ORLANDO, Fla. – Tired of paying your rental car company an extra $5 or even $10 per day just for the privilege of using the company’s toll transponder? And that’s on top of the cost of the tolls themselves.
You do have another option: paying only what Central Floridians pay with zero extra fees.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority calls it Visitor Toll Pass.
The Expressway Authority initially launched the Visitor Toll Pass program in just one MCO terminal but it has been so successful that the Authority said it expanded to all three terminals.
The Expressway Authority estimates a trip from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Disney World using toll roads State Road 417 or State Road 528 can cost more than $6 in tolls.
Rental car companies contract with a third party toll collector that places a toll transponder inside the car, which pays the toll immediately. The rental car company then bills the renter for the use of the transponder per day in addition to the cost of the tolls.
A week’s stay at Disney World can cost a visitor $75 in toll charges and additional fees using the car rental company’s option.
Using the Visitor Toll Pass, a car rental customer would pay only the toll charges.
Here’s how it works:
- Download the Visitor Toll Pass app on your cell phone and link a credit card. You’ll be charged $10 in advance for the first few tolls. If you don’t use all $10 during your visit, you’ll be refunded the difference.
- Visit a Visitor Toll Pass vending machine in MCO’s Terminal A, B or C.
- Scan the QR code provided in the app at one of the six vending machines near the car rental counters on Level 1 in Terminals A and B or on Level 4 in Terminal C.
- The machine will release a toll tag for you to hang on the rearview mirror of your rental car.
Make sure to go back to the app and enter the license plate of your rental car. And make sure to decline the use of the rental car company’s toll transponder or you may be double-charged!
That’s it! Drive around Central Florida’s toll roads freely while your toll tag pays your tolls using your linked credit card.
When you’re done, drop off the toll tag at a vending machine in any MCO terminal or a drop box. If you don’t return it, you’ll be charged $10.
Another option for rental car customers would be to purchase your own toll transponder and use it in your rental car.
An E-Z Pass toll transponder, commonly used in the northeastern U.S., works on many Florida roads.
Or you can purchase a SunPass toll transponder at all Florida Turnpike Service Stations and in many local stores.
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