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Rental Cars and Tolls: Navigating Florida
Navigating a rental car on unfamiliar roads can be intimidating as it is, but in some locations on top of that, you get toll roads thrown in the mix. Most renters are looking for the fastest way to their destination and in doing so, occasionally inadvertently find themselves on a toll road. Florida is home to a variety of expressways requiring toll payments to get you to your destination quickly.
While some tollways still accept cash in a limited capacity, most paid-access roads in Florida work off of electronic payments in one of two forms: SunPass (Florida’s prepaid toll program) or Toll-By-Plate. However, how does this work in a rental vehicle?
First and foremost, it’s important to read and understand the fine print of your rental car agreement. Not all rental cars are equipped with toll road equipment (i.e. a SunPass system), 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. 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.
In 2024, the Central Florida Expressway Authority unveiled a free temporary toll pass available to roundtrip travelers who rent cars at the Orlando International Airport, allowing drivers to pay for toll road access like locals. The Visitor Toll Pass is a toll hangtag placed on a rental vehicle’s rearview mirror and is used to pay tolls electronically while travelling on any toll road throughout Florida. The Visitor Toll Pass can be picked up and returned at the Orlando International Airport after making a free reservation through the Visitor Toll Pass app, available for download on smartphones via Google Play and Apple App Store.
Regardless of whichever system you plan to use to navigate Florida’s toll roads — SunPass, Toll-By-Plate or PlatePass — it’s most important to plan before you go. Make sure to map your travel routes and make a rough budget for tolls, allowing you to compare costs of passes versus pay-as-you-go options.
Wherever you rent and/or drive, don’t leave the end of your trip a surprise and inquire with your rental counter agency or call the customer service number to ask further questions about toll roads prior to beginning your journey. And as always, travel safely!