Navigating toll roads can be a necessary part of many journeys, but it can also lead to unexpected charges, especially when you’re driving a rental car. Imagine meticulously planning your vacation budget, securing a great deal on a rental, and even refilling the gas tank before returning it, only to be surprised by a toll charge weeks later. This scenario is unfortunately common, highlighting the importance of understanding rental car toll policies and your payment options before you even start your trip.
This article will delve into how tolls work with rental cars, focusing on the policies of major rental companies and providing you with essential tips to avoid unnecessary expenses. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or renting a car for the first time, understanding the nuances of rental car toll passes can save you both money and headaches.
Decoding Rental Car Toll Systems
Most modern rental vehicles come equipped with a toll transponder, usually located near the top center of the windshield. This device is designed to automatically register tolls as you pass through electronic toll collection points like E-ZPass or similar systems. The convenience is undeniable – you can breeze through toll lanes without stopping to pay cash. However, this convenience comes with its own set of policies and potential fees that renters need to be aware of.
The process of toll billing in rental cars is not always immediate. It can take several weeks for toll road operators to process the data, notify the rental car company of the accumulated tolls, and for the rental company to then bill you. If you’ve opted into a toll payment program with your rental company, expect to see these charges appear on your credit card statement or receive a separate bill long after your rental period has ended.
It’s crucial to remember that each rental car company operates under its own specific toll policies. Before signing the rental agreement, it’s wise to investigate these policies to avoid unexpected charges. Let’s examine the toll handling procedures of some of the leading rental car companies in more detail.
Avis Toll Options: e-Toll and e-Toll Unlimited
Avis provides renters in the U.S. with two primary toll payment programs: Avis e-Toll and Avis e-Toll Unlimited.
Avis e-Toll is a direct billing program. With this option, you’re billed for the actual tolls incurred, plus a daily convenience fee. Avis charges a fee of $6.95 for each day you use a toll road. While this daily fee is capped at $34.75 per rental month, it’s important to note that you will be charged the highest toll rate, not the discounted rate often available to electronic toll pass holders. Avis e-Toll coverage extends across the Northeast (from Maine to North Carolina), as well as California, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Puerto Rico, and the Chicago area.
Avis e-Toll Unlimited offers a different approach. You pay a fixed daily fee for each day of your rental, regardless of whether you actually use any toll roads on a given day. However, if you do use toll roads, you won’t be billed separately for the actual toll costs. The convenience fee for this unlimited program can vary depending on the rental location and the tolling region.
Hertz PlatePass: All-Inclusive Tolling
Hertz also features an unlimited toll program similar to Avis, known as Hertz PlatePass All-Inclusive Tolling. This program involves a daily fee, typically around $18.99. Choosing PlatePass means you pay this daily rate throughout your rental period.
If you decide against opting into Hertz PlatePass but end up using a toll road, you will be charged a daily convenience fee of $9.99, in addition to the undiscounted toll charges themselves. PlatePass availability spans 25 states, but it’s worth confirming if it’s offered at your specific Hertz rental location.
Enterprise TollPass Service: Convenience Fees and Coverage
Enterprise, recognized as the world’s largest rental car company, manages tolls through a direct billing system coupled with convenience fees. The fees associated with their TollPass Service are not uniform and depend on the rental state and whether the rental location is at an airport. It’s advisable to consult the TollPass Coverage Map to confirm applicability for your travel route.
For most locations, daily fees for Enterprise TollPass range from $3.95 to $4.95, with a maximum charge of $30 per rental period. However, renters in Chicago should anticipate higher fees. Airport rental locations and select downtown Chicago locations can incur daily fees up to $11.99, while most non-airport Chicago locations charge $10.99 per day for the service.
Sixt Express Tolls Unlimited: Prepaid Toll Option
Sixt, a prominent German rental car company with a growing presence in the U.S. market, offers a prepaid toll program called Express Tolls Unlimited. This is also an unlimited toll plan, priced at $12.99 per day. Like competitors’ unlimited programs, Sixt applies this fee for each rental day, regardless of actual toll usage.
If you choose not to enroll in Express Tolls Unlimited and use toll roads, you will be responsible for the actual toll costs plus an administrative fee of $9.99 for each day tolls are incurred, up to a maximum of $90 per rental agreement.
Smart Strategies to Save on Rental Car Tolls
Knowing how rental car toll systems operate is the first step. Now, let’s explore practical ways to minimize your toll expenses when driving a rental car.
1. Bring Your Own Transponder (BYOT)
If you already own a personal toll transponder, you can often use it in your rental car. This is a straightforward way to avoid daily convenience fees and gain access to discounted cashless toll rates. Simply remove your transponder from your personal vehicle and attach it to the rental car’s windshield, near the rearview mirror, ensuring it’s below any tinted areas.
Crucially, make sure the rental car’s built-in transponder is covered or deactivated. Most rental transponders have a sliding cover for this purpose. This ensures that the toll system reads your personal transponder, not the rental car’s device.
Additionally, it’s essential to update your transponder account with the rental car’s details. For instance, Ohio’s E-ZPass guidelines state that “all vehicles should be added to your account while in use to avoid any violations.” Remember to remove the rental car from your account once your rental period ends, as you remain responsible for tolls until you do so.
If you don’t have a personal transponder, you can purchase one before your trip from various locations or online from participating states. Confirm that your transponder is compatible with the toll systems in the states you plan to travel through. E-ZPass, for example, is widely accepted across numerous states from Maine to Florida.
2. Cash Payments Where Available
Paying tolls in cash is another option to bypass rental car toll charges. However, with the increasing modernization of toll systems, cash payment is becoming less common. Many toll roads are transitioning to cashless systems. Research your intended route to determine if cash payment is accepted at toll booths along your way.
If you intend to pay cash, remember to ensure the rental car’s transponder is covered or deactivated to prevent double billing.
3. Calculate the Unlimited Toll Option’s Value
If you anticipate significant travel on toll roads during your rental, assess whether the rental company’s unlimited toll option is cost-effective. Use tools like Google Maps to plan your route and estimate toll costs. Google Maps identifies toll roads and provides estimated expenses for your journey.
Compare the estimated toll costs against the daily fee of the rental company’s unlimited toll program. Remember that the unlimited fee applies every day of your rental, regardless of actual toll road usage.
For short rentals, especially one-way trips involving substantial tolls, the unlimited program might be a good deal. For example, if a one-day drive incurs $30 in tolls, and the unlimited daily fee is less than that, it could be beneficial. However, for longer rental periods with less toll road usage, the unlimited option may become more expensive than paying per toll. State-specific toll calculators can also provide precise toll estimations, particularly useful for non-standard vehicles with potentially higher toll rates.
4. Explore Toll-Free Routes
Whenever feasible, consider using navigation apps to find routes that avoid toll roads altogether. While this might seem like the simplest solution, factor in potential trade-offs. Toll-free routes can sometimes be longer or pass through more congested areas, potentially increasing travel time and fuel consumption.
Weigh the time savings and convenience of toll roads against the potential cost savings of toll-free alternatives. Sometimes, paying a reasonable amount in tolls can save you significant time and stress, especially on long journeys.
Plan Ahead for Tolls
The key takeaway is proactive planning. Understanding how toll systems work with rental cars and exploring your payment options before your trip can significantly reduce unexpected expenses and prevent unwelcome toll bills arriving weeks after your travels. By being informed and prepared, you can navigate toll roads confidently and economically in your rental car.
Prices noted in this article were accurate at the time of original publication.
