EZ Pass in Rental Car

[Bowen9475]

We are from MA and use EZ Pass. I have read that you can use your own transponder in a rental car. How easy is it to do? How do you guarantee that the toll reads your transponder and not one in the rental car? Thanks for any tips!

 

[seashoreCM]

You have to do one or more of the following:

The transponder that came with the car might slide in and out of a small box on the windshield.

The transponder that came with the car might have an on-off switch.

You may need to decline or accept the rental company toll processing when you sign the rental agreement.

You may need to notify EZpass that you are driving a rental car (and notify them when you return the rental car).

And of course you need to mount your transponder in the rental car and take it with you when you return the car.

 

[Capt_BJ]

https://www.sunpass.com/en/tolls/rentalVehicles.shtml

 

[georgina]

You really don't need to mount it in the rental car. I just had DH hold it up to the windshield when we went through the toll area. He kept telling me it wasn't necessary, it could be read from the console area, but I insisted!

I always rent with Alamo through Costco, and check in before/skip the counter. We didn't have to do anything to the transponder in the car (don't recall seeing it) but I did login to my EZPass account and add the rental car license plate and dates of rental. I think we have rented cars in the past that we had to close up the transponder box.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

You really don't need to mount it in the rental car. I just had DH hold it up to the windshield when we went through the toll area. He kept telling me it wasn't necessary, it could be read from the console area, but I insisted!

I always rent with Alamo through Costco, and check in before/skip the counter. We didn't have to do anything to the transponder in the car (don't recall seeing it) but I did login to my EZPass account and add the rental car license plate and dates of rental. I think we have rented cars in the past that we had to close up the transponder box.

Alamo (and corporate partners Enterprise and National) do not have transponders mounted in (most of) their vehicles. They use toll-by-plate accounts instead. This is overridden by a customer-suppled transponder when used, so you handled things just the way you needed to for charges to appear on your EZPass account.

 

[EACarlson]

We are from MA and use EZ Pass. I have read that you can use your own transponder in a rental car. How easy is it to do? How do you guarantee that the toll reads your transponder and not one in the rental car? Thanks for any tips!

I flew down in October and used my IL IPass. I had bought a case for it with suction cups on amazon for like $8. Put it up in the windshield where my IPass usually goes. No issues while I was there for a week. Did have an issue where I forgot to take the transponder with me when I turned the car back in. $22 later it was fedexed back to me.

 

[erionm]

We are from MA and use EZ Pass. I have read that you can use your own transponder in a rental car. How easy is it to do? How do you guarantee that the toll reads your transponder and not one in the rental car? Thanks for any tips!

https://www.ezdrivema.com/RentalVehicles

 

[bcuinohio]

I found an EZ pass holder on Amazon. Your EZ pass uses the velcro strip on yo attach to the holder. The holder attaches to your windshield with suction cups.

I always add my rental cars to my EZ pass account and delete them when I’m done.

 

[Donna M]

I hang ribbon on my transponder so I won´t forget it.

 

[mikehn]

I dont know how it works in FL, but back home I leave my EZ pass transponder in my cigarette tray and it works just fine. DHs do know a few things. There should be a little green light at the toll booth that shows your transponder worked. Otherwise, that evening, look at your online account and see if any tolls have posted to your account.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We are from MA and use EZ Pass. I have read that you can use your own transponder in a rental car. How easy is it to do? How do you guarantee that the toll reads your transponder and not one in the rental car? Thanks for any tips!

I use mine all the time. Most rentals have a little “ blocking thingy” for lack of its actual name and be Sure you block it in the OFF position. Otherwise u are charged for both the toll AND the rental usage fee.
I just take out little tag thingy and hold it up before the toll as there’s always a notification of .. toll ahead.
never have an issue. Just check ur online account to be sure u have ur money in there and I prefer automatic refill and do a nominal amount . Safe Travels!

 

[Mle8308]

We are from MA and use EZ Pass. I have read that you can use your own transponder in a rental car. How easy is it to do? How do you guarantee that the toll reads your transponder and not one in the rental car? Thanks for any tips!

I am from MA, too and used my EZ pass in December and it was fine! Just go online and change the make of the car and license plate number in your EZ pass account and the dates for the change. I did it on my phone in the MCO garage before I drove the rental out. When I drove through the tolls, the light turned green, so I knew it worked. My transponder uses velcro to stick to the windshield, so I bought some at a craft store for $3, though the other suggestions might work better! If you do velcro it, make sure you remember to take it off the windshield when you return the car! I am forgetful so I had a bright pink sticky note on my dashboard reminding me to do it. It worked fine, and when I got back to Boston, I went back online to my account and put my car information back in. Have a great trip!

 

[NotUrsula]

I flew down in October and used my IL IPass. I had bought a case for it with suction cups on amazon for like $8. Put it up in the windshield where my IPass usually goes. No issues while I was there for a week. Did have an issue where I forgot to take the transponder with me when I turned the car back in. $22 later it was fedexed back to me.

I did the same thing once. Now I have a piece of reflective Xmas curling ribbon tied around it, which reminds me that it's a rental car and I need to pull it off and take it home. Bonus is that I can see the ribbon reflection when hunting for the car in a parking lot.

 

[Ricguz]

We are from MA and use EZ Pass. I have read that you can use your own transponder in a rental car. How easy is it to do? How do you guarantee that the toll reads your transponder and not one in the rental car? Thanks for any tips!

I am from MA, this is what you need to do to be covered by MassDOT. Bring your transponder to MCO. Once you get the rental car, you need to get into your account so make sure you know your password. Add the car, license plate number to your account. Now your covered. If you don’t do that you MAY get away with having your tools covered with your transponder not being registered to the car your driving but u might not. It happened to me many years ago and I called them and they explained what I need to do in the future. Remember to delate the rental once you turn the car in so it’s off your account.

 

[GreatLakes]

I bring my Ohio EZ Pass to Orlando with me and just hold it up in the windshield. I generally rent from Budget and they have a little leaver you pull to activate theirs so I don't pull it.

I just hold it up when needed and keep it in the center cup holder so I don't forget it. I am used to checking everywhere in the car but would probably forget to grab it from the window.

 

[gharter]

Ours came with suction cups, so its easy to mount.
The biggest issue is remembering to take it with you when you return the car. Twice had the person looking over the car mention the transponder was still in the car. Now we have a big ribbon on it to remind us to take it.

 

[Lewisc]

The instructions that came with my NY EZPass were to mount on the windshield. Having a pax hold it up or having it rest on dashboard or other locations are not advised .YMMV
From EZPASS website


Do I have to mount my E-ZPass® tag on the windshield? Yes. To ensure you receive the E‑ZPass® toll rate, the tag must be properly mounted on the windshield as shown under E‑ZPass® Info. Holding the transponder or placing it on your dashboard is unsafe and may result in incorrect toll charges, unnecessary toll evasion violations and/or administrative fees.

 

[Geomom]

I read about the visitor toll pass vending machines in terminal A. $10 deposit that is refunded when you return the pass at the end of your trip. Set it up on their app. Planning to do that instead of bringing our EZ pass, that way we don't have to try and remember to update our EZ pass account late at night before we leave the garage,and don't need to worry about leaving it behind. The visitor toll pass hangs from the rearview mirror.