Tollbooth electronic readers and Rental Cars

Yeah, I've been smacked twice with this one. Both times driving a rental while mine was being repaired. Had the iPass in the car but forgot to hold it up and it didn't register. Socked $25 for the 'priviledge' of them paying my toll.

We are going to an area with toll roads. Pennsylvania.
We will be in a rent car for a week.
I have the Nuvi set to avoid toll roads.
Do I have to worry about the toll roads if the Garmin Nuvi 2450 is set to avoid toll roads? Does it really work?
Never around toll roads.

The good news is there are not a lot of toll roads in PA. The PA Turnpike (I76) runs from Ohio to New Jersey. The Northeast Extension of the Turnpike (I476) runs from the Philly area to north of Scranton. Then there is a small spur near Ohio (I think I376) that used to have some odd extra toll. I believe that is all the toll roads in the entire state. Not sure about the New Jersey bridges – I have never used them.

Depending on where and how far you are going, it can be hard to avoid the Turnpike. The good news is the Turnpike still takes cash at most locations. Not sure if they have any E_ZPass only exits. The bad news is the Turnpike is expensive. From their website, Ohio to New Jersey is $31.38 for E_ZPass or $43.90 for cash.

I have a TomTom, not a Nuvi, and it will keep me off toll roads if I select that option. That assumes of course you can get to your destination without using a toll road. For example, you cannot get to the terminals at DFW airport without paying a toll.

I am pretty sure Garmin units work the same way.

As a toll road, the PA Pike is not that expensive. The cost is around 3 cents per mile. It is also one of the older toll roads in the US. The section between Breezewood and New Stanton is one of the heavier trafficked areas as it forms part of I-70. The PA Pike is also 4 lanes, 2 in each direction and narrow in parts. The biggest problems are with speed. Too many drivers travel at what would not be considered prudent and safe. Besides having excellent cell coverage, the Pike has call boxes every mile. It is usually well patrolled, but the rest area prices for both food and fuel can be higher than what's in the surrounding areas. But then, there is the hassle of exiting and reentering the Pike to consider.

You can calculate the toll charged by going to http://www.paturnpike.com/toll/tollmileage.aspx

It does but be careful. Toll avoidance almost takes me in a 110+ mile detour while the actual distance to my destination is only 26 mile (via toll). It would cost me more on gasoline and time to avoid paying $6 toll. Always check your route before you start the journey.

I thought there were a lot of tolls on most roads there. Don't remember who told me that. Glad to hear they are wrong.
We will be landing in Philadelphia, then driving to Harrisburg, then to Hershey, then to Gettysburg, then to Lancaster then back to Philadelphia to fly back.
BaseCamp found me a way with no tolls and I will put it in Nuvi and hope she calculates the same route. Will see...

Thanks again for the information. I was afraid I would get on one of the tolls that didn't take cash and have to pay the rental car to pay it and their fee...Again, glad to know.

Thanks Mary

A freakin scam I tell ya it's a scam

For that list the Philly to Harrisburg leg would be the only one to even consider the Turnpike. Google Maps says going thru Delaware and then Lancaster saves 9 miles and adds 20 minutes. Sounds like a good trade to me.

We just encountered this in San Francisco with Advantage Rental Cars.... EXCEPT...
It was the Fellow at the counter STRONGLY SUGGESTED WE DO NOT Take this option!!!

He was quite Up Front with us, and told us how we could call the toll authority (In the case of Golden Gate Bridge, which is now 100% Electronic) to circumvent $$$ charges...

When I thanked him, he told me it was Company Policy to strongly suggest, or at least completely explain, the situation on the charges....

Impressed me with their honesty!!!

Would be nice if the world was as honest as Advantage Rental Cars. I will look at them next time..

And thanks again everyone for all the help on the tolls and whether to avoid them or not.
Mary