Florida tolls with a rental car: how they work and what's worth it

How tolls work in Florida

• They're electronic. As you drive through, an overhead gantry reads the car's transponder or licence plate. You don't need to slow down.
• Many roads take no cash. Florida's Turnpike, for example, is fully electronic.
• The main system is called SunPass. Orlando also has E-PASS, and Florida also accepts E-ZPass transponders from other states. They all work on every toll road in Florida.
• If the car has no transponder, the toll is charged by licence plate (Toll-By-Plate). The bill goes to the car's owner, which for a rental is the rental company.

What happens with a rental car

The car is already enrolled in the rental company's toll program. When you go through a toll, the rental company pays it and then charges the card you left, plus a service fee. Each company has its own program:

• Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty: PlatePass, with a flat daily rate that covers all tolls.
• Avis, Budget and Payless: e-Toll, with a daily or weekly rate.
• Alamo, National and Enterprise: it switches on automatically, and the daily fee is charged only on the days you go through a toll.

Each rental company sets its own terms and they change often. When we quote, we tell you which one applies to your booking.

The two ways to pay

1. Toll pass with a daily rate. You pay a fixed amount per day and go through as many tolls as you like. It's worth it if you'll use toll roads almost every day, for example if you drive from Miami to Orlando and get around Orlando.
2. Pay for what you use. You pay each toll plus a fee for each day you went through one. It's worth it if you'll use toll roads on only a few days.

If you already have a SunPass account, you can add the rental car's licence plate to your account for the rental dates. Tell the rental company so you don't get charged twice.

Where you'll come across tolls

• Orlando: the roads out of the airport, the one to the coast and Kennedy Space Center, and the Turnpike. It's hard to get around without them.
• Miami: several city expressways have tolls, and I-95 has express lanes with tolls that change with traffic.
• Between cities: Florida's Turnpike, which links Miami with Orlando and carries on north.

Tips to avoid surprises

• Ask about the toll program when you pick up the car, and choose your option before you leave the counter.
• Don't look for booths. Most roads don't have them, and you don't need to stop.
• Tolls arrive later. They can show up on your card days or weeks after you return the car.
• You pay fines and tolls yourself, even if they arrive after you're home. The rental company may add a fee for handling them.
• If you bring your own SunPass transponder, take it out of the car when you return it.