- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Comments (6)
Print
Save/ShareRenting an "electronic-toll-payment device" such as E-ZPass or I-Pass is now a bit more convenient. The company who rents the things out, the Highway Toll Administration, has been providing the devices through rental car agencies for several years. Now the company has teamed up with Travelocity in a program that David Centner, HTA's president and CEO, says is based on the Netflix model.
Here's how it works: When you book a car rental on Travelocity, you can click a link to "Add a Toll Device" at the end of the process. HTA will mail you a transponder (a bit less of a mouthful than "electronic-toll-payment device"). Use it in your rental car and then return it in the postage-paid envelope that comes with the device.
The service costs $1.99 for each day that you rent the car, plus a $5 shipping charge and, of course, the cost of the tolls. You'll have seven business days to return the device after you return the rental car.
So far, the program is only available in the Northeast and the Midwest, but Centner says that everything is working smoothly since the program officially launched on February 17. He expects to expand it to other parts of the country in the next few weeks.
Has anyone tried this yet? How did it work out?
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
"The service costs $1.99 for each day that you rent the car, plus a $5 shipping charge and, of course, the cost of the tolls. You'll have seven business days to return the device after you return the rental car."
$1.99 a day plus $5 to save a few minutes and/or avoiding tossing 50 cents into a bucket or handing a dollar to someone. PASS.
Posted By Common Sense on February 27, 2009, 2:41 PM
Cost and hassle? Not interested! Of course, I drive my own car and try to avoid as many toll highways as possible. Even when I can't, paying out of pocket is still easier and cheaper.
Posted By Kelley on March 3, 2009, 5:18 PM
We are going to drive the east coast in September this year. I am aware Massachuetts has tolls on major hiways. Need to know if coastal hiways up north from Mass. We will cover 101 most of the time. I love the colors in the 13 colonies and will bring our new camera.
Posted By Lynette on April 9, 2009, 11:40 AM
I just bought a SunPass for Florida tolls - $4.99 at any Publix or CVS store, and you get a 4.99 toll credit when you activate it. You usually get a 25% discount on tolls. You can add $ on the internet or telephone. Just remove the sticker from the windshield before you turn your car in.
Posted By Bart Rozell on April 9, 2009, 4:22 PM
Why not get one through your state agency and put it in your suitcase? They initially put $35 dollars on my credit card and when I reach a certain low limit they top my account off. When you get your car and approach a toll gate hold it up against the top of the windshield. Viola, you've paid the toll. I've been doing this several years along the Northeast coast.
Posted By Evan Jackson on April 11, 2009, 4:05 PM
I recently rented a car from Budget without any type of toll pass included. The day after the car was returned, my checking account was hit with $25.42 per day. I only discovered this when I went online to balance my checking account. I had no idea what the charges were for, so I put in a call to the toll free number listed on the confirmation for the charge, and the person who answered asked for the first four and last four digits of my debit card. When I responded that my debit card was not used but that my checking account was directly hit, she said, "Okay, then don't give me that information as this is just an answering service. I'll have an agent call you back." When I asked for a timeframe for the return call, she said "they" normally called back within 24 hours.
I will provide updates as I acquire them.
Posted By Valerie on April 28, 2009, 10:31 AM