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    Rental Cars and Tolls : How to Handle Rental Car Tolls

    When you rent a car, it’s often in a place where you are unfamiliar with the roads. You’re also likely to be on a schedule and need to find the fastest way to your destination, so you rely on navigation systems to guide your route. This means that many drivers find themselves inadvertently on a toll road, paying toll fees or even fines. While it might take a little bit of extra preparation time, here are some ways you can avoid high toll road costs.

    • Set the navigational app on your phone to show you toll roads on your routes: this will help you to choose how you can avoid those roads altogether, and the time difference if you take an alternate route. If you do decide you need to take the faster option, a quick web search should tell you the approximate fees for that portion of the route. There are also many physical signs pointing out that a road is a toll road, so you should have adequate time to change lanes or roads if you do not wish to incur the fees. 
Toll road rates can change significantly depending on the time of day and how much of the road you use, so plan accordingly.  A round-trip can cost you $12-18 during peak times on high-traffic roads. 
    • Inquire about payment options for tolls you incur: some toll roads in the U.S. still allow for payment before you use the road, but many offer per-use options. You can set up an account both before/after to make that payment online but there are time limits. If you do not pay it within the time limit (seven days in many cases) you will possibly incur high penalties by the city/state. Keep in mind: if you set this up for a rental car, be sure to remove the car/license plate from your account after you make the payment so the system doesn’t recognize you as the owner/drive in the future. Most places require a credit card to make this payment online.
    • Read the fine print on your rental car agreement: not all rental cars are equipped with toll road equipment, so they will cost the driver any typical fees, and if you don’t pay them, it could result in administrative fees with your rental car agency. Some do offer toll road passes/equipment you can rent on a daily basis, so inquire with your rental agent. As the renter, it is your responsibility to read the renter FAQs on the website, any applicable policies and your rental agreement. If you use a toll road in your rental car, the rental agency will get a notification and depending on how the rental company handles it, you will hear either from the toll road agency, the rental car agency, or their third-party toll road service, with your bill and any additional fees. It is advisable to not ignore the fees you incur and handle them promptly or they can end up costing you more money. 
    • Toll roads can be convenient but they can also be busy, so they aren’t necessarily the easiest way to get somewhere. In California, it is recommended to avoid the FasTrak lanes entirely, as those are not the same as toll roads. Violating that rule can be costly, and other states have this same type of system.  
    • Fox Rent A Car does offer a toll road option called PlatePass. You can learn more about that program at their website by clicking that link. It explains the associated fees, payment to avoid those fees and what our program offers.

    Wherever you rent and/or drive, inquire with your rental counter agency or call the customer service number to ask further questions about toll roads. Travel safely!