Can I pay cash at toll spots from MCO the gulf?

[donnaval]

We had an abrupt change in plans and have to fly into Orlando. It's been awhile since we used that airport. I recall a number of toll booths from the airport heading west. Don't want to spend the extra time avoiding the tolls, but also don't want to pay the ridiculous daily transponder fee from the car rental company since we anticipate only using toll roads right around the airport. So many of the toll booths have been converting from cash accepted to electronic tolling only - has anyone recently gone from the airport heading west and been able to pay cash? Appreciate any info. (Too late to pre-order a transponder that will work in Florida)

 

[Talent312]

The Beachline (SR 528) which runs E/W just N. of the airport has cash lanes on the side.
At several toll plazas, however, you need eggsact change. Bring two rolls of quarters.

Instead, you could go N. on Semoran Blvd. (SR 436) a few blocks to Walgreens pharmacy
and buy a SunPass there (it works as E-Pass). Set up & fund an account with your phone.

To avoid activating your rental car's transponder, you may have to physically remove it
from the windshield. I found one in the glove box of a car I rented there.

.

 

[donnaval]

Thanks Talent!

 

[AnnieBets]

I saw no cash lanes last trip to Orlando. They’ve gone to bill by plate so bill would go to rental car company. Suspect you’d then get hit with administration fees from rental car company.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

It will certainly be nice when the EZ Pass will be accepted on all the roads in the USA. Stay tuned as it actually may be happening within a few years.......

Keep your fingers crossed. As of early 2020 there was discussion of getting this done by 2022 but I am sure Covid issues has pushed this out a bit.




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[BingoBangoBongo]

If you do buy a SunPass, be aware that there are two models. The SunPass Mini ($4.99) cannot be removed from the windshield once it is attached. The SunPass Portable ($19.99) can be moved from car to car.

Once I left my Portable in a rental car at TPA and realized it after I went through security. I had time before my flight left and the National Rep brought out a box with a dozen or so units. I could open the app and find the serial number of my transponder and was able to get it back.

https://www.sunpass.com/en/about/sunPassTransponders.shtml

 

[Passepartout]

It will certainly be nice when the EZ Pass will be accepted on all the roads in the USA. Stay tuned as it actually may be happening within a few years.......

Be a heckuva LOT better if they were satisfied to take the amount they are paid from fuel taxes and blow the toll booths to smithereens!

 

[dioxide45]

The Beachline (SR 528) which runs E/W just N. of the airport has cash lanes on the side.
At several toll plazas, however, you need eggsact change. Bring two rolls of quarters.

Instead, you could go N. on Semoran Blvd. (SR 436) a few blocks to Walgreens pharmacy
and buy a SunPass there (it works as E-Pass). Set up & fund an account with your phone.

To avoid activating your rental car's transponder, you may have to physically remove it
from the windshield. I found one in the glove box of a car I rented there.

View attachment 32526
.

This is a photo of a toll booth you would normally see at an exit off of 417, not Beachline. All of the toll booths along 528 Beachline have cash lanes that also provide change.

 

[dioxide45]

If you do buy a SunPass, be aware that there are two models. The SunPass Mini ($4.99) cannot be removed from the windshield once it is attached. The SunPass Portable ($19.99) can be moved from car to car.

The mini can be removed, it just destroys the sticker/transponder

 

[moonstone]

We have driven out of MCO and headed to Tampa or other points west (or east) many times without going on any toll roads. We set our GPS to avoid tolls and fastest route and follow the directions. From MCO you should go north to Cargo Road which loops around and becomes Bear Road then onto Tradeport Dr. and under the 528. A quick left (immediately past the bridge) onto McCoy which eventually turns into W Sandlake Rd and across there to I-4. Yes there are traffic lights but there is also lots of places to stop for lunch/dinner and get gas if you need it, but its all toll-free driving.
We have been to the Orlando/Kissimmee area many times, often for over a week at a time and have never driven on a toll road. It is possible!

~Diane

 

[CPNY]

I ordered a portable sun pass online and they sent it to my home in NYC. It can go from car to car. It will be perfect when I go to Florida and rent a car. You may want to do the same.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Be a heckuva LOT better if they were satisfied to take the amount they are paid from fuel taxes and blow the toll booths to smithereens!

I agree, however most of these toll roads being build today are privately funded and don't benefit from the revenue stream of gasoline taxes......


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[Talent312]

That was a photo of a toll booth you would normally see at an exit off of 417, not Beachline.

It was a Google street-view photo of the SR 528 (Beachline) exit for Conway Rd. dated March 2020.

Below is a Google street-view photo of a W-bound toll plaza on SR 528 (Beachline) btw
MCO & Florida Turnpike, dated February 2020. There's one similar on the E-bound side.

 

[gnipgnop]

CPNY: Would you mind telling me what you paid for the portable Sun Pass you ordered online? And how long did it take to receive it. What is the web site? Thank you in advance.

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

CPNY: Would you mind telling me what you paid for the portable Sun Pass you ordered online? And how long did it take to receive it. What is the web site? Thank you in advance.

You can order one here: https://www.sunpass.com/en/signup/transponderclassify.shtml

 

[bnoble]

I bought what is now called the Uni from CFX. It works pretty much everywhere east of the Mississippi, excepting Alabama and maybe a few odd bridges here and there. The transponder can be moved from car to car. I typically rent from National which does not use transponders, but toll-by-plate, so there is nothing to make sure to remove before putting mine in.

CFX

The Central Florida Expressway Authority is responsible for construction, maintenance and operation of toll roads in four counties of Greater Orlando.

www.cfxway.com

 

[Firepath]

Alamo has the toll pass included. You can call them to verify. We always rent from Alamo for that reason. We don't want the hassle. This way, we just drive through.

 

[dioxide45]

It was a Google street-view photo of the SR 528 (Beachline) exit for Conway Rd. dated March 2020.

Below is a Google street-view photo of an W-bound toll plaza on SR 528 (Beachline) btw
MCO & Florida Turnpike, dated February 2020. There's one similar on the E-bound side.
View attachment 32537

That looks more like the tolls plazas I am used to seeing on 528. In fact, I think that may be the only toll plaza between MCO and Tampa if you go Beachline to I4 and don't take an exit. That plaza (along with others on the 528 route) has attendants where they can also provide change. Only exits bay be exact change only and some exits may also be EPass/Sunpass only.

 

[CPNY]

CPNY: Would you mind telling me what you paid for the portable Sun Pass you ordered online? And how long did it take to receive it. What is the web site? Thank you in advance.

I purchased the 19 dollar transponder that is portable. It can go from car to car. That works for me since I tend to go to Orlando and rent cars when I go. If I were driving my own car, I’d stop at a 7-11 or Walgreens and buy the sunpass miniver 4.99. You’ll need to create an account and add money on it.

 

[bnoble]

Alamo has the toll pass included. You can call them to verify. We always rent from Alamo for that reason. We don't want the hassle. This way, we just drive through.

There is a convenience charge for this for Florida rentals, but it's inexpensive. $4/day you use toll-by-plate, with a cap of $20 per rental. National does the same thing.

 

[frank808]

I ordered a portable sun pass online and they sent it to my home in NYC. It can go from car to car. It will be perfect when I go to Florida and rent a car. You may want to do the same.

Have done this for the past 8+ years. I am still surprised that the portable transponder is still working after all these years. I still login to sunpass.com and add the license plate to my account when picking up vehicle. That way if sunpass did not pick up the transponder, the pic of the license plate gets billed to my account. In all the years it has worked except one time and the rental car company tried to bill me. Found the time stamp that corresponds to my "offense" and emailed rental car company copy verifying that toll was paid from my account.

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

Have done this for the past 8+ years. I am still surprised that the portable transponder is still working after all these years. I still login to sunpass.com and add the license plate to my account when picking up vehicle. That way if sunpass did not pick up the transponder, the pic of the license plate gets billed to my account. In all the years it has worked except one time and the rental car company tried to bill me. Found the time stamp that corresponds to my "offense" and emailed rental car company copy verifying that toll was paid from my account.

Same here. I like that you can set an end time for the plate to be valid on your account too. I also set a reminder on my phone to remove the transponder from the windshield a few hours before I'm due to drop the car off.

 

[PigsDad]

I also set a reminder on my phone to remove the transponder from the windshield a few hours before I'm due to drop the car off.

That's a great idea! More than once have I left something, like a cable, charger, etc., in the rental when returning it. I haven't forgotten the transponder -- yet.

Kurt

 

[Firepath]

There is a convenience charge for this for Florida rentals, but it's inexpensive. $4/day you use toll-by-plate, with a cap of $20 per rental. National does the same thing.

I think you are correct, there is a minimal convenience fee, but Alamo is different in that they only charge it once, it's not per day.

 

[dioxide45]

I think you are correct, there is a minimal convenience fee, but Alamo is different in that they only charge it once, it's not per day.

Alamo charges it per day in Florida, but only on days you actually incur a toll;

How do I pay for this service?

The debit or credit card on file with your rental will be charged for the following items:

• TollPass Convenience Charge
  $3.95 per usage day, not to exceed $19.75 per rental period. There is no TollPass Convenience Charge on rental days that you don't use a toll road.
• Toll Charges
  Actual toll charges* incurred during your rental period.

Other State Toll Options

Learn more about which areas in the United States and Canada have toll roads. Alamo Rent A Car offers TollPass for easy driving.

www.alamo.com