When you rent a car anywhere in the U.S.A., you will always encounter some charges tacked on to the cost of the actual rental. Taxes. Fees. Surcharges. Upcharges. You know what I mean. If you’re going to be on any toll roads during your rental period, you should know ahead of time what the charges will be for tolls, especially if you’re going to be on a toll road that doesn’t take cash (a situation that is happening more and more often). Not following each rental car company’s respective rules for them could potentially gain you extra penalties that could run from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Here’s the rundown on what to expect:
Things To Know About Toll Roads & Rental Cars
- Several rental car companies are owned by the same companies, so their rules, if not exactly the same, are very, very similar.
- Different states have different electronic systems for payment of their tolls that, depending on the state, may or may not be interoperable with the electronic systems of other states (or portions of states).
- Some toll roads are now 100% electronic, and therefore cashless and no longer offer a cash option. Others might, but don’t offer change.
- There are toll apps that may work in the states you’ll be driving in. Whether or not they’re “worth it” is a Your Mileage May Vary situation – but here’s more info about them.
- You can often (BUT NOT ALWAYS!) use your own transponder if you have one that works on the particular road in question (i.e., E-ZPass can be used in 19 states, including, most recently, Florida) – consult with the car rental company for details.
- Although often listed as toll pass “options,” renters should know they may have no choice. i.e., by law, renters in Texas are not able to decline a toll pass feature; all rental vehicles are equipped with either video tolling capability or toll transponders and you MUST use them (and pay the administrative fees that are tagged on).
- Always read ALL of the fine print and ask questions if something doesn’t make sense.
- Get things in writing if what they tell you sounds different from what’s in the fine print.
- You should always request a full disclosure of any toll pass program available and/or mandatory and request a clear breakdown of all charges– both from the toll authority, as well as the car rental company.
- Your GPS can most likely be set to avoid toll roads.
Although we’re getting closer to having one nationwide toll transponder that works everywhere,we’re not there yet. Until then, we’re often at the mercy of the car rental company and how they handle tolls.
Here are the majority of the major, U.S.-based nationwide car rental companies and their policies about tolls.
Major Rental Car Companies & Their Toll Policies
Alamo
Alamo uses HTA TollPass and, as per their website, the car rental program is offered in different ways, depending on where you rent.
- Northeast United States
- Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Golden Gate Bridge and Northern California Bay Area
- Southern California
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Colorado, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington State, Puerto Rico, and Ontario, Canada
Avis
Avis uses the e-Toll program. Avis e-Toll is offered in the Northeast (from Maine to North Carolina), California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Puerto Rico and prices vary per state/territory (see Avis e-Toll link).
Budget
Budget uses the e-Toll program. Budget e-Toll is offered in the Northeast (from Maine to North Carolina), California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Puerto Rico and prices vary per state/territory (see Budget e-Toll link).
Dollar Car Rental
Dollar uses Plate Pass Automated Toll Payment in 25 states (here’s a full list of highways).
The charge for Plate Pass used to be on their website, but is no longer found; it’s only described as a “low daily rate”. You must opt-in or decline this service at the time of reservation or at the rental counter. If you decline the optional PlatePass All-Inclusive service at the start of the rental period, but still use electronic toll roads and/or bridges during the rental period (including “cashless” or “all electronic” toll roads and bridges, as noted above), you will be liable for and we will charge you: (a) all tolls incurred for such use (at the highest, undiscounted applicable toll rate); (b) a $9.99 usage day fee; and (c) all other applicable toll charges or fees, if any.
Enterprise
Enterprise uses TollPass and, as per their website, the car rental program is offered in different ways, depending on where you rent.
- Northeast United States
- Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Golden Gate Bridge and Northern California Bay Area
- Southern California
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Colorado, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington State, Puerto Rico, and Ontario, Canada
Fox Rental Car
Fox uses PlatePass, at a cost of $13.50 per rental day.
From their website: If a customer declines PlatePass at the counter, but uses an all-electronic tollway at any time during the rental without using their own transponder, paying cash, making a payment directly to the toll authority (if available) or purchasing PlatePass upon return, they will be charged an administrative fee of $15 per toll event, plus the cost of each toll at the toll authority’s highest undiscounted rate ($90 maximum administrative fee per rental agreement).
Hertz Car Rental
Hertz uses Plate Pass Automated Toll Payment. You’re charged for the transponder on a daily basis, on top of the actual tolls you have to pay. Your opt-in decision is made when you elect to use an electronic-only lane – it’s billed automatically to all drivers who use an eligible cashless toll road, and they charge you every day of your rental, whether you use a toll road each day or not.
National
National uses HTA TollPass and, as per their website, the car rental program is offered in different ways, depending on where you rent.
- Northeast United States
- Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Golden Gate Bridge and Northern California Bay Area
- Southern California
- Colorado, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington State, Puerto Rico, and Ontario, Canada
- Louisville, KY
You can avoid the convenience fee and any other charges by paying the toll in cash, using your electronic toll device, or avoiding any cashless toll road or passage.
Note: For nearly all rental car companies, the price of the toll transponder usage varies from state to state. Hertz actually lowered the price of TollPass usage for their Emerald Club members in some states in early 2018 ;-).
Payless Car Rental
Payless uses the e-Toll program. As per their website, Payless e-Toll is offered in the Northeast (from Maine to North Carolina), California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Puerto Rico. Go to this page of their website for specifics.
Rent-A-Wreck of America, Inc.
Many Rent-A-Wreck locations offer electronic toll transponder devices for use during the rental for an additional daily charge. A toll transponder allows the driver to use all electronic lanes on all the toll roads in that region, as applicable; and, as many times a day as necessary. If you decline to rent the toll transponder, you will pay Rent-A-Wreck for all unpaid toll road violations (including violations captured by camera) charged by the toll authority plus up to a $50.00 administrative fee per violation. If you have a personal transponder or account, it may not transfer to the rental vehicle and you may be charged a toll violation by the toll authority. Please be advised that some toll roads are managed electronically and have no manned booths for cash payment.
So they’ll rent you a transponder, but they don’t tell you how much it will be? Hmmm… Anyway, call 1-888-898-0808 to reach Rent-A-Wreck’s Customer Service.
Sixt
Sixt has their own Sixt Express Toll Service program and a huge explanation for each toll in each state they cover, but no actual price on their website, short of “fees.” We used Sixt for the first time when we were in Texas a few years ago, but had no tolls to go through, so we didn’t sign up for the program. PROCEED WITH CAUTION, READ ALL OF THE FINE PRINT and MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR TOLLS before accepting a rental car with Sixt Rent A Car.
Thrifty Car Rental
Thrifty uses Plate Pass Automated Toll Payment. The charge for Plate Pass used to be on their website, but is no longer found; it’s only described as a “low daily rate”. If you decline the optional PlatePass All-Inclusive service at the start of the rental period, but still use electronic toll roads and/or bridges during the rental period (including “cashless” or “all electronic” toll roads and bridges, as noted above), you will be liable for and we will charge you: (a) all tolls incurred for such use (at the highest, undiscounted applicable toll rate); (b) a $9.99 usage day fee; and (c) all other applicable toll charges or fees, if any.”
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