SunPass Question

[dioxide45]

Wasn't sure if here or the offsite board was best. Hoping some people with some experience with this may be able to help.

We purchased a SunPass portable on our last visit to Florida. We usually rent cars in Florida and visit 4-5 times a year so we figured the savings and convenience would be worth the transponder cost.

Do E-Pass transacation show up in the online activity at SunPass.com? We drove through the express toll lanes on 417 S just before exit 14 and the transponder did not beep incidating the toll paid. Checking our remaining balance it shows correctly. Had a $10 balance and now at $4.50. We drove from I95 W on Beachline and got off at 417 S exit 6-IDrive, $4.00 toll according to the calculator at expresswayauthority.com. We also got on the 528 E at IDrive and got off at exit 11 for the airport, $1.50 toll. Our online activity only shows Beeline West - ORT East for 50 cents. This is the toll at the first toll stop on 528 E after IDrive. None of the EPass toll activity is showing though it appears to be reflected in the balance.

At SunPass.com you are supposed to register each car that is being used with the SunPass portable. Is it really necessary to register the a rental car? I am thinking this comes in to use when using the express toll lanes and a toll is not registered. The issue is that we can't register the car until we have internet access at our resort after flying in to MCO. Same on the return if we want to deactivate the car online before returning it to the rental company. This first time we waited until we got home to after our flight out to delete the car in our online account. We can just drive through the attendant lanes prior to adding the car. We did this on our return to MCO after the transponder didn't beep on 417. In the attendant lanes the transponder beeped and we were on our way quickly.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Originally Posted by dioxide45

Do E-Pass transactions show up in the online activity at SunPass.com?

At SunPass.com you are supposed to register each car that is being used with the SunPass portable. Is it really necessary to register the a rental car?

Yes, tolls from E-PASS lanes should show up on your SunPass account although they may not post until the next day due to the way the two systems communicate with each other. If they've not posted by the next day then you were not charged which would also explain why the transponder did not beep.

Your problem may be in where you keep the transponder. The rules say that it should be affixed to the windshield behind the rear view mirror. While it normally will also work if you have it laying on the dashboard, that's not an approved location and sometimes (seldom) they fail there.

As far as registration goes, the rules are the rules. As long at the transponder is working then the tolls will be paid as you pass through the toll plazas and the computer won't know what car you're driving in. The potential problem is when the transponder does not work and you are photographed running the toll. A letter or traffic ticket could make its way back to you if you were in a rental car and you won't be able to prove you had a transponder that did not activate as it should because the vehicle was not registered. If registered, you've got an excuse which will cancel out the warning letter or traffic ticket.

That said, I fly to south Florida quite often, bringing my EPASS with me for use in rental cars. I never register them. I also have an E-ZPass for use up in Illinois and the Northeast, in rental cars, which I don't register either.

BobK/Orlando

[dioxide45]

Originally Posted by KINGBOBOFTHENORTH

Yes, tolls from E-PASS lanes should show up on your SunPass account although they may not post until the next day due to the way the two systems communicate with each other. If they've not posted by the next day then you were not charged which would also explain why the transponder did not beep.

Your problem may be in where you keep the transponder. The rules say that it should be affixed to the windshield behind the rear view mirror. While it normally will also work if you have it laying on the dashboard, that's not an approved location and sometimes (seldom) they fail there.

As far as registration goes, the rules are the rules. As long at the transponder is working then the tolls will be paid as you pass through the toll plazas and the computer won't know what car you're driving in. The potential problem is when the transponder does not work and you are photographed running the toll. A letter or traffic ticket could make its way back to you if you were in a rental car and you won't be able to prove you had a transponder that did not activate as it should because the vehicle was not registered. If registered, you've got an excuse which will cancel out the warning letter or traffic ticket.

That said, I fly to south Florida quite often, bringing my EPASS with me for use in rental cars. I never register them. I also have an E-ZPass for use up in Illinois and the Northeast, in rental cars, which I don't register either.

BobK/Orlando

Thanks for the response. It appears that all the charges posted based on current balance, I just can't see the individual EPass transactions, only the one SunPass transaction at the SunPass toll plaza. May activity is not available yet via monthly statement, so I will wait and check again to verify the individual toll in question posted.

I don't have a problem registering the rental car that I am driving, just can't register the car between picking it up at MCO and getting to the resort, same thing happens when deleting the car and returning the car to MCO. Guess I can use an attendant lane for the two toll plazas that we would hit on 528 getting to the airport. If the transponder doesn't pay the toll in the attendant lane then we just pay cash.

[Inkmahm]

I purchased a SunPass several years ago for our trips to Florida and I have never registered any of our rental cars. I've had no problems with the tolls at all.

[dioxide45]

I also notice that EPass does not provide a discount when using a transponder vs. cash? SunPass is usually a quarter cheaper to use the transponder vs. cash.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Originally Posted by dioxide45

I also notice that EPass does not provide a discount when using a transponder vs. cash? SunPass is usually a quarter cheaper to use the transponder vs. cash.

Most (but not all) toll plazas that carry the SunPass logo give on-the-spot toll discounts to those using a transponder. It doesn't matter whether you have a SunPass or an E-PASS, you get the discount.

That is not the case for toll plazas marked E-PASS. There is no on-the-spot discount. However, those that actually have an E-PASS transponder will get a toll discount at the end of the month if the total E-PASS tolls paid exceed a certain amount (I think $50). So we do get a discount but it's only for using it a lot.

BobK/Orlando

[horseshowmom]

Originally Posted by Inkmahm

I purchased a SunPass several years ago for our trips to Florida and I have never registered any of our rental cars. I've had no problems with the tolls at all.

I had been considering doing that very thing and wondered whether there would be a problem with the car tag not matching what was on record (as the OP said, no time to register it when leaving the airport).

I may have to order one now. Thanks!

[seashoreCM]

Is there an indicator light at the toll plaza that flashes to tell you whether your transponder registered correctly? This way you could contact the toll agency before they send out a violation notice.

528 (Beach line) users: Leaving the airport, turn left at the first light. About a mile later take two quick lefts at lights and you get on 528 missing one of the toll booths. Coming back, get off 528 at its exit 9 (Tradeport), cross under, and middle lane must turn right onto Conway to retrace your steps.

[fla4fun]

Originally Posted by dioxide45

I also notice that EPass does not provide a discount when using a transponder vs. cash? SunPass is usually a quarter cheaper to use the transponder vs. cash.

It varies. I use the turnpike (sunpass) entrance and exit at I-4 to get to and from work. I do not get a discount for using a transponder. It's the same as the cash rate. But when I go to the beach, I do get a discount at most of the toll booths on the Beachline Expressway. I don't remember off the top of my head if those are sunpass or e-pass booths though - I'm usually too busy watching everyone do the crazy lane switches to pay attention to the signs.

[dioxide45]

Originally Posted by seashoreCM

Is there an indicator light at the toll plaza that flashes to tell you whether your transponder registered correctly? This way you could contact the toll agency before they send out a violation notice.

There is a light on the transponder and the transponder emits a tone when it is identified and a toll is paid. That was our concern because we went through the express toll lanes and the transponder did nothing.

Originally Posted by fla4fun

It varies. I use the turnpike (sunpass) entrance and exit at I-4 to get to and from work. I do not get a discount for using a transponder. It's the same as the cash rate. But when I go to the beach, I do get a discount at most of the toll booths on the Beachline Expressway. I don't remember off the top of my head if those are sunpass or e-pass booths though - I'm usually too busy watching everyone do the crazy lane switches to pay attention to the signs.

There is a 25 cent transponder discount at the one SunPass plaza on 528 east (the first plaza after getting off of I4 or on at IDrive). I think all other 528 plazas are EPass.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The 528/Beachline has 3 mainline toll plazas. Although signed as a toll road, the stretch from I-4 to the Turnpike is completely free. As you continue east there is one toll plaza near the Florida Mall that is Sunpass. It's $.75 cash, $.50 with a transponder. Further east the Airport toll plaza is E-PASS and is $1.00 for everybody. Past the airport if you're headed to the coast, the final plaza is E-PASS and is $1.50 for everybody. There are no tolls once you cross into Brevard County.

As I previously stated, most (but not all) Sunpass lanes give a discount to those with a transponder. None of the E-PASS lanes do that. Sunpass is run by the State of Florida, E-PASS is run by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. Most of the toll roads around Orlando are OOCEA roads and thus E-PASS equipped.

BobK/Orlando