Is anyone subscribed to EZ-Pass in a different state than the one they live in?

 

Hi,

We live in Maryland, where O'Malley started charging us a $1.50/month "administrative fee" for absolutely nothing, so we canceled our EZ-pass. We use it enough that we'd like to pick one up again but only if there is no fee involved, so I've been looking at neighboring states' EZ-Pass programs.

It looks like the best deals are through DRJTBC, Peace Bridge and Virginia. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with any of these agencies before we sign back up, though.

Seems to have been a pretty dumb move on Maryland's part though as a bunch of folks have just dumped their EZ-Pass accounts, increasing the need for paid toll-collection personnel. Let's spend lots of money on this great automated system and then do everything we can to reduce the demand for it... great idea.

Thanks!

- Phil

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Monthly fee for Virginia soon?

bnwarner wrote:

I've had my Virginia E-Z Pass for about six years, and the initial outlay (cash on the account) was not pleasant, but I've NEVER had a fee for anything other than actual tolls.

I heard on the news that Virginia is thinking about a $1 per month fee. link: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/transportation/2012/04/v...
Mark

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Moose135 wrote:

The NYS Legislature passed a law eliminating monthly/annual fees in 2006.

I don't believe this law ever passed. A bill was filed, but it was never passed by both houses. The Thruway/MTA caved and ended the fee so the bill died. It did leave the door open for future fees for for the foreseeable future NY E-ZPasses are monthly fee free.

...

jckl wrote:

NY resident can get NY EZP tags at no service charge with a credit card type account.
Non NY resident can get NY EZP tags and pay a $1/month service charge with a credit card type account.

Incorrect. NYS E-ZPass is monthly fee free, no matter where you live. I've never lived in NY but I have had a NY E-ZPass for years and don't pay any fees. A PORT AUTHORITY NY/NJ E-ZPass does have a monthly fee, this is likely what you are referring to.

ezpass

I live in Canada, brought ezpass last sumer during visit to Atlantic City NJ.
Not using it since this time.
Just have been charged $25.37 CAN, fee without using it at all.

May 2012: Looks like Mass.

May 2012:

Looks like Mass. may be the best deal out there, lower startup costs than Ill espicially if ordering multiple transponders.

Ill charges a $10 deposit, and has you fund $40 Per Transponder ordered. 2 Transponders will be $100 up front. The auto replenish is requirements are not inflated for having multiple transponders on one account, though, will still drop to 10, and then add 40, or the monthly average over the past 6 mo.

Mass looks like you can get them and still fund the account at the minimum of $20 even if getting multiple transponders. Mass has flirted with monthly fees in the past, currently none.

I also noticed that NH deposit for a transponder has gone way down to $8.90 per Tollroadnews.

West Virginia now has online signup, their deal isn't too bad, $5 yearly, good if anyone travels the WV Turnpike often, as WV transponders get a 20% (I think) discount, and the Beckly WV exit is free, Out of state transponders do not get this.

I've had my i-pass for a while, and I live in Ohio, no issues, but if I were to get one today, I'd probably go with Mass. Of course, paying the fees to NJ would make sense if someone drives often there, but for a the casual, non-daily user, Mass seems the way to go.

.,..

I wouldn't trust the Mass Turnpike with a magazine subscription, much less my E-ZPass and credit card info. I use New York. No monthly fees, no deposit, and if I were to drive into NYC, I would get the lower rate there. They have legislation to prevent future monthly fees. When the Mass Pike changed to a free transponder, they indicated at the time that it was temporary, in other words don't bet too much it will remain that way.

.,..

I wouldn't trust the Mass Turnpike with a magazine subscription, much less my E-ZPass and credit card info. I use New York. No monthly fees, no deposit, and if I were to drive into NYC, I would get the lower rate there. They have legislation to prevent future monthly fees. When the Mass Pike changed to a free transponder, they indicated at the time that it was temporary, in other words don't bet too much it will remain that way.

You can bet that there is

You can bet that there is some MA "official" out there that has seen this site or has had the info passed along that MA "has the best deal". Sooner rather than later, they will run with it and whack everyone with the usual fees once plenty of folks have joined the family.

MA is Darth Vader and the Dark Side when it comes to fees.

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"Primum Non Nocere" 2595LMT Clear Channel and Navteq Traffic

Mass FAST LANE will become E-ZPass

From MassDot website: "Coming Soon
FAST LANE will become E-ZPass. Only the name will change, MassDOT's commitment to customer service continues."

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Nuvi 2460LMT

Bye, Virginia

think I changed mind.. I will keep it as I am existing customer.

Only the name will change? Not quite...

mmullins98 wrote:

From MassDot website: "Coming Soon
FAST LANE will become E-ZPass. Only the name will change, MassDOT's commitment to customer service continues."

Actually, something else has changed: The Mass Pike is now part of the State DOT. (No longer a separate entity) In order to be eligible for Federal funds, the "Fast Lane" signs containing Citizen's Bank or other advertising had to go. The Fast Lane signs with ads come down, the new E-ZPass signs go up.

This is a SIGNIFICANT loss of revenue for the state. Any one care to take a wild guess as to where the state will go to make it up??? Hmmmmmm....

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"Primum Non Nocere" 2595LMT Clear Channel and Navteq Traffic

I didn't realize that the

I didn't realize that the EZ-pass rates are different depending in what state you purchased it in and what state you use it in.
No 2 users pay the same price if you are from different states. I thought by buying a transponder that you would save over paying cash but I hear that's not entirely true.

Taxa-chewsettes

I dumped the People's Republic of Maryland's EZ Pass as soon as they went to a $1.50 a month fee.

I've been loving my Mass transponder ever since (done all online and no fees). If they instutute fees, I'll dump it and look for a new one, or maybe just go cash.

While I have benefited by skipping long cash lines for the empty EZ Pass lanes, I rarely use it so I might not miss it much (until the 1st time I have a thrombus waiting in a serpentine cash only line smile )

Sunpass

I received an E-mail from Sunpass in Florida that soon it will be usable in other states.
They are just trying to figure out how the money transfer will work out.
Right now it is only used in Florida.

--
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

It's nice to have on trips, especially Holiday weekends

ericruby wrote:

I dumped the People's Republic of Maryland's EZ Pass as soon as they went to a $1.50 a month fee.

I've been loving my Mass transponder ever since (done all online and no fees). If they instutute fees, I'll dump it and look for a new one, or maybe just go cash.

While I have benefited by skipping long cash lines for the empty EZ Pass lanes, I rarely use it so I might not miss it much (until the 1st time I have a thrombus waiting in a serpentine cash only line smile )

An EZPass xponder really shows it's worth when you are on an extended trip travelling through a state like NY where there are a lots of toll-booths right on the main drag rather than when you exit. You by-pass all the long liness in the other lanes and just cruise right through the "priv'd" lanes, or just keep left and breeze through the "no stop" automatic lanes. It's also nice that at most NY (and NH) toll plazas, almost EVERY lane will take EZPass. MA has never done this; instead they usually have the EZP lanes out on the edges and usually only have one or two. The plazas are often a complete nut-house with people darting all over the place to get in the right lane. When traffic is backed up, you often can't even GET to the EZP lane! But that's MA for you. They never do anything right up here.

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"Primum Non Nocere" 2595LMT Clear Channel and Navteq Traffic

ex pass

i live in nh and have a ez pass from ny and as of right now they do not charge me a montly fee.

Delaware lowering transponder fee to $15

On July 1, 2012 Delaware is lowering the fee per transponder to $15 each. There is no monthly fee. This is now one of the better deals among the states.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012...

Delaware EZ-PASS
http://www.ezpassde.com/

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Brent - DriveLuxe 51 LMT-S

Maine has lowered Transponder Fee to $10

To encourage more use of EZ-PASS and to offset rising Maine Turnpike tolls the cost of transponders has been reduced to $10. Out of state users can apply but you have to mail in the application.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Turnpike-toll-increases-up-f...

https://ezpassmaineturnpike.com/EZPass/signup.jsp

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Brent - DriveLuxe 51 LMT-S

Was thinking of getting an Indiana EZ pass while I live in Ohio

They charge $10 over the counters, at retail outlets like CVS pharmacies in northern Indiana, and apply $8 of that charge to your usable toll balance. This was the best deal available to me on short notice. I was thinking of getting one to make a couple of trips across OH & IN this summer & fall. Then I learned about the $1 a month user fee, which would cancel out any savings I might have, in just a year or two, so I dropped that idea. I only travel toll roads once or twice a year.

FL EPass

Only in a bureaucrats mind does it make sense to charge someone for a more efficient, cost saving effort.

If I pay my vehicle registration online, I am charged a "convenience" fee. I do not pay that fee if I go to the DMV and pay in person.

EPass in Florida actually encourages you to use it rather than pay cash. The transponders are now free and there is no monthly service fee. Although the tolls are pretty steep! This is Surprising since I am comparing them to NJ. I think the cheapest toll is now $0.75 and there aren't a lot of miles of toll roads. I work 20 miles away and pay 3 tolls (totaling $3.00 if paid with cash, $2.73 with EPass discount).

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Jim F.

not all

jim407 wrote:

EPass in Florida actually encourages you to use it rather than pay cash. The transponders are now free and there is no monthly service fee.

The stick on windshield is $4.99 that they credit back to the account to use and pay tolls making it FREE the other one that you can move between vehicles is $25 (empty)

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Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

VA E-ZPass

Just received a letter from VDOT on EZpass.
For current E-ZPass customers, with open accounts as of July 9, 2012, they will not be charged a monthly fee until the replace existing transponder or add a new one to their account.
So, I will keep it. smile

New York State, may charge admin fee

As explained elswhere in this topic you may get charged $1/mo if you sign up using a non NY address. I think there are 3 NY agencies [maybe 4] of which only 1 doesn't charge the admin fee. If you sign up on line it's a crap shoot as to which one you sign up with.
I live out of NY state, have a NY Ezp & get charged $1/mo admin fee.

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__ John - nüvi® 660

I signed up in Ill. back in

I signed up in Ill. back in '08. Never got a letter. And there have been no monthly fees. I live in Mich.

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Nuvi 3790LMT, Nuvi 760 Lifetime map, Lifetime NavTraffic, Garmin E-Trex Legend Just because "Everyone" drives badly does not mean you have to.

New York State, may charge admin fee

Do you get a monthly statement mailed to you? In the past NY charged $1 per month for monthly mailed statements. If they came every other month there was no charge, or if you had all your statements online there was no charge.

No billing statements, all

No billing statements, all online.

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Nuvi 3790LMT, Nuvi 760 Lifetime map, Lifetime NavTraffic, Garmin E-Trex Legend Just because "Everyone" drives badly does not mean you have to.

Get it from MA

I live in NC and have mine from Massachusetts. No admin fees at all.

Good advice

UZA_Dave wrote:

I live in NC and have mine from Massachusetts. No admin fees at all.

We're coming up on a year and a half with our Mass. Pass and are still loving it. It has been well worth the $0 monthly fee. smile

- Phil

I Agree

pquesinb wrote:
UZA_Dave wrote:

I live in NC and have mine from Massachusetts. No admin fees at all.

We're coming up on a year and a half with our Mass. Pass and are still loving it. It has been well worth the $0 monthly fee. smile

- Phil

My experience pretty much mirrors Phil's.

Sunpass

A local tv news interviewed a lady who said her Sunpass bill had doubled even though her usage remained the same, going to work. Sunpass replaced the battery in the transponder. Still being overcharged.
The director of Sunpass said he has 8 million customers per day and was not concerned about a few hundred people being overcharged. He said people must contest all overcharges within the alloted time period.

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1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

I've been using an Illinois

I've been using an Illinois Tollway System I-Pass (good on EZ-Pass, I-Zoom, and Ohio's toll roads for years, (I live in Pennsylvania) and pay no fees other than the tolls and the one time $25.00 deposit on the transponder.)

Maybe things have changed for me recently, I better take a look my account to make sure they aren't doing the same bulls#it. Reminds me of the Bank ATM cards years ago, giving them away for them to reduce payroll, then claiming they need to recoup costs.

amazing

It never ceases to amaze me, what people will do, to get around....DRUMROLL.....................................................$1 per month.

I dunno, here's a tip, if your mortgage is within 10-15 yrs. left, you can do a first lien position home equity loan at a rate that's almost comparable with a 15, maybe 0.0075 less than a 30, WITH ZERO FEES.

That's a gift that's worth potentially $149/mo.

There's no break-even because it's a home equity product, zero fees.

It's weird, to me, to chase $1/mo., and bend the rules.

Amazing indeed

And this is exactly why those of dubious ethical standing will try to enact such fees, despite the fact that the product or service actually reduces their administrative overhead, just like the ATM cards. If people just put up with it, then why not?

$1.50/mo. certainly won't break us but it's really the principle. If you let it go on, $1.50 will turn into more, like the $408 Florida red light camera fines and if you're unlucky enough to be around when one of them malfunctions or you get a ticket in the mail when you weren't even in Florida, just pay it, it'll all be ok.

Just like the little kid who steals candy from the drugstore and is never corrected, why would he stop?

But I supposed that those of us who don't want to put up with it could be labeled troublemakers, like the pesky founding fathers of our country who are undoubtedly turning over in their graves right now.

- Phil

I Approve

pquesinb wrote:

And this is exactly why those of dubious ethical standing will try to enact such fees, despite the fact that the product or service actually reduces their administrative overhead, just like the ATM cards. If people just put up with it, then why not?

$1.50/mo. certainly won't break us but it's really the principle. If you let it go on, $1.50 will turn into more, like the $408 Florida red light camera fines and if you're unlucky enough to be around when one of them malfunctions or you get a ticket in the mail when you weren't even in Florida, just pay it, it'll all be ok.

Just like the little kid who steals candy from the drugstore and is never corrected, why would he stop?

But I supposed that those of us who don't want to put up with it could be labeled troublemakers, like the pesky founding fathers of our country who are undoubtedly turning over in their graves right now.

- Phil

I approve of this post.

Ditto

What the last two posts said.

Not to mention that Maryland ripped off (and continues to) the fuel & road tax funds for other uses, and just raised the fuel tax 6 cents a gallon.

Ignorance is bliss if you earn enough money, I guess. Not for me though.

--
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

small potatoes

Going after $1/mo. out of principle, is there any amount that would be say, too small?

Here are some more tips to get $$$$, that are far greater than $1/mo.

Test drive a VW for $25.

Test drive a Buick for $50.

Test drive an Audi for $100.

Let's say you went to the Audi dealer, if you don't want to waste time, they'll validate your offer and you can be on your way. So 9 days later, in the mail comes a $100 Visa gift card. Now you're set for 100 months of overpaying EZPass, that's over 8 years. And you don't have to try to subscribe where you don't live. imho there's such a thing as being honest, and playing smarter.

Reply

I originally obtained my EZPass in NJ where I lived. I never changed it when I moved to PA.
Both states have fees, however; the NJ EZPass is better than PA.
If you think EZPass is high... the tolls on the Florida roads are to the moon.

If you need to use a car you get shafted with everything.

Going to date myself...When I first started to drive in the mid 60's... gas was $.19 a gallon. Now we pay through the nose for anything auto related.

?

I'm not quite sure about some of these points ..

johnnatash4 wrote:

Going after $1/mo. out of principle, is there any amount that would be say, too small?

For me, no. Cost is not relevant if I don't agree with the principal. I do or don't do things every day out of principle that don't even involve currency.

Quote:

Here are some more tips to get $$$$, that are far greater than $1/mo.

Test drive a VW for $25.

Test drive a Buick for $50.

Test drive an Audi for $100.

Let's say you went to the Audi dealer, if you don't want to waste time, they'll validate your offer and you can be on your way. So 9 days later, in the mail comes a $100 Visa gift card. Now you're set for 100 months of overpaying EZPass, that's over 8 years.

Great tips, thanks.
But I was in the automotive business at retail and mfr levels for 40+ years, and I view automotive sales the same way I do dentistry so I'll decline the offers. I think I'm ok financially for my few remaining years as it is.

Quote:

And you don't have to try to subscribe where you don't live. imho there's such a thing as being honest, and playing smarter.

Sorry you feel that the use of an EZ-Pass from another state is being dishonest, because it isn't. Nor is it necessarilly illegal (check your state to be sure). I looked very carefully at the application I filled out and the terms of use for the state that I chose. Nowhere did anything stipulate that I needed to be a resident nor even use the device in that state. I was completely honest in providing my residence address as well. Tag numbers, too. They sent transponders, I use them.

It's called a slippery slope for a reason. Others might call it progress or being "modern'. One day you and your family are enjoying the view from the top of the ravine. Then something forces you down the slope a bit and the next generation's vista isn't quite so nice. They can't imagine the view you used to see because they never saw it. And so on it continues .. until everyone is living at the bottom and only a few have the wherewithall or means to go climbing (hopefully!). The majority of the ravine dwellers have by now adapted to their environment and are happy, but a few can't begin to imagine why the climbers go through all the effort to climb. Some view it as stupid. Others as somehow disloyal to the ravine environment. Some even view it as destructive to the ravine.

But, that's life and always has been. It's all about perspective.

See ya on the toll roads.

--
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

I live in South Jersey. I

I live in South Jersey. I had the NJ EZ Pass since 2000 when it started up, but started working in Bayonne. NJ charges $1.00 per month but offers discounts off peak on the Turnpike. The Port Authority of NY and NJ offers a $5 discount on all the Hudson river crossings for all EZ Pass users regardless of the state of origin; however, MTA Bridges and Tunnels only discount EZ Pass whose accounts are opened via a NY agency such as MTAB&T, PANYNJ, the New York Thruway and the Peace Bridge. From what I last read, you can only open a Peace Bridge EZ Pass if you have a NY or Ontario license.

I have a transponder for the 407ETR in Ontario, they have a monthly fee as well but it is not a pre-paid method, but pay as you use. A few years ago, my bank blocked all Canadian automatic transactions on my credit and debit cards. I have not used the 407ETR in 5 years so I racked up quite a bill when I found out. I am currently asking Ontario Ministry of Transportation to at least whittle the bill down a bit...

makes more sense now

JD4x4 wrote:

But I was in the automotive business at retail and mfr levels for 40+ years, and I view automotive sales the same way I do dentistry so I'll decline the offers. I think I'm ok financially for my few remaining years as it is.

That does explain a lot. That industry nickels and dimes for no reason, as if for fun. Until the customer walks out the door in many cases. smile

JD4x4: An excellent post!

JD4x4: An excellent post! Thanks for showing me I'm not alone in my thinking! smile

--
"Primum Non Nocere" 2595LMT Clear Channel and Navteq Traffic

¿que

johnnatash4 wrote:

That does explain a lot. That industry nickels and dimes for no reason, as if for fun. Until the customer walks out the door in many cases. smile

Ball 3.
High and to the outside.

--
It's about the Line- If a line can be drawn between the powers granted and the rights retained, it would seem to be the same thing, whether the latter be secured by declaring that they shall not be abridged, or that the former shall not be extended.

Twp easy pass's

I have a New York EZ-Pass and a Florida Sun-Pass.
The NY pass was no good in Florida and the Sun pass was not good any place outside of Florida.

I have used the EZ-Pass all the way fron NY to North Dakota.
From what Sun pass has to say, they are in talks with EZ-pass to be able to use both in Florida.

--
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

Two easy pass's

I have a New York EZ-Pass and a Florida Sun-Pass.
The NY pass was no good in Florida and the Sun pass was not good any place outside of Florida.

I have used the EZ-Pass all the way fron NY to North Dakota.
From what Sun pass has to say, they are in talks with EZ-pass to be able to use both in Florida.

--
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

Wikipedia page on EZ-PASS

There is a Wikipedia page that contains a chart on the current rates for all entities that accept EZ-PASS. I cannot confirm how up-to-date it is but the POI Factory link in this thread has not been updated in two years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass

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Brent - DriveLuxe 51 LMT-S

...

eungkeupsil wrote:

From what I last read, you can only open a Peace Bridge EZ Pass if you have a NY or Ontario license.

Peace Bridge no longer issues E-ZPass. They merged their accounts into the NY Service Center (Thruway and MTA) in 2011.

Also VA

I've had my EZ-Pass for several years in Virginia. I have never incurred a monthly fee. Newer owner have to pay a $0.50 monthly fee, but they grandfathered us old users.

It's a rip off

The transponders don't cost them money, they make them money. You can reduce overhead by cutting jobs, less money to count and handle, even less wear on tear on the mechanical gates at the toll booths. It would be better to do as we do in Illinois and charge the people that don't use transponders more, since they drive the cost up.

...

nrbovee wrote:

The transponders don't cost them money, they make them money. You can reduce overhead by cutting jobs, less money to count and handle, even less wear on tear on the mechanical gates at the toll booths. It would be better to do as we do in Illinois and charge the people that don't use transponders more, since they drive the cost up.

The cost for each transponder is now about $18.00. They make money for Kapsch, the company that manufactures the transponders for the E-ZPass Group member agencies.

And many facilities have discounts for E-ZPass users, including Pennsylvania Turnpike and the NY/NJ Port Authority.

This is good info-

This is good info-

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~Jim~ Nuvi-660, & Nuvi-680
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