Tolls in Florida |
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Driving Through a Cash Toll It's not actually a big deal to drive through a cash toll. We took some photographs and a movie in September 2011 as we drove from the airport. You will get an overhead warning that a Toll Plaza is coming up, and how much the toll is. Then it will tell you if there is a cash lane, or a pass (EPASS or SunPass) lane, and where it is (usually off to the right). The road will then split into the pass lanes straight on, or the cash lanes slip road. 
The overhead gantry will show which lanes are for "Exact Coins" (you throw money - the exact amount in coins - into a "bucket") or "Change Receipts" (the cash line, where you give your money to a person and you can get change). There are also lights above - a green arrow or red cross - which indicate which lanes are open (green arrow) or closed (red cross). In the cash lane, you pull up to the toll booth where a red traffic light indicates you should stop and a person will take your money from you. Once paid, the red traffic light turns green and off you go. You will most likely have to merge to the left and rejoin the regular traffic (who drove through the "pass" lane). 
Some tolls plazas occur right across the highway, rather than you taking a slip lane off the main highway. The third and last toll plaza from the South Exit of Orlando Airport is like this. 
As above, there is advanced notice overhead. Again, you have to choose your lane - "SunPass", "Exact Change" and "Change Receipts" - with the same green arrow or red cross to indicate which lanes are open. It is this toll plaza where we have found only the "SunPass" and "Exact Change" lanes open, which is bad if you only have bills (paper money). Once paid, the light turns green and off you go. In case you want to see us in action, here's a movie driving through a toll plaza. Apologies for the bouncy film but the roads aren't that flat in Florida! That's our excuse, anyway. Sorry! Tolls and Rental Cars The different car rental companies have different ways of dealing with tolls. This link above outlines the different adminstration fees that are added to your car rental costs if you pass through a toll - sometimes even if you pass through the cash lane and pay your own toll - so you should take the time to read this before booking your rental car. Through the use of license recognition cameras, your rental car registration is photographed as you freely pass through the SunPass or EPASS lanes and you will get additional charges - as per the rental companies terms and conditions - charged to the credit card lodged with the car rental company. This is a quick and easy way to deal with the tolls, however, some of the terms include pretty high administration charges. The journey from Orlando International Airport to Villa Southern Dunes, via Highway 417 involves three tolls, amounting to $4.00 in September 2013 - or $8.00 for the return trip. If you travel further afield, such as Kennedy Space Center, or down to Miami, or on some of the other toll roads around Orlando, these tolls could add up, however, if you only drive from and to the airport to the villa, do you really want to pay those high additional admin fees? Some roads, such as the toll roads down to Miami, are electronic toll only which means that you either have to use the rental car toll, or buy your own transponder - which are available from here, including Publix or CVS Pharmacy. Beware! While some car rental companies claim you can turn off the transponder, some owners/visitors have indicated they have been unable to do so and that, even though they passed through the cash toll lanes, they have been refused - advised to drive through as (a) the toll will be charged to the rental company or (b) charged twice in cash by you and later by the rental company to your credit card. You may ask for a receipt at the toll booth, if you wish. If you want to opt-out of the toll programme offered by the car rental company, it is wise to write it on your contract (your copy and theirs) and make it clear you do not wish to participate. We can't guarantee they'll take any notice, but you have more ammunition to use against them if a dispute arises later. That said, we've travelled to Orlando many times and never had a problem. We just feel forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so, with the information supplied, and some extra reading over at the Sunpass website, you have a clearer idea of the toll road situation in Florida. (Yes, you have homework!) If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask via the enquiries form supplied or via our email info@villasoutherndunes.com. We don't have all the answers, but we'll find out what we can! |