UPDATE 6/1/21: After a delay of several motnhs, E-ZPass can now be used on ALL toll roads in the state of Florida. Click here for more info.
Established in 1987, the E-ZPass group is comprised of toll entities throughout 18 states, and part of 1 other. With over 24,000,000 accounts, it is, by far, the largest interconnected toll collecting system in the country.
As part of an expansion, as of September 2018, motorists who had an E-ZPass transponder were able to use it for toll roads in Central Florida that were serviced by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) (In purple below). CFX uses the E-Pass electronic toll payment system. However the toll roads serviced by Florida’s Turnpike Enterprises (part of the Florida Department of Transportation [FDOT]) (in green below) still were not compatible with the E-ZPass system. Because Floriduh (I live in Florida; I can say that).
This will soon no longer be the case, as The E-ZPass Interagency Group has announced that Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise will soon join the E-ZPass network.
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, which operates the SunPass electronic toll payment system in Florida, is currently upgrading their systems and processes so E-ZPass will be able to be used throughout the state. Completion is expected later this year.
“We understand how confusing and frustrating it can be for our toll customers to have to keep track of the different tolling mechanisms across the nation…the Florida Department of Transportation continues to leverage technology to increase convenience and mobility for Florida’s toll customers,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “By enhancing Florida’s SunPass system and partnering with the E-ZPass Interagency Group, our combined customer base will effortlessly travel tollways in 18 states.”
Nicola Liquori, CEO of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise: “Interoperability with E-ZPass has been a long-standing goal, and now it is a reality. By the end of the year, millions of E-ZPass customers will enjoy the benefits of the SunPass system on 764 miles of roadway from the Panhandle to the Keys. This effort aligns with our goals to improve mobility by promoting electronic tolling and, more importantly, to enhance customer service by increasing payment options.”
The timing of this is perfect, since the cost for pay-by-plate on CFX roadways recently doubled. Pay-by-plate is the option used by many car rental companies.
There are multiple roads in Florida, outside of the tourist sector of Central Florida, that are on Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise’s SunPass system. With this integration, those roads (thank-you Wikipedia) will also open to E-ZPass use (ones in boldface are in Central Florida, just not where theme park tourists go very often):
- Alligator Alley – Uses SunPass.
- Bob Sikes Bridge – Uses SunPass.
- Broad Causeway – Uses SunPass.
- Cape Coral Bridge – Uses SunPass and LeeWay.
- Card Sound Bridge – Uses SunPass
- Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise – Florida’s Turnpike, Homestead Extension, Sawgrass Expressway, Polk Parkway, Suncoast Parkway, Veterans Expressway, the northern end of the Seminole Expressway, the southern six miles (10 km) of Southern Connector Extension, the southern 11 miles (18 km) of the Daniel Webster Western Beltway, the western eight miles (13 km) of Beachline West Expressway. Uses SunPass.
- Garcon Point Bridge – Uses SunPass.
- Gasparilla Bridge
- I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector – Uses SunPass.
- I-75 Express Lanes – Uses SunPass.
- I-95 Express Lanes – Uses SunPass.
- I-595 Express Lanes – Uses SunPass.
- Lee Roy Selmon Expressway – Uses SunPass.
- Miami-Dade Expressway Authority – Gratigny Parkway, Airport Expressway, Dolphin Expressway, Don Shula Expressway, Snapper Creek Expressway, Venetian Causeway. Uses SunPass.
- Mid-Bay Bridge – Uses SunPass.
- Midpoint Memorial Bridge – Uses SunPass and LeeWay.
- Orchard Pond Parkway – Uses SunPass.
- Osceola Parkway – Uses SunPass and E-Pass.
- Pinellas Bayway – Uses SunPass.
- Poinciana Parkway – Uses SunPass and E-Pass.
- Rickenbacker Causeway – Uses SunPass.
- Sanibel Causeway – Uses SunPass and LeeWay.
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge – Uses SunPass.
*** Feature Photo: E-ZPass Group
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
11 comments
Can those of us with E-Pass use EZ Pass lanes when we’re driving in the Northeast?
It didn’t say anything either way in the press release.
[…] It is not possible to use E-ZPass in Florida; therefore, it does not work in the state. However, there are plans of including the state within the E-ZPass network,ย and that’s happening soon.ย […]
As of 3/13/21 E-ZPass is working in Florida on the Central Florida Expressway as I just – unexpectedly – got a bill for travel there. Will have to check my SunPass statement to see if we were double billed!
Hi! There is no highway called the Central Florida Expressway, however the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) does take E-ZPass. They are in charge of the roads highlighted in purple in the article above. ๐ My guess is that your SunPass was also charged, but my fingers are crossed that it wasn’t. ๐
Just wondering – FTE is still not accepting EZ Pass thought, correct?
Nope (there are big ol’ signs when you get onto the FL Tnpk that say they don’t take E-ZPass). I wrote to both them and E-Zpass several weeks ago to ask why it never started, since it was supposed to by late 2020, but didn’t get a reply from either of them.
Thank you! I guess we’ll be stopping at the state line to grab a Uni when we come down later this week!
I have an EZPass issued in MA. It has worked for me in 2021 on Central Florida toll roads (other than the Turnpike)–with ONE exception. In April I drove from Mt. Dora to Sanford on the partially-finished “Wekiva Parkway.” EZPass charged me for the 1st “plaza” (“Coronado”) and 3 minutes later, the 2nd (“Mt. Plymouth”), but 5 minutes later, NOT the 3rd (“Mt. Plymouth Main”). (Due to construction, there were no further tolls.) Got a Toll Enforcement Invoice for the last plaza–complete with their “administrative fee.” I disputed the extra fee online (“same parkway, same direction, all within 10 minutes” etc.). They responded with a generic automated response, encouraging me to buy a SunPass. It can’t be a CFX/FXE or county line-crossing problem. Doesn’t make sense, and so far can’t talk with an FDOT human about it.
Yup. As you can see in the photo, the northernmost portion of the 429 doesn’t accept E-ZPass. Go figure…???
I purchased a NC Quick pass (which also has EZ Pass stamped on it). Their website states it works in Florida with Sunpass in parentheses. So, I assumed it does. It doesnt. After trying it and failing on 417, I was told it does not work on Sunpass roads. I think the E pass Uni is the way to go if you need to travel the east coast.