Tolls in a Rental: Cashless, E‑ZPass & Plate‑by‑Mail

Updated October 2025 Added latest toll program fees (Avis, Hertz, etc.), cashless toll expansions, and tips for Canada/Mexico.

Meta Description: Planning to hit the road in a rental? From E‑ZPass and SunPass to Plate-by-Mail, discover how to navigate cashless toll systems across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico without surprise fees or headaches.

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TL;DR: Renting a car? Bring your own toll transponder or be ready for rental company toll programs. Most U.S. toll roads are cashless (E‑ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, etc.) or bill your license plate by mail. In Canada, a few routes like Ontario’s 407 ETR and Quebec’s A25/A30 use electronic tolling; in Mexico, many cuota highways have cash booths, but some require an IAVE tag. Always plan your route, calculate tolls in advance, and understand your rental agency’s toll fee policy to avoid hefty surprise charges later.

Disclaimer: This guide offers general information on toll systems and rental cars. Toll rates and policies can change, and rental company fees vary. Always confirm current toll rules and your rental agreement’s terms.

The Surprise Toll Bill Scenario (Why It Matters)

Imagine you’ve done everything right on your trip: you declined the pricey rental insurance (your credit card has you covered), dutifully refueled before return, and avoided damage fees. Trip over, right? Not so fast a month later, a surprise charge for tolls hits your credit card. This unwelcome “gotcha” is common. Rental car toll charges often arrive weeks after you drop off the car, once toll agencies send their bill to the rental company and the rental company then bills you.

Why the surprise? Many toll roads no longer accept cash, and if you drive through an automated toll scanner, it will bill the car’s license plate. The bill first goes to the vehicle owner (the rental agency), which pays it then passes the cost plus service fees on to you. If you’re not prepared, those admin fees can dwarf the tolls themselves. Knowing how toll systems work and what your options are (from rental transponders to personal tags to old-fashioned cash) can save you a lot of money and headaches.

In this guide, we’ll explain how major U.S. toll networks (E‑ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, etc.) operate and how they affect rental car drivers. We’ll also cover Canada’s toll highways (like the 407 ETR in Ontario and A25/A30 in Quebec) and Mexico’s cuota roads and tag systems. Crucially, we’ll dig into rental agency toll programs how they bill you, what they charge, daily caps, and common complaints and “Plate-by-Mail” programs that bill your license plate. Finally, we’ll give tips to avoid extra fees, like bringing your own tag or planning routes, and address whether your credit card can help cover toll costs.

(Real-world example: A traveler in Toronto saved 20 minutes by taking the 407 ETR toll highway in a rental and was billed about $30 total, comprising a $16 toll plus a $14 Hertz admin fee two months later. With the right knowledge, you can decide if those 20 minutes are worth $30, or choose a free route!)

Navigating U.S. Cashless Toll Systems in a Rental

Toll roads are everywhere: 38 of the 50 U.S. states have some form of toll roads, bridges, or tunnels. Many of the longest toll networks are in Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Illinois places you might be renting a car for a road trip or business. In toll-heavy metros like New York City, Miami, Chicago, and Boston, it’s almost impossible to avoid tolls, so it pays to know how to handle them.

Electronic transponders are the norm. Across the U.S., most toll facilities use electronic toll collection. The major systems are usually regional:

• E‑ZPass: A transponder system used in 19 states across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. If you drive a rental car on I-95 from Maine to Florida, you’ll see E‑ZPass lanes everywhere. E‑ZPass users typically get the cheapest rates sometimes up to 50% less than paying by mail. (Example: On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, E‑ZPass tolls are about half the Toll-By-Plate rate.) E‑ZPass has largely replaced cash in these states.
• SunPass: Florida’s statewide toll system. Florida has more toll miles than any other state, especially around Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. SunPass transponders save about 25% compared to Toll-by-Plate bills. In fact, Florida adds a $2.50 monthly administrative fee for billing by platenorthescambia.com. (Florida’s Toll-By-Plate program will mail a bill to the car’s owner if no SunPass is detectednorthescambia.com.) Good news: Florida’s SunPass Pro has been made compatible with the E‑ZPass network, so a single SunPass Pro transponder works in 19+ states now.
• FasTrak: California’s electronic toll system. All toll bridges in the Bay Area and express lanes in Southern California use FasTrak. Cash toll booths are history in California you either use FasTrak or they photo your plate and bill you (called Pay by Mail in CA). If you rent a car in California (L.A., San Francisco, etc.), ask if it’s FasTrak-equipped. Otherwise, you can pay online after using a toll road to avoid the rental company’s fees (California offers a one-time online payment option for tolls if you do it within a few days of driving).
• Texas Tags: Texas has several systems TxTag (statewide), TollTag (Dallas area), and EZ Tag (Houston area). The good news is they’re interoperable within Texas. Many Texas tollways are now cashless, especially around Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston. If you drive a rental in Texas without a tag, cameras will bill the plate (often called ZipCash or Pay By Mail depending on agency) at a higher toll rate. Rental companies will then charge you the toll plus a fee. It’s wise to ask your rental agency in Texas if they offer a toll tag or if you should use your own. Fun fact: Texas is also interoperable with Oklahoma’s PikePass and Kansas’s K-Tag. If you’re on a multi-state trip in that region, one tag can cover several states.
• Peach Pass & Others: In Georgia, the Peach Pass lets you use the Atlanta area express lanes and some toll bridges. It’s not yet part of E‑ZPass, but Georgia’s Peach Pass does work in Florida and North Carolina. Other states have their own passes (e.g., Illinois I-Pass which is actually E‑ZPass compatible, Massachusetts E-ZPass MA, Colorado ExpressToll, etc.). The names differ but the concept is the same you prepay tolls via a transponder.

Cashless tolling trend: Nearly all new toll roads use cashless systems, and older ones are phasing out booths. This means as a renter, you often cannot pay cash even if you want to. You either need a transponder or you’ll get billed by plate. For example, Massachusetts eliminated cash tolls entirely you either have an E-ZPass or you get a Pay-by-Plate MA bill. Houston and Denver have express lanes with no cash option. Even iconic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco stopped taking cash years ago. Always assume the rental car’s license plate will be photographed if you drive through a toll plaza without paying on the spot.

What this means for you: If your rental car passes through an electronic toll reader, one of two things happens either the car’s built-in transponder pays it, or the toll agency bills the plate via mail. In both cases, the charge eventually lands on your credit card. The difference is cost: using a transponder (your own or the rental’s) usually gets you the lowest toll rate, while Plate-by-Mail often costs more per toll plus triggers a rental company administrative fee.

Canada’s Toll Systems: 407 ETR, A25, and Bridge Fees

Compared to the U.S., Canada has fewer toll roads but the ones it has are important to know if you’re renting a car there:

• Ontario 407 ETR and friends: Highway 407 ETR in Ontario (near Toronto) is one of the most famous toll roads in North America. It’s a completely cashless, open-road toll highway that uses license plate cameras and transponders. There are no toll booths at all. If you drive a rental car on the 407 without a transponder, the toll system will log the plate and bill the rental company, who will then charge you toll + hefty admin fees. The toll charges on 407 are distance-based and can be quite expensive often around CAD $0.50 per kilometer depending on time of day. There’s also a camera charge (~$5 CAD) for each trip without a transponder, plus a monthly account fee of $4.75 if no transponder is used. All of that will be passed to you. Example: A traveler reported a one-time 407 trip cost $16 in tolls and Hertz added a $14 admin fee, totaling $30 for that single use. Ouch. Unless you absolutely need the 407 ETR to save time, locals often advise avoiding it in a rental car (free alternatives like Highway 401/QEW exist, and are usually only a bit slower).
• Tip: If you know you’ll use 407 ETR frequently, consider buying a temporary transponder. 407 ETR offers transponder leases (about $4.75/month). Some rental agencies in Ontario may offer a 407 transponder or program ask ahead. Otherwise, be prepared for the bill down the line (it can take several weeks for 407 charges to post).
• Quebec A25 and A30: Montreal has two toll routes of note the A25 bridge/tunnel (connecting Montreal with Laval via a tunnel under the Rivière des Prairies) and the A30 bypass south of Montreal (bridge over the St. Lawrence on A30). These use a mix of transponder (local brand) or license plate billing. If you don’t have a transponder (called Transponder A25/A30 or via the Quebec-specific system), they will photo your plate and mail the bill. If you’re in a rental, again the bill goes to the rental company first. The toll costs themselves on A25/A30 are moderate (a few dollars CAD), but expect an admin fee from the rental company. Montreal’s toll bridges do allow credit card payment at self-serve kiosks if you stop and manually pay shortly after crossing (for example, A25 has a website where you can pay by plate within 48 hours). It might be possible to pay online and prevent the rental company from being involved but you’d need to be proactive and have the details. Check the A25 or A30 official site for “pay by plate” options if you accidentally use those roads.
• Other Canadian tolls: Elsewhere in Canada, tolls are few. Nova Scotia has the Cobequid Pass (TCH Highway 104) with conventional toll booths (you can pay cash or card on the spot). New Brunswick charges tolls on the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island (pay when leaving PEI) you pay at the booth (credit cards accepted). British Columbia had a couple of toll bridges (like Port Mann Bridge), but those were removed (as of 2018, no more tolls in BC). So in Western Canada, you likely won’t encounter toll roads at all.

In summary, Canada’s electronic tolls are limited to a handful of places. If your travels keep you off the 407 and A25/A30, you might not deal with toll billing at all. But if you do plan to drive in the Toronto or Montreal areas with a rental, ask about toll policies. Some rental companies might offer a toll package in Ontario/Quebec, or they’ll simply forward the bill with an extra fee. Knowing this upfront can help you decide: maybe take the slightly slower free route, or budget for the toll convenience.

(Real-world scenario: If you’re picking up a van in Toronto to visit Niagara Falls, you might be tempted by the 407 ETR on your return to avoid QEW traffic. Before you do, consider that while you’ll save 20-30 minutes, it could cost you $30+ in tolls/fees. Alternatively, plan for a non-peak time or stick to the toll-free highway. On the flip side, if time is money and you’re okay with the charge, at least you’ll know what to expect on your credit card statement later.)

Mexican Toll Roads (“Cuotas”) and Rental Cars

If your travels take you to Mexico and you plan to rent a car, toll roads (autopistas de cuota) are something to factor in. Mexico has an extensive network of toll highways over 5,000 km nationwide connecting major cities and tourist regions. Here’s what to know:

• Toll booths (casetas) are common: Unlike the all-electronic systems up north, most Mexican toll roads still have manned booths where you stop and pay. You’ll receive a receipt (boleto) which is important because it usually includes insurance coverage for that stretch of road (keep them!). You must pay in Mexican pesos (cash) at most toll plazas. A few plazas near tourist areas or borders might take credit cards or USD, but don’t count on it. It’s wise to carry plenty of pesos in small denominations for tolls.
• Toll costs: Mexican tolls can be pricey for long distances. Typical toll rates might run MX$25–150 per segment (about $1.50 to $9 USD) depending on the road. A day’s worth of tolls on a common tourist route can total MX$200–500 ($12–30 USD). For example, driving from Mexico City to Acapulco, you might hit multiple toll booths totaling around MX$600 (~$35). A cross-country trip can easily rack up MX$1000+ ($50+). These roads are well-maintained, fast, and have services like the “Green Angels” patrol, which is one reason people use them despite the cost.
• IAVE and other tag systems: Mexico also has electronic toll collection. The main national tag is IAVE, which works on most toll roads operated by CAPUFE (the federal toll authority). There are also tags like PASE (for Mexico City’s urban toll roads, including the elevated segundo piso expressway), TeleVía, ViaPass, etc., which are specific to certain regions or private operators. If you’re renting a car in Mexico, ask if the car comes with an IAVE. Some rental companies might equip their vehicles with toll tags, especially in central Mexico or for business-class rentals. If so, clarify how you’ll be charged (likely the tolls will be charged to your card later, possibly with an extra fee). If the car has no tag, you’ll pay cash at booths as you go which actually might be simpler since you settle the toll on the spot and avoid later fees.
• Cashless toll segments: Be aware of a few electronic-only stretches. For example, Mexico City’s Anillo Periférico Norte (Segundo Piso) is an elevated urban toll road that does not accept cash or cards at booths it’s electronic tag only. Tourists unaware of this sometimes get stuck or fined. If you plan on driving in Mexico City, it might be worth obtaining a temporary tag (PASE) or avoiding that route. Another example: some newer urban express lanes in Monterrey or Guadalajara might use automatic billing. However, the vast majority of inter-city highways still have pay booths.
• Rental company charges: What if you blow through a toll without paying (e.g., accidentally take an IAVE-only lane without a tag)? There are usually barriers to prevent that on Mexican toll roads you generally can’t just run it; you’d be stopped if you didn’t pay. But say you somehow incurred a toll charge (or a fine) that the rental car company gets notified of. They will charge your card for the toll plus an admin fee, similar to the U.S.. Mexican toll agencies will hold the car owner liable for unpaid tolls, and rental agreements in Mexico typically state the renter is responsible for any tolls or tickets. Bottom line: pay tolls as you go and you should avoid surprise charges. Unlike the U.S., you won’t usually get a bill weeks later for tolls if you paid at each booth.
• Free roads (“libres”):Mexico mandates that a free alternative exists for every toll road. If you absolutely want to avoid tolls, you can take the libre roads. Just be warned, libres are often much slower they might wind through every village and get stuck behind trucks. For example, the libre road alongside the México-Puebla toll highway will add a couple of hours and lots of topes (speed bumps). In many cases, paying the cuota is worth it for safety and time. But if you’re on a budget and not in a rush, libres are an option. Just plan extra time (1-3 hours extra per leg in many cases).

(Real-world tip: If you’re renting a car in Cancun or Los Cabos for resort hopping, you’ll find most local roads are toll-free except maybe one or two stretches. But if you’re doing a big drive, say from Mexico City to Oaxaca, you’ll hit multiple tolls. Figure tolls into your trip budget a few hundred pesos here and there and carry cash. And don’t throw away toll receipts; aside from insurance coverage info, they’re proof you paid in case there’s any dispute.)

Rental Car Toll Programs: How Agencies Charge You

Major rental car companies have their own toll payment programs to streamline the process for renters but these conveniences come at a cost. It’s crucial to understand your rental agency’s policy before you drive through toll lanes.

Here’s a breakdown of how the big players handle tolls and what they charge (as of late 2024):

• Avis / Budget: Avis (and its sibling Budget) uses e-Toll. If you do nothing and drive through an electronic toll, you’ll be automatically opted into e-Toll. Avis e-Toll charges a $6.95 convenience fee per rental day only on the days you incur a toll, up to a maximum of $34.75 per rental month. On top of that, you pay the actual tolls. Important: The tolls are charged at the highest cash rate (no transponder discount). Avis offers an e-Toll Unlimited option as well typically around $10.99 to $25.99 per day (varies by location) as a flat fee, and then they don’t separately charge for tolls. That unlimited option can be pricey unless you’re hitting a lot of toll roads in one day. Budget’s fees are usually identical to Avis’s, since they are jointly owned around $6.95/day convenience fee capped at $35, or a flat daily package in some regions.
• Hertz / Dollar / Thrifty: Hertz uses a system called PlatePass. They actually have two models: Hertz offers an “All-Inclusive Tolling” daily package (which was about $18.99/day for unlimited toll use in 2024). If you don’t opt into that and you incur a toll, Hertz will charge a $9.99 fee for each rental day you use a toll (max $9.99 per day, not per toll) plus the toll itself at the higher cash rate. There’s no listed monthly cap, but since it’s per day of use, if you had tolls on 3 separate days, that’s 3 × $9.99 = $29.97 in fees. Dollar and Thrifty (Hertz’s subsidiaries) have similar programs; often their per-day fee is around $10 as well. They all use PlatePass as the backend. PlatePass is available in most states, but be aware not every Hertz location automatically equips cars sometimes there’s a switchable transponder in the car (often found near the windshield you slide it open to use). Always ask the counter or check the car: If there’s a transponder device and you plan not to use it (bringing your own or avoiding tolls), make sure it’s turned off or closed.
• Enterprise / National / Alamo: These sister companies use a program often referred to as TollPass. Enterprise’s model: a $3.95–$4.95 fee per day you use a toll, capped at about $30 per rental. That’s the typical rate in most states. However, watch out for local variations: in the Chicago area, for instance, Enterprise/National can charge $10.99–$11.99 per day for TollPass if your rental is from an airport or downtown Chicago location significantly higher than elsewhere. The fee is only charged on days you actually incur a toll. There’s usually no charge on days you don’t use a toll road. Once you incur one toll, you pay the daily fee for that day, plus all the tolls (again, at cash rates). The weekly cap (~$30) helps on longer rentals.
• Sixt: A newer player in the US market, Sixt has “Express Tolls Unlimited.” They offer an unlimited toll package for $12.99/day (flat fee every day of your rental, whether you hit tolls or not). If you decline that and then use a toll road, Sixt will charge the tolls plus an administrative fee of $9.99 for each day you had toll usage, capped at $90 per rental. So, one toll on one day = $9.99 fee, two toll days = $19.98, etc., up to $90 max.
• Other companies / regional: Smaller rental agencies or local ones may have simpler systems some just pass on the toll and add, say, a $15 one-time processing fee. Others might partner with third-party billing services. Always read the rental agreement or ask the staff about tolls. The contract usually spells it out under “Tolls and Fines.” For example, Thrifty might note a $10.49/day PlatePass fee cap $52 per rental (just hypothetical example). Knowing this can inform whether you want to opt-in or plan a workaround.

Common complaints and pitfalls: The most frequent renter complaints regarding toll programs are:

• “I only went through one $2 toll, but got charged $17 (or more) in fees!” This happens if you trigger the program on one day. A $2 toll might lead to a ~$10 daily fee + $2 toll = $12 charge (or higher with some companies). If your trip only has one small toll, it feels like an exorbitant markup.
• Automatic enrollment: With most rentals, you don’t have to actively opt-in at the counter. The act of driving through a toll triggers it. This means you might not even realize you’ve enrolled until the bill comes. Some renters later say “I would have just paid cash if I knew” but on many roads there was no cash option, thus the confusion.
• Undiscounted toll rates: As noted, when the rental company bills you, they often charge the toll at the “cash” or “pay-by-mail” rate, not the transponder discount rate. For instance, an E-ZPass toll might be $1.50, but the Toll-By-Mail rate $2.00 you’ll get charged $2.00. Over many tolls, those differences add up. In some places like New York or New Jersey, an $15 cash toll might only be $12 with E-ZPass. The rental won’t give you the cheaper rate.
• Delayed charges: It can take a long time for tolls to post. Expect delays of 4 to 8 weeks for toll charges to finally hit your credit card. This is because toll agencies send data sometimes monthly. So don’t be surprised if two months after your rental, you see a charge from “HERTZ Tolls” or “Avis eToll” on your statement. This can complicate expense reporting for business travelers and be an unpleasant surprise long after you forgot about the trip.
• High “per rental” caps: Some programs, like Hertz’s daily unlimited at ~$19/day, can rack up quickly if you keep the car many days. A week of Hertz’s unlimited would be ~$133, which is far more than most people spend in tolls on a weeklong trip. The convenience is nice, but you pay a premium. Enterprise’s Chicago $11.99/day fee could mean ~$84 in fees for a week again, likely more than the tolls themselves unless you’re constantly on tollways.

Bottom line: Rental toll programs provide peace of mind (you can drive through any toll lane and not worry in the moment), but you pay for that convenience. If your trip will involve a lot of toll roads (say a Northeast corridor drive hitting many toll bridges, or a tour of Florida’s turnpikes), the daily cap might actually save money compared to paying dozens of tolls out of pocket. But if it’s a short trip or only a few tolls anticipated, you’re better off finding alternatives, as we’ll discuss below.

Plate-by-Mail vs. Pay-by-Plate: How License Plate Billing Works

Throughout this post we’ve mentioned “Plate-by-Mail” or “Pay-by-Plate” let’s clarify these terms and why they matter for rental cars.

What is it? Plate-by-Mail (or Pay-by-Plate, Toll-by-Plate, etc.) is a system where the toll facility charges your license plate instead of a person at a booth. Cameras snap an image of the vehicle’s plate as it passes under a toll gantry or through a toll zone. The system then looks up the plate’s registered owner and sends a bill to that address. If you own the car, that means you get the bill in the mail. If it’s a rental car, the bill goes to the rental company’s corporate office or fleet management.

Most states have implemented this as an alternative for those without transponders. For example:

• In Florida, Toll-By-Plate will mail a bill to the car owner with the accumulated tolls for the month, plus a $2.50 administrative fee on each invoicenorthescambia.com.
• In Texas, driving on a toll road without a tag triggers a Pay By Mail invoice (often at 33% higher toll rates) sent to the owner.
• In Colorado, the E-470 around Denver uses ExpressToll (tag) or License Plate Toll (by mail) license plate tolls have a surcharge on each toll.
• In Washington state, “Pay By Mail” bills come if you don’t have their Good To Go! pass, with a $2 invoice fee added.
• In Illinois, “Pay By Plate” allows you to go online and pay after the fact, but if you don’t, they’ll mail the rental company who then charges you.

Costs and downsides: Generally, using a toll road via pay-by-plate costs more than using a transponder:

• Toll rates are often higher for plate billing to offset the processing (e.g., a bridge might be $5 with a tag, but $6 by mail).
• Administrative fees: as noted, agencies often add flat fees (like FL’s $2.50 or WA’s $2 or NY Thruway’s $2 billing fee).
• Loss of discounts: some states have frequent-user discounts or off-peak rates that only apply to transponder accounts.
• Delay: It can take weeks for that bill to go out. By the time a rental company gets it, you might be long home.

How rental companies handle it: If a rental car’s plate generates a toll invoice, the rental car company will receive the bill. In most cases, rental companies have arrangements with toll authorities so that they automatically get charged (often via a third-party like PlatePass or TollGuard). The rental company will then charge the cost to the credit card you have on file, along with their admin fee. Some rental companies treat these like any toll usage i.e., it enrolls you in their program for that day. Others might treat it as a violation and charge a flat administrative fine (though that’s less common now; most just enroll you in the daily fee program).

For example, if you decline the rental’s toll program and drive on Massachusetts Turnpike (all-electronic): the plate gets read, MassDOT sends an invoice. Avis will pay it and then charge your card the toll plus their $6.95 fee for that day. It’s effectively the same outcome as if you had opted in, except you might get the bill later rather than immediately.

Can you pay it yourself to avoid fees? If you realize you used a toll road without a transponder, some states let you make a one-time payment online before they invoice the owner. For instance, in California you can go to a website and pay a toll by plate within 5 days of using the road to avoid a mailed bill. In Massachusetts, you can call and pay a Pay-by-Plate toll soon after. However, this can be tricky with rentals because you may need details like the license plate number and date/time. If you know these and the state offers the service, you could intercept the charge. But success is hit or miss sometimes the rental company has already been billed by the time you try, or their plates might be on a fleet account that doesn’t allow separate payment.

Summary: Plate-by-Mail is convenient if you don’t have a toll pass, but it usually means higher toll costs and inevitable rental “convenience” fees. It’s essentially the default fallback if you take no action. Understanding that, you can decide to either:

• Avoid those roads,
• Quickly pay online (in certain states),
• Or just accept the rental program charges as a cost of doing business.

One bright spot: in some regions, pay-by-plate isn’t too punitive. For instance, New York’s Tolls By Mail (for bridges/tunnels) charge the same toll rate as cash was no surcharge except $2 billing fee, and some rental plans might only charge a modest fee per rental in NY. But in others, like mentioned, the difference can be big (Pennsylvania Turnpike toll by plate is almost 2x the E‑ZPass toll). So the pain varies.

How to Avoid Excess Toll Fees in a Rental Car

Nobody likes paying more than necessary. When it comes to tolls in a rental, a bit of planning can save you a lot. Here are smart strategies to dodge those extra charges:

1. BYOT Bring Your Own Transponder. If you have an E-ZPass, SunPass, TxTag, etc. of your own, you can absolutely use it in a rental car. This is one of the best ways to avoid the rental company’s fees altogether. A few pointers:

• Take the transponder from your personal car and mount it in the rental (usually on the windshield behind the rear-view mirror). Make sure it’s properly affixed so it reads hold it up during a toll if needed.
• Disable the rental’s device: Most rental car transponders are inside a small box near the mirror ensure it’s closed or set to the off position. You want only your device to be read, not the car’s. If both get read, it can create billing confusion.
• Log in to your transponder account and add the rental car’s license plate temporarily (if the system allows). For example, E-ZPass lets you add a vehicle to your account for a short period. This ensures if a toll camera somehow doesn’t read your transponder, it can still match the plate to your account (so you get charged normal toll, not a violation). And remember to remove it later!
• Check that your transponder will work where you’re going. Some systems are interoperable (E-ZPass covers many states; SunPass Pro covers much of the East Coast). Others are not. If you have a California FasTrak, it won’t help in Texas, etc. Research if your pass is usable in your destination states. If not, you might consider acquiring a pass that is. For instance, an E-ZPass will work from Illinois to Maine to North Carolina a good all-rounder for an East Coast trip. There are also multi-region passes now like Uni or SunPass Pro that cover a huge swath of states.

Bringing your own tag means you’ll pay tolls at the normal (often discounted) rate with no $5 or $10 daily fees. It requires a bit of effort, but frequent renters swear by this method.

2. Pay in cash (where possible). This is straightforward if there’s a cash lane and you have cash, use it. You’ll pay the toll and that’s it, no later charges. But as we noted, cash lanes are disappearing. If you’re driving in areas that still have them (some parts of Florida’s Turnpike, some Pennsylvania/New Jersey older toll plazas, small parkway tolls in Oklahoma, etc.), it’s an option. Warning: don’t assume you can pay cash; always check ahead. Nothing’s worse than frantically digging for coins only to realize the toll is electronic and you just blew through it. Also, cover or disable the rental’s transponder if paying cash. If you accidentally leave it on, you might get double-charged (your cash plus the transponder reading). Rental transponder devices often have an instructions sticker on them many say “Close to use cash lanes.” Follow that. And get a receipt when you pay cash, just in case.

3. Use toll calculators and plan your route. Before your trip (or before deciding on the rental company’s toll package), map out your route and see how many tolls you’ll encounter. Tools like Google Maps will show a 🏷️ Tolls warning on a route and sometimes even estimate the toll cost. There are also websites (like the official toll agency sites or third-party apps) where you can plug in start/end and get toll totals. For example, the Ohio Turnpike website has a fare calculator, and TollGuru offers a nationwide toll calculator. Add up the tolls for your itinerary. If it comes out to, say, $15 total, and your rental program would charge $10/day in fees, clearly you’re better paying tolls yourself. On the other hand, if you’re looking at $50 in tolls and the rental cap is $30, maybe the program is worth it. By doing the math, you can decide whether to opt into an “unlimited” daily plan or just pay as you go. This is especially useful for one-way trips e.g., a drive from Cleveland to Chicago has known tolls (about $32, as AAA calculated). In that case, paying $32 vs. a $19/day Hertz fee that covers it might make opting in a good deal for that single day but not if you kept the car for several days after.

4. Avoid toll roads altogether. Nearly all tolled routes have some alternative. Your GPS or Google Maps can be set to “avoid tolls”. This might dramatically change your route, though. Sometimes the detour is minor; other times it could add hours. Use this selectively: if you’re not in a rush and want to save money, take the scenic toll-free route. This is more feasible in some regions than others. For instance, driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you can avoid the toll bridge in the Bay Area by taking I-580 instead of the Bay Bridge (saves ~$7). But if you’re in South Florida, avoiding the Turnpike might double your travel time on local roads. Also consider gas and time a longer route might mean more fuel cost. Still, for short drives or if you value frugality or scenery over speed, avoiding tolls is the sure-fire way to incur $0 in toll fees. Just remember to turn that setting off if you actually don’t mind paying a small toll, or your nav might send you far out of the way.

5. Pre-pay or register your rental where possible. A niche tip: some toll agencies allow you to register a short-term account for a license plate. For example, Illinois Tollway lets you add a plate to their system for Pay By Plate and put a payment method on it you could log on, add your rental’s plate for the duration, and then if you hit tolls around Chicago, it would charge your card at the standard rate (no big penalties). Similarly, Colorado has an ExpressToll online pay feature. Check the state you’ll be in: if they have a mechanism for “rental car or temporary plate payment,” using it might avoid the rental company markup. The downside is you often need to know the plate number and have an account set up before you accrue tolls. If you’re tech-savvy and motivated, this can work.

6. Leverage credit card benefits (indirectly). We’ll discuss credit cards more in the next section, but one angle: if you have a premium travel credit card that offers an annual travel credit or rebates, your toll charges might be covered under that. For instance, a card that gives $300 in travel reimbursements could count rental toll charges as a travel expense (often they code as “Automotive” or “Transportation”). You won’t find a card that explicitly waives rental toll fees, but if you’re paying with a rewards card, at least you’ll earn points/cash back on those fees. Some cards also provide roadside assistance or concierge help while not directly covering tolls, they could assist if you need help figuring out payment or disputing an incorrect charge.

7. Keep receipts & dispute if warranted. If you encounter a truly egregious or erroneous charge, you can fight it. Maybe you returned a transponder but still got charged for every day, or you have proof you paid cash for a toll yet were billed. Keep any toll receipts (especially if you paid cash). You can then challenge the charge with the rental company or even dispute it on your credit card if you have evidence. Credit card companies often side with the consumer if you can show you already paid the toll separately. At the very least, you might get the $9.99 fee refunded as a gesture of goodwill. This isn’t a guaranteed strategy, but it’s worth trying if you feel overcharged. Just note: if the charges are per the agreement (even if steep), disputing them might not succeed. Still, errors do happen double charges, tolls from days you weren’t even renting, etc. Check your statements!

By using a combination of the above tactics, you can significantly reduce the extra toll-related costs on your rental. Many savvy travelers routinely bring their own transponder and avoid 100% of the fees. Others meticulously plan routes to skip expensive toll roads (for example, taking local bridges in NYC that are free rather than the $16 Hudson River crossings). It all depends on your itinerary and comfort. But at least now you have options rather than feeling stuck with whatever the rental car throws at you.

Compare Van Rental Rates in Toll Cities: Worried about toll costs on your trip? Use Airport Van Rental to find a van in New York City or Boston and plan your budget with tolls factored in. We offer transparent pricing know what to expect, including tips for toll roads in each area, so you won’t be caught off guard by extra fees.

Do Credit Cards Cover Rental Toll Charges?

It’s a good question after all, many credit cards offer perks for rental cars (like insurance coverage for collisions, or roadside assistance). However, toll charges and related fees are generally not covered by credit card rental insurance or perks. These expenses are considered part of operating the vehicle, like fuel or parking tickets, which you as the renter must pay.

• Credit card rental insurance: Most travel credit cards (e.g., Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum, etc.) include secondary or even primary rental car collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance. This covers damage or theft of the rental car. It does not cover tickets, fines, or toll fees. If you get a $50 toll program bill, that’s not a collision or loss it’s a fee, which the insurance won’t reimburse. In fact, credit card issuers often explicitly exclude things like toll fines, parking tickets, etc., from coverage. So, do not assume your shiny travel card will pay for your PlatePass charges it won’t.
• Travel credits: A few premium cards provide an annual travel credit (for instance, $300 that auto-applies to travel expenses). If your rental toll charges code as a travel expense, they might get absorbed by that credit. It depends on the card and how the charge is categorized. Some toll charges post from the rental company as “car rental” or “transportation” which could be eligible. This is more of a lucky happenstance than a designed benefit. Check your card’s fine print: if tolls code under rental cars or ground transport, you might effectively not pay if you have unused travel credit.
• Roadside/towing perks: A few cards offer roadside dispatch or coverage for towing, etc. Those also do not cover tolls they’re for mechanical issues (flat tire, dead battery).
• Lounge or status perks with rental agencies: Some elite cards grant you status in rental programs (like Avis President’s Club or similar). Occasionally, high-status members get fees waived as a courtesy. It’s not common with toll fees, but if you’re a top-tier loyalty member, you could politely ask the rental company to waive or reduce a toll fee, especially if it’s your first time or you have a good reason. It’s discretionary though.
• Disputing charges: As mentioned earlier, you can dispute toll charges with your credit card if they seem incorrect or unjust. While not a “benefit,” credit cards do allow chargebacks. But be cautious: disputing legitimate charges (even if annoyingly high) could get you blacklisted by the rental agency.

In summary, think of tolls as your responsibility. Your credit card helps with the big stuff (damage, liability, etc., depending on coverage) but not the nickel-and-dime operational costs. Plan as if you’ll be paying those out-of-pocket. If you happen to have them offset by a travel credit or points, that’s a bonus. One smart move: use a card for the rental that earns bonus points on travel at least you’re getting something back. Some cards give 3x or 5x points on travel, so your $15 toll fee might net you 45 points. Not exciting, but better than 0!

One more angle: a corporate account or business credit card. If this is a work trip, some corporate rental agreements waive certain fees, or the company might cover them for you. And if you have to pay, you can expense it (just keep documentation). For personal travel, though, assume it’s coming out of your own wallet.

(Side note: Occasionally, rental toll processors like PlatePass or HTA will charge your card separately from the rental charge. Keep an eye on your statements. It might show up as “Dollar Toll” or “ATS Toll” weeks later. Don’t panic if you see a small charge match it to your toll usage. If something looks off, use your credit card’s customer service to investigate. But if it lines up with your known toll roads, it’s likely legitimate.)

Sources: This article was compiled using each state’s statutes (linked above) and data from the Governors Highway Safety Association and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as well as the NHTSA. Key references include GHSA’s summary of child passenger safety laws and seat belt laws, which have been cross-verified with state codes. For further reading, see the NHTSA Car Seat Guide and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s law tables for comprehensive safety recommendations beyond just the legal minimums.

Internal links: If you found this helpful, you might also like our guide on Tolls in Rental Cars: How to Avoid Fees (so those highway toll booths on your trip don’t surprise you), and our breakdown of Rental Insurance vs. Credit Card Coverage (to ensure your whole family and vehicle are properly insured). Safe travels! And should you need a spacious ride for the crew, check out our minivan rentals for comfortable family road trips.