by-mail toll rate, whichever is higher, as published by the toll authority, plus a service fee per rental day or a maximum monthly fee. If the Advantage rental is for multiple months, the PlatePass fees will only apply for the month when the PlatePass service was actually used. For example, if the car is rented for a two-month period, and PlatePass was only used during the first month, the fees will not apply to the second month. The month starts on the first day of the rental. Customers will be charged approximately 10 days after the rental car is returned. See your rental agreement for more information on service fees.
Thrifty Toll Road Payment
Please be aware that if you decline the optional PlatePass All-Inclusive service at beginning of your rental period with Thrifty, but still use electronic toll roads and/or bridges during the rental period (including “cashless” or “all electronic” toll roads and bridges), you will be liable for and Thrifty will charge you for: (a) all tolls incurred for such use (at the highest, undiscounted applicable toll rate); (b) a $15.00 administrative fee (FL - $9.99 per occurrence) for each toll incurred (subject to a $90.00 cap for such toll-related administrative fees for the rental period); and (c) all other applicable toll charges or fees, if any.”
You may want to Check out PlatePass®.com for a list of participating toll roads.
Budget E-Toll Programs
Please be aware that Budget e-Toll is offered in the Northeast (from Maine to North Carolina), California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. If you do not pay cash for tolls, you automatically opt into Budget e-Toll service. Under the e-Toll program, once you pass through an electronic toll, you will pay a convenience fee of $3.95 for each day of the entire rental period, including any days on which e-Toll is not used, up to a maximum of $19.75 per rental month, plus incurred tolls at the maximum prevailing rates posted by the toll authority. You can avoid the convenience fee and any other charges by paying the toll in cash, using your electronic toll device, or avoiding any cashless toll road or passage.
Note also that there are some roads that maybe cashless tolls and drivers on these roads are not able to pay cash once they have entered these roads. You automatically opt into Budget e-Toll service program and will be charged $3.95 for each day of the entire rental period, including any days on which e-Toll is not used, up to a maximum of $19.75 per rental month, plus incurred tolls at the maximum prevailing rates posted by the toll authority. The charges may take 4-8 weeks after the rental to be billed to your credit card/debit card on file.
Avis Car Rental E-Toll
Avis e-Toll is offered in the Northeast (from Maine to North Carolina), California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. Avis e-Toll cannot be reserved in advance, but is already installed in many cars. Avis e-Toll is optional and available for a low daily fee plus the cost of tolls. If you use a car with automatic toll payment capability, you will pay Avis or their toll program administrator for all tolls incurred during your rental and all related fees, charges and penalties.
Avis customers will be charged the standard non-discounted fee for the roads as published by the toll authority plus the convenience fee of $3.95 per rental day for each and every day of your rental or a maximum of $16.75 for use of this service. Please be aware that this rate is subject to change.
Learn more about the USA Toll Roads.
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