Quick Summary
- You can usually use your own toll transponder in a rental car if your device and the temporary licence plate are correctly set up on your account.
- Decide before your first toll road whether you will use your pass or the supplier toll package so you do not pay twice in admin fees.
- Hola Car Rentals lets you combine flexible toll products with cashback on tolls on selected itineraries, keeping driving costs easy to predict.
How toll transponders work in a rental car
Most US toll roads are now cashless, using gantries that scan either the windscreen device or the licence plate of your vehicle. When you drive a rental car, the hire company often has its own toll programme that bills tolls back to you together with an extra service fee. If you prefer to use your own pass, it is essential to understand how these systems overlap so that each toll is only charged once.
Your E ZPass, SunPass or similar transponder is linked both to a payment method and, in many cases, to one or more registered licence plates. When you move the device from your own car to a rental, you should log in to your toll account, add the temporary licence plate for the rental car and specify the dates when you will be using that vehicle. Without that step, the gantry may read only the plate, and your toll could instead be billed through the rental company at a higher price.
If you are flying into Orlando International Airport, it is worth comparing car rental deals that already include a toll package before you decide whether to rely completely on your own pass. Hola Car Rentals partners with leading suppliers but keeps the comparison simple, so you can see whether a package or pay as you go tolls will better match your route.
Using your own E ZPass or SunPass safely
Before you travel, check that your device is valid in the states you plan to visit. For example, E ZPass works on many east coast toll roads, while SunPass is designed around Florida toll networks. Your transponder will not magically cover every state, so it is worth mapping out the toll regions on your itinerary rather than assuming you are covered everywhere.
Once you reach your rental car, remove any toll device that belongs to the hire company from the windscreen or ensure it is switched off according to the supplier instructions. Then mount your own pass in the correct place, usually behind the rear view mirror. Using two active devices at once can trigger duplicate charges or confusion in the toll system.
On popular routes like Floridas Turnpike, your journey from a Miami airport toll road pick up towards the Keys or central Florida may run through multiple tolled sections. Adding the rental plate to your SunPass account before you leave the parking garage means every gantry charge goes directly to your balance instead of the rental firms toll department.
For longer stays, you might prefer a base near the coast and use toll roads only a few times. Choosing a Florida driving base in Miami and bringing your own pass can work out cheaper than a daily toll package as long as you keep your account topped up and remove the device when you return the vehicle.
When the Hola Car Rentals toll package makes more sense
If you expect to use toll roads heavily, such as daily commuting into a city or long freeway stretches in several states, a supplier toll package offered through Hola Car Rentals can be more convenient. Rather than worrying about balances and plate registration, you simply drive, and tolls are settled afterwards in one statement. On selected offers, Hola Car Rentals even includes cashback on tolls, which helps offset service fees and keeps your overall spend lower.
The All Inclusive plus rate from Hola Car Rentals often combines enhanced cover, maximum liability protection and a clear toll solution in one price. You still benefit from free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up on many itineraries, so you can switch between using your own pass and a package as your plans change, as long as you adjust your booking in time.
Common mistakes and how to avoid extra fees
The most frequent mistake is leaving the suppliers device active while your own pass sits on the windscreen. In that case the system may bill both devices and you will then need to request adjustments. Another issue is forgetting to delete the rental licence plate from your account after the trip, which means a future driver of that plate might accidentally spend from your toll account.
It is also wise to avoid short toll roads where a cashless system sends only a plate image and cannot see your transponder quickly enough. On some bridges and city ramps, you may be charged by the licence plate even with a perfectly mounted device. In those cases you should still see the toll appear only once, but it may arrive via the rental company rather than your own account.
Hola Car Rentals customer support can help you interpret toll line items on your statement and, where possible, clarify how a particular area bills drivers. For detailed state by state advice, it is worth reading Hola Car Rentals detailed toll and transponder guide before you travel so that the rules for your route are already familiar.
FAQs
Is it allowed to use my own toll transponder in a rental car?
In most toll regions it is allowed to use your own device in a rental vehicle as long as it is correctly mounted and the licence plate is registered to your account. Always check local toll authority guidance and the specific supplier terms on your Hola Car Rentals confirmation before you travel.
How do I avoid paying tolls twice?
Choose one method and stick to it. If you are using your own pass, make sure the rental device is turned off or stored in the safe pouch provided by the supplier. If you prefer the Hola Car Rentals toll package, leave your own transponder at home so only the rental plate is billed.
What if I drove through a toll without my device activated?
Do not panic. In most cases the toll will be recorded by licence plate and billed back through the rental company. You may pay a small service fee for that toll, but one or two isolated gantry charges will not normally cause major extra costs.
How can Hola Car Rentals make tolls easier on my trip?
Hola Car Rentals brings together suppliers that offer clear toll solutions, from easy plate pass packages to competitive rates that still let you use your own E ZPass or SunPass. When you are ready to plan your next journey, book with Hola Car Rentals so your tolls, cover and overall driving budget are all organised before you reach the pickup lane.
