You’ve meticulously planned every aspect of your trip, from booking flights and accommodations to securing a fantastic deal on a rental car. You even smartly declined the rental company’s insurance, knowing your credit card provides primary coverage. Returning the car, you refueled it diligently to avoid extra charges and ensured it was free of damage. You breathe a sigh of relief, thinking your car rental journey is complete.
Then, weeks later, a perplexing charge appears on your credit card statement – tolls from the rental car company. This unexpected post-trip toll charge is a common frustration for many renters. Understanding how tolls work with rental cars and knowing your payment options before you even get behind the wheel is crucial to avoid these surprise expenses.
This guide, crafted by the auto experts at cars.edu.vn, will delve into the intricacies of rental car tolls. We’ll break down the toll policies of major rental companies and equip you with actionable strategies to navigate toll roads smartly and economically in your rental vehicle.
Navigating toll roads can be simplified with electronic toll collection systems like E-ZPass, but understanding how these systems interact with rental cars is essential.
Understanding the Basics of Rental Car Toll Systems
Most modern rental cars are equipped with an electronic toll transponder, typically mounted near the rearview mirror on the windshield. This transponder is designed to automatically register tolls when you pass through electronic toll collection points, such as E-ZPass or similar systems across the country. These systems allow for seamless travel through toll plazas without stopping to pay cash.
However, the convenience of these systems comes with a layer of complexity when dealing with rental cars. Toll authorities often take time to process toll data and notify rental car companies of incurred charges. This delay means you might not see toll charges immediately. It can take weeks, or even months, for the toll road operators to inform the rental company, and for the rental company to then bill you.
When you rent a vehicle, you’re essentially agreeing to the rental company’s toll policies, whether you’re fully aware of them or not. Many companies offer enrollment in a toll payment program at the time of booking or pick-up. If you opt into one of these programs, you’re authorizing the rental company to handle toll payments on your behalf and bill you accordingly.
It’s imperative to familiarize yourself with the specific toll policies of your chosen rental car company before you finalize your rental agreement. Policies vary significantly between companies, and understanding these differences can save you money and prevent unexpected charges. Let’s examine the toll handling procedures of some of the leading rental car companies in the US.
Decoding Toll Policies of Major Rental Car Companies
Each major rental car company—Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, and Sixt—has its own unique approach to toll collection and billing. Understanding these distinct policies is key to managing your toll expenses effectively.
Avis Toll Options: e-Toll and e-Toll Unlimited
Avis provides two primary toll programs for renters in the United States: Avis e-Toll and Avis e-Toll Unlimited.
-
Avis e-Toll: This is a direct toll billing program. Avis activates the vehicle’s transponder, and you are billed for the actual tolls incurred. In addition to the toll amount, Avis charges a daily convenience fee of $6.95 for each day you use a toll road. While this fee is capped at $34.75 per rental month, it’s important to note that you will be charged the highest, undiscounted toll rates, not the reduced rates often offered to electronic toll pass holders. Avis e-Toll coverage spans a wide region, including the Northeast (Maine to North Carolina), California, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Puerto Rico, and the Chicago metropolitan area.
-
Avis e-Toll Unlimited: This program offers a daily flat fee, regardless of whether you actually use any toll roads on a given day. The convenience fee for this unlimited plan varies depending on the rental location and tolling region. The key benefit is predictability – you know the daily cost upfront, and you won’t receive separate toll charges after your rental period ends.
Hertz PlatePass allows for cashless toll payments, but renters need to be aware of the associated fees and opt-in procedures.
Hertz PlatePass: All-Inclusive Tolling
Hertz offers a program similar to Avis’ unlimited option, called Hertz PlatePass All-Inclusive Tolling. This program also involves a daily fee, approximately $18.99, providing unlimited toll usage within covered areas.
If you decline Hertz PlatePass but still use toll roads, you’ll automatically be enrolled in their standard toll service. This incurs a daily convenience fee of $9.99, in addition to the undiscounted toll charges themselves. PlatePass availability extends to 25 states, but it’s not universally available at all Hertz rental locations, so confirm availability at your rental location.
Enterprise TollPass Service
Enterprise, the world’s largest rental car company, utilizes a direct billing approach for tolls, coupled with a convenience fee. The specifics of their TollPass Service fees vary depending on the state where you rent and whether the rental location is at an airport or not. Their TollPass Coverage Map is a valuable tool to check applicability for your travel route.
Daily convenience fees typically range from $3.95 to $4.95, capped at $30 per rental period. However, renters in Chicago face higher charges. Airport and select downtown Chicago locations may charge up to $11.99 daily, while most non-airport Chicago locations charge $10.99 daily. These fees are in addition to the actual toll costs.
Sixt Express Tolls Unlimited
Sixt, a growing presence in the US rental car market, provides a prepaid toll program called Express Tolls Unlimited. This is an unlimited toll plan priced at $12.99 per day. Like its competitors’ unlimited programs, Sixt charges this daily fee for each rental day, regardless of your actual toll usage.
If you choose not to opt into Express Tolls Unlimited and use toll roads, Sixt will bill you for the actual tolls plus an administrative fee of $9.99 for each day you use a toll road, up to a maximum of $90 per rental agreement.
Smart Strategies to Save Money on Rental Car Tolls
Now that you understand how toll systems operate with rental cars and the policies of major rental companies, let’s explore practical ways to minimize your toll expenses when driving a rental vehicle.
1. Bring Your Own Transponder (BYOT)
One of the most effective ways to save on rental car tolls is to use your personal toll transponder, if you have one. If you already own an E-ZPass, FasTrak, or similar transponder for your personal vehicle, you can often use it in your rental car.
By using your own transponder, you bypass the rental company’s daily convenience fees and gain access to discounted toll rates associated with your personal account. Simply remove the transponder from your car and attach it to the rental car’s windshield, near the rearview mirror, ensuring it’s below any window tinting.
Crucially, you must ensure the rental car’s built-in transponder is covered or deactivated. Most rental car transponders have a sliding cover for this purpose. This prevents double billing and ensures your personal transponder is read at toll plazas.
Furthermore, it’s essential to log into your transponder account online and add the rental car’s license plate information to your account for the duration of your rental period. This step prevents potential toll violations. Remember to remove the rental car from your account once your rental period ends to avoid future charges.
If you don’t currently have a transponder, consider acquiring one before your trip, especially if you frequently travel in toll road areas. Transponders can often be purchased online or at participating retail locations. Verify that your transponder is compatible with the toll systems in the states you plan to visit (e.g., E-ZPass is widely accepted in the Eastern US).
2. Pay with Cash (When Possible)
Paying tolls in cash is another way to avoid rental car company fees. However, the prevalence of cash tollbooths is diminishing as many states transition to cashless tolling systems.
Before your trip, research your planned route to determine if cash payment is accepted on the toll roads you’ll be using. If cash is an option, and you prefer this method, ensure the rental car’s transponder is covered to prevent unintended electronic toll collection.
While less common, paying tolls with cash can sometimes be an option to avoid rental car toll program fees, but check for cash acceptance on your route.
3. Evaluate the Unlimited Toll Option Strategically
If you anticipate extensive travel on toll roads during your rental, carefully assess whether the rental company’s unlimited toll option is cost-effective.
Utilize online tools like Google Maps or state-specific toll calculators to estimate the total toll costs for your planned journeys. Google Maps conveniently identifies toll roads and provides estimated toll amounts for your routes.
Compare the estimated toll costs to the daily fee of the rental company’s unlimited toll program multiplied by the number of rental days. Remember, unlimited programs charge a daily fee for every rental day, regardless of actual toll usage.
Unlimited programs can be advantageous for short rentals with significant toll road usage, such as one-way trips through toll-heavy regions. However, for longer rentals or trips with limited toll road exposure, the daily unlimited fee might exceed the actual tolls you would incur.
4. Opt for Toll-Free Routes
Whenever feasible, choose routes that avoid toll roads altogether. Navigation apps like Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps allow you to set preferences to avoid toll roads when generating directions.
While toll-free routes can save money, they may also add time to your journey or lead you through more congested areas, potentially increasing fuel consumption and overall travel time. Weigh the time savings of toll roads against the potential cost savings and time implications of toll-free alternatives.
Conclusion: Plan Ahead for Tolls to Travel Smart
Unexpected toll charges from rental car companies can be a frustrating post-trip surprise. By understanding how tolls work with rental cars, familiarizing yourself with rental company policies, and employing smart strategies like bringing your own transponder or strategically evaluating unlimited toll options, you can effectively manage your toll expenses.
The key takeaway is proactive planning. Before you embark on your rental car journey, research toll options, assess your anticipated toll road usage, and choose the most economical approach for your specific travel needs. This preparation will not only save you money but also ensure a smoother, more predictable rental car experience.
Prices noted in this article were accurate at the time of original publication.
