After many tolls in Central Florida were doubled for most tourists in June 2020 (here’s what happened & how to avoid it), there’s been a whole lot of good news about Florida tolls in 2021.
First, after years in the making (to say nothing of a delay of nearly a year), and after nearly 3 years of only being available in the Orlando area, E-ZPass can now finally be used throughout the entire state of Florida. That will be a huge convenience for the millions of people who use E-ZPass.
However if you didn’t have an E-ZPass and rented a car, you were still subject to the charges that the rental car companies add on for the privilege of pay for tolls (here’s how much each one charges).
Happily, if you rent a car out of MCO, those days are now over.
Visitor Toll Pass was a pilot project in 2019 (you can read all about it at this link). It appeared to get rave reviews but the pilot shut down in 2020 due to COVID.
Not long ago, we reported that Visitor Toll Pass was going to become a permanent thing, albeit with some minor changes that made it more streamlined. And now, it’s live.
Then:
Now:
What Is Visitor Toll Pass?
From their website:
“Visitor Toll Pass™ is a FREE temporary toll pass for rental car customers traveling roundtrip through the Orlando International Airport. With Visitor Toll Pass™, you always pay the lowest toll rate throughout Florida with no hidden or extra fee.”
How it works
Using your Apple or Android device, download the Visitor Toll Pass™ app and follow the instructions to reserve your pass.
2. Pick Up Your Pass at Orlando International Airport
Once you have created your reservation, scan the barcode provided in the app at a Visitor Toll Pass™ vending machine located on Level 1 of the Orlando International Airport (a map of the pickup location is coming soon).
3. Hang your Visitor Toll Pass™ on Your Rental Vehicle’s Rearview Mirror
Hang your Visitor Toll Pass™ (it’s a hang tag) before exiting the airport and leave it up for the duration of your trip to enjoy nonstop travel on all Florida toll roads.
4. Return Your Visitor Toll Pass™ at Orlando International Airport
At the end of your trip, drop off your Visitor Toll Pass™ at one of the designated drop box locations in the airport (click here for a map with the drop-off locations).
This will be a HUGE money saver for anyone who rents a car at Orlando International Airport. Besides not paying for the rental car companies’ various ridiculous pricing for paying tolls, you also won’t have to pay double what local SunPass and other transponder holders pay, because you will HAVE a (temporary) SunPass.
Best of all, the Visitor Toll Pass doesn’t just limit you to the Central Florida area; you can use it throughout the state of Florida. Anywhere you see E-PASS, SunPass or LeeWay signs, you can use the Visitor Toll Pass.
There are a few caveats to the Visitor Toll Pass program:
- It’s only available if you’re flying into and out of Orlando International Airport (although I suppose you could fly into a different airport and then stop by MCO?)
- It’s only available if you rent with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty.
- You have to make sure you DECLINE YOUR CAR RENTAL COMPANY’S TOLL PROGRAM, or you could get double-billed for tolls incurred.
Congratulations, visitors to Central Florida – you now have a way to save a chunk of change!
Feature Photo: Visitor Toll Pass
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
3 comments
Oh great now people who want to steal the car will know that we are out of towners.Years ago they did away with the car rental company sticker on the car because people were being car jacked or worse. Now it’s back again telling everybody in the world that we are visiting the state.
Sorry to tell you but the registration for every rental car that’s registered in Florida expires in the month of June. Floridians always know which ones the rental cars are. If you’re concerned about theft, don’t leave anything of importance in your car – but that’s the case anywhere, at any time.
Yeah, I know those of you with children have to do it. I do not. I have been four times in Orlando and I had enough. I am not planning to attend even Mickey Mouse funeral. On the other hand my brother who lives in Broward county, goes every year. Sincerely, I do not like the entire Orlando situation. It is just too cheesy. When I had mandatory meetings in Orlando, I stayed in my hotel for as long as the meeting last. It is not just the issue of tolls, but the dispersion of everything around. If you do not have a car, you are ruined. It is Las Vegas on steroids and environmentally questionable.