How to Avoid Car Rental Toll Charges

Last Updated on January 6, 2023 by Nico

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Confused about the cheapest way to pay tolls when renting a car? The trick to saving money is to avoid car rental toll charges. Rental companies charge through the nose for electronic toll billing programs such as E-ZPass or FasTrak, which is why it made our list of ways car rental companies rip you off. Be aware that when car rental companies rent you transponders, they often charge per day of the rental. So if you only go through a toll or two on a five-day trip, you’ll still be charged for five days of the service.

Moreover, you have to worry about more than just the tolls themselves, as surcharges from the rental company can add up fast. This is an issue to pay attention to, since the surcharge can vary greatly, from as little as $2.95 per day to as much as $25 per toll. 

Consider the sad tale of the retired teacher from Michigan who took a family trip to Texas and got a rude surprise when he returned his rental car. “His toll bill from tolls: $9.96. His bill from Advantage Rent a Car: $102.37. The difference: $92.41, or the $12.99 daily pass fee for six days plus taxes and fees,” according to the Chicago Times.

Rental Car Charges for Toll Transponders

• Hertz charges a $5.95 fee (plus the toll) for every day you use a toll road.
• Avis and Budget charge a $3.95 fee for every rental day to a $29.75 maximum per rental—plus the tolls, of course.
• Alamo, National and Enterprise give you the same choice. You can pay $3.95 per usage day or rent a transponder for $3.95 per rental day. Either way, there is a maximum charge of $19.75.
• Payless works similarly to sister companies Avis and Budget, but it’s a little cheaper at $2.95 per day, up to a $14.75 maximum fee.

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• Dollar and Thrifty offer an all-inclusive option for $10.49 per rental day (or $52.49 per week) that includes all tolls. Decline it, though, and any toll you fail to pay in cash will cost you a $15 administrative fee per toll—ouch!
• Fox offers a similar product as Dollar and Thrifty in some areas, but the price varies—$8.99 per day in Florida and $11.49 per day in Northern California.
• Sixt offers a toll program for $7.99 per day, with a maximum of $119 per rental. If you decline, you’ll incur a particularly egregious penalty of $5 per toll.

4 Ways to Cheaper Rental Car Tolls

Close the transponder in the car.

If your rental car comes with an E-ZPass transponder and you don’t want to use it, try to close it. They are usually mounted in a lead-lined box that opens and closes. Closing the box hides it so the toll plaza can’t see it. Use a lane that accepts cash, and you can then pay cash for your toll. If you’d rather be extra safe, you can get a Faraday bag which blocks devices from wireless signals. Here’s one we like.

Use cash toll lanes.

Be aware that this doesn’t work everywhere, as some toll roads are electronic-only, and driving through the reader will automatically trigger a bill to the rental company.

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Use your own car’s toll transponder.

Bring it with you and then, when you pick up the rental car, either call the provider or log into your account online to add your rental car’s license plate. If you travel frequently, it might be worth ordering a second transponder on your account to keep in your travel bag.

Buy your own transponder.

Don’t already have a transponder? It’s pretty cheap and easy to get one, even if you don’t live in a state with toll roads. If you’ll be traveling in the Eastern US (Illinois to Florida to Maine) where tolls are handled by the E-ZPass consortium, we recommend ordering a transponder from Massachusetts—since there is no monthly fee and the cost of the transponder gets credited to your account and made available for tolls.

For the Southeastern US (North Carolina to Florida), E-ZPass will also work, depending on your route. Alternatively, we also recommend the E-PASS from the Central Florida Expressway Authority since it’s cheaper than the more popular SunPass. And for the central US (Kansas to Texas), a MyKTAG from Kansas is the best option. A portable hard-case transponder that works everywhere in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas costs $25, or you can get the sticker version for free (they’re not meant to be portable, but we’ve had good luck just holding the sticker firmly against the windshield), and you aren’t required to prepay as long as you sign up with a valid credit card.

In summary, if you’re going to be traveling on toll roads, you can avoid surcharges if you pay cash at the toll booth (where possible) or bring your own transponder.

Related:

• Use a Toll Calculator to Estimate Your Road Trip Costs
• Can You Use Your E-ZPass in a Rental Car?

The post How to Avoid Car Rental Toll Charges appeared first on AutoSlash.

Frequently Asked Questions

To rent a car in Europe, how old must you be?

In most European countries, you must be at least 21 years old to drive legally. You may be able to rent a car from an adult, usually over 25, if you're under 18. However, the age limit for renting cars varies depending on where you live. You might even be able rent a car from someone younger than 15.

What is the difference of a national and international rental car?

Cars made in domestic are generally cheaper, but they offer fewer features than cars made abroad.

International cars can be more expensive, but they offer greater comfort and safety equipment like air conditioning, seatbelts, antilock brakes, and so on.

It is important to consider how much you travel each day when choosing the right car.

If you will mostly be traveling within 100 miles of the airport, then you should get a local car (domestic) as these are generally cheaper.

However, if you're going to be driving a lot around cities and going offroad, an international model might be the best choice.

What separate insurance do I need to drive in Europe with my car?

While driving abroad, you may consider taking out additional cover for other drivers on your policy if your current insurer does not cover them.

This is because different rules may apply to who is liable if an accident happens between cars from different countries.

If you decide to take out this extra cover, then make sure you read the small print carefully, as some policies will exclude certain types of cover.

Also, check whether your existing policy covers overseas trips. This is commonly called an 'extended warrantee' and may be more affordable if you buy it separately.

What is required to rent an automobile in Europe?

A variety of websites can help you find affordable European rental cars. These include Alamo and Sixt, Europcar or Hertz. Also, you should consider booking online.

You must ensure that you have all of the necessary information before renting a vehicle, and this includes but is not limited to:

• Your full name including any middle names (if any)
• Your current address
• Date, time, and location of pickup
• You can rent a car by the make and model
• Insurance company and policy number
• Additional equipment or special requests?
• Specific details of rental agreements (e.g. duration, rate and deposit; balance due at the end of the trip; excess charges, limits on liability, cancellation penalties, etc.
• Payment method(s), such as credit card, debit, cash, or personal check

After you have all the information you need, you can make a booking with any of the listed companies.

Can you rent a vehicle in one European country, and return it to the other?

A way to make travel more convenient is to rent cars in multiple countries, but have them returned from the country they were rented.

This idea may not work because people don’t want to pay extra mileage. Also, most rental agencies charge a lot more for returning a car to a location outside where it was initially rented.

If you do not plan to travel often, you may choose to stay only in one country.

Statistics

• You can rent an automatic but these cars can cost as much as 50% more than a manual vehicle. (earthtrekkers.com)
• If you're a member of AAA, you might also be able to snag discounts of 10 percent at Thrifty, and 8 percent at Dollar. (afar.com)
• In 2019, the most crucial factor is the cost and fees of the rental (accounting for 28% of overall satisfaction with the rental experience), followed by the rental car itself at 25% and the pick-up process at 23%. (cnet.com)
• Save up to 30% on your rental car in Europe when you book with us today. (autoeurope.com)
• Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)

External Links

alamo.com

• Cheap Car Rental in the U.S., Latin America & More - Alamo Rent a Car
  
• Alamo Insiders - Alamo Rental a Car offer low car rental rates
  

jdpower.com

• 2021 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study
  
• 2019 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study | J.D. Power
  

kayak.com

• Search for Hotels, Flights, and Rental Cars
  

avis.com

• Avis Rent a Car
  

How To

12 Things You Need to Know About Renting A Car in Europe

What information should I have when renting a vehicle in Europe?

You should be aware of several things before renting a car abroad. It all depends on the type of car you rent. Here are some tips to make your trip smooth.

1. Your insurance policy. Check your auto insurance coverage before you take to the roads. Find cheap car insurance abroad with our guide.
2. The right documents. You'll need a driver's license from your own country, plus several identification cards (passport, visa, etc.) To prove where you are and why. It's best to obtain these documents well ahead of time, so you don't miss any deadlines.
3. Road Rules. Follow local traffic laws and pay attention to signs indicating speed limits, one-way streets, and pedestrian crossings. Driving in an unspecified country can result in accidents and fines.
4. Parking rules. Many cities require drivers only to park in designated areas. Make sure to read up on parking regulations before arriving in town.
5. Gasoline. Gasoline. Although gas prices are subject to change depending on the country and location, they are generally three times higher than those back home.
6. Insurance requirements. For rentals older than three years, some countries require additional liability coverage. You should speak with your rental company for more details.
7. GPS navigation systems. These GPS navigation systems are growing in popularity among travelers. If you are unsure how to use them, bring along a map.
8. Radio stations. The radio station in the region you're visiting might play music that sounds foreign to you. Press "0" to change frequency to English.
9. Seatbelts. European countries make seat belts mandatory.
10. Road tolls Road tolls are common throughout Europe. Most of them are paid at major intersections.
11. Speeding tickets. Speeding is strictly prohibited in large parts Europe, including Germany Austria, Switzerland Italy France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy.
12. Tipping. Tipping isn’t the same in Europe and North America as it used to be. Tipping is not customary in all parts of the world. Instead, give a number such as 10% to 15%.

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