A transponder is an electronic device you attach to your car to pay for tolls so you don't need to stop and pay with cash.
In most instances the answer is 'no' as many toll facilities still accept cash and those that don't will take a picture of your license plate and you will receive a bill in the mail. However it is often more expensive to bill-by-mail so you will likely pay an additional service fee and possibly a violation charge for driving through a cashless toll gantry without a transponder.
Yes! The Tollsmart mobile apps allow you to select your transponder from over fifty different options across the US and will inform you of every toll facility along your route where your transponder is (and isn't) accepted by using different color pins to highlight the difference so you can know in advance if you will need to pay in cash or acquire a different transponder.
No. Google Maps will notify you when you will encounter a toll along your route and allow you to avoid tolls but it does not yet display toll costs. That is why we created a Google Maps toll calculator, so you can view toll costs along a route.
No. Apple Maps will notify you when you will encounter a toll along your route and allow you to avoid tolls but it does not yet display toll costs. That is why we created the Tollsmart toll calculator for iPhone and iPad. Download it for free from the App Store.
No. Waze will notify you when you will encounter a toll along your route and allow you to avoid tolls, but it does yet display toll costs. The Waze app does allow you enter information related to tolls such as your transponder, which helps identify the Express Lanes you can drive on.
No. MapQuest will notify you when you will encounter a toll along your route and allow you to avoid tolls, but it does not yet display toll costs.
The best way to save money on tolls is to use a toll tag or transponder as many of these provide discounts off of the cash rate for tolls. However it varies by tolling agency so make sure you understand where toll discounts will be applied when you sign up for an account.
To save money on tolls for tractor trailers and other trucks use a toll tag or transponder or subscribe to a toll management service like Bestpass that receives volume discounts from toll agencies that they pass on to customers.
There are several apps available to pay for tolls with an iPhone or smartphone, such as PayTollo, Peasy and Bancpass. However none of these yet have universal coverage across all tolling facilities in the US.
An EZ-Pass is a type of transponder that allows you to pay for tolls electronically when driving. It is accepted in toll facilities in 17 states in the Eastern US. Learn more about EZ-Pass on this EZ-Pass tutorial.
There are often discounts provided to EZ-Pass account holders, however it varies by state and tolling facility. The Tollsmart Toll Calculator will automatically calculate EZ-Pass discounts for you, and you can learn more on this EZ-Pass tutorial.
No. This is one of the most misunderstood elements of the EZ-Pass program. There is no one single EZ-Pass, rather there are many that are issued by the state or regional tolling authorities and each has its own discount schedule that may, or may not, apply to EZ-Pass's issued by other states or tolling authorities. There is no rhyme or reason to this, which is we have all of these discount scheduled included in the Tollsmart apps so you don't need to think about it. You can learn more about how EZ-Pass discounts vary on our EZ-Pass tutorial page.
Unfortunately no. EZ-Pass currently only works in toll facilities in 17 states in the Eastern US. If you are traveling to other regions in the US with tolls you will either need to pay in cash or acquire a transponder that works in that region. To view the 17 states that accept EZ-Pass visit our EZ-Pass tutorial page.
No, with the exception of certain toll roads in the Orlando area operated by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX). Learn more on our EZ-Pass tutorial page.
YES! In fact there are more miles of toll roads in Florida than in any other state in the US. If you are traveling to Florida and want to learn more about tolls in the state check out our Florida Tolls Survival Guide page.
A SunPass is a toll transponder that works primarily on toll roads and bridges in Florida, although it is also accepted in Georgia and North Carolina. Learn more at www.SunPass.com.
Express Lanes, which are also known as Managed Lanes or HOT Lanes, are often HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) Lanes that have been converted to toll lanes and which allow solo drivers to drive on for a fee. They are designed to reduce congestion during rush hour in metropolitan areas and the price for driving on these lanes is often based on the time of day and can vary based on traffic congestion, with some prices changing every 5 minutes. Tollsmart has coverage for all the Express Lanes in the US.
A HOT lane another name for an Express Lane, where a solo driver can pay a toll to drive on a converted HOV lane. HOT stands for High Occupancy Toll lanes.
In most instances the answer is 'yes' as many of these lanes require a transponder to use the lanes, however in many cases its the same transponder that is accepted in other toll facilities in the region.
In most instances the answer is 'yes' if you qualify based on the number of passengers in the vehicle. However it's important to note that you will need a special version of the transponder that allows you to flip a switch to indicate that you qualify as a high occupancy vehicle.
Yes. The Tollsmart mobile apps and API services cover all Express Lane systems in the US and the mobile apps will display where an Express Lane is an option along your route. All the business rules are also included in the service, such as the time of day the lanes are open, the minimum number of passengers required to qualify for free HOV status as well as the transponders that are required. Toll prices for Express Lanes are also available where there are scheduled tolls that change based on the time of day, and Tollsmart also has access to real time pricing feeds from a number of toll facilities that utilize dynamic pricing that change based on traffic patterns, some as frequently as every 5 minutes. Learn more about Express Lanes on Tollsmart.