Ever drive through a new state and suddenly realize your toll transponder doesn’t work there? It’s one of those annoyances that feels like it should be solved by now. But when every state—or even every region—wants to do their own thing, making systems work together gets tricky. Take toll transponders: the perfect example of how frustrating interoperability can be.
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is available up and down the I-95 corridor from Maine to North Carolina and as far west as Illinois. Thanks to interoperability made available in recent years, it can also be used in Minnesota and Florida. But you can’t use it in, for example, Utah. Or California. And even though it can be used nearly everywhere on the eastern seaboard, it can’t be used in South Carolina—or lots of other states. Georgia isn’t fully compatible yet, either.
PC: E-ZPass
Florida’s Various Transponders
SunPass, SunPass Mini, SunPass PRO, E-Pass and LeeWay, are the 5 (and it used to be 6! O-Pass combined forces with E-Pass) toll transponders in Florida (because one transponder made specifically for Florida wasn’t enough?). Save for SunPass PRO (it’s newer); they were non-compatible with E-ZPass systems for years (but could be used in Georgia and North Carolina). That’s since changed, and there is some, albeit not complete, interoperable:
- SunPass PRO – Interoperable with E-ZPass, as well as in GA, KS, OK, and parts of TX
- SunPass Mini – Works in NC, GA, KS, OK, and parts of TX, but NOT with E-ZPass
- LeeWay – Interoperable with PeachPass (GA), QuickPass (NC), KY RiverLink, IL I-PASS, KS K-Tag, OK Pike Pass, TX TollTag, and E-ZPass
The KS-OK-TX triad
For YEARS, Kansas’ K-Tag, Oklahoma’s Pikepass and Texas’ TollTag, Tx Tag and EZ Tag were only able to be used in all 3 states but none of them were interoperable with any other transponder system. That’s now changed; they can be used in Florida as well. But not all toll roads in Florida. Just some of them. Big whoop.
The states with NO interoperability
These states use toll systems that don’t play well with others. They’re only usable in their home state, which is just so… convenient (#rolleyes):
- Alabama uses Freedom Pass
- California uses FasTrak
- Colorado uses ExpressToll
- Louisiana uses Geaux Pass
- South Carolina uses Palmetto Pass
- Utah uses ExpressCard
- Washington uses Good To Go!
I think you get the point.
Oh, and the rest of the states, like Hawaii, Connecticut, etc.? They don’t have toll roads. Yay them!
Why don’t they all work with each other?
Excellent question.
Back in 2012, the government gave toll operators a 2016 deadline to make their systems compatible. That… didn’t happen. So now, interoperability is being achieved bit by bit, one system at a time.
Happily, another piece of the puzzle was added not long ago.
Enter: The Uni Transponder
E-Pass, one of the Florida-based systems, now offers something called Uni. It’s fully compatible with the E-ZPass network, which means it works in 19 states.
The Uni offers the following:
- One account, one invoice, no matter where you drive in the 19 states
- No account fees
- The ability to move it between cars
- Works with rental cars and on motorcycles
- Pays for parking at Orlando International Airport
AND, unlike E-ZPass, it can be purchased on Amazon.com. Click here for more info or to open an account.
Just a heads up that if you do invest in a Uni and travel to those states with little or no interoperability, you’ll still need to figure out a way to pay their tolls (to their credit, most still accept cash, or do a bill-by-plate thing).
What about toll apps?
There are a handful of toll apps out there, which usually work via pay-by-plate technology. We wrote about them a while back. At the time, most didn’t cover many states, and there was a “per toll” service fee (the one that also charged a monthly fee no longer appears to be in business).
By the way, there is a transponder, called Bestpass, which works with 100% of toll roads. But it’s only for trucks.
The Bottom Line
We’re not there yet, but options like Uni show we’re finally crawling toward a future where one toll transponder might work coast to coast. Until then, we’re stuck with a patchwork of systems that barely acknowledge each other’s existence. So before your next road trip, double-check where your pass works—or you might breeze through a toll thinking you’re covered, only to get a bill-by-plate in the mail… with a lovely little surcharge tacked on for the privilege. Because nothing says “Welcome to Texas” like paying extra for not reading the fine print.
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