looks like the smaller E-ZPass tags are nearing 10 years old

 

I have a transponder that stopped working.

I know they have batteries but thought hmmmm this is a new tag.

Did a little digging and come to find it's about 10 years old lol

I know last time around they claimed I didn't return one and charged me, and I simply said what can I do it's like fighting City Hall.

This time I will return in person. I really should cancel the acct, this is NJ and there is almost zero benefit i.e. no discounts (maybe 5% off peak which is never) I used to get the $20/mo. then $18/mo for crossing the bridge, but now I only cross about 12X a month. Also it costs $1/mo.

I'm perfectly fine with the NYS account which has steep discounts when in NYC/NY. Also $0/mo.

EZ Pass

Actually, in my opinion its now essential to have an EZPass. Many states (including NY and MA) have gone to cashless tolling which means that if you don't have a transponder, you will get a bill in the mail, and that bill may include a service charge on top of the toll.

Several years ago, I rented a car in the Bay Area and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge which is now cashless. I ended up paying several times the amount of the toll - the rental car company contracted with a collection agency to handle tolls, and the collection company charged fee for each day of the rental in addition to any tolls that were actually due. Painful lesson! Turns out that there was a web site where you can register the car plate number to have tolls directed to a credit card, but you have to know about it and register before the toll collection company intervenes.

Yesterday I

went through the same toll lane with a different tag and it worked, i.e. reader said EZPass Paid. I mean logic says there can't be something wrong with the car. So I have a 5th tag coming--been able to piece it together.

4 tags--1&2 oldest, 3 is newer, and 4 is newest as they overlooked it and didn't replace until I called. #4 is what I used yesterday and #3 is in my daily driver.

It would stand to reason 1 doesn't work either at this point.

Had the same experience at the Golden Gate, so I linked my CC to the rental, and I did pay the normal amount. Meaning, went to the tolling authority's website and linked license plate to credit card.

I don't like the rental scenario when on personal. On business it is what it is. Because the rental car will always pay, then charge the credit card on the rental contract.

There are horror stories about tiny toll authorities (say Canada back to the USA in NYS) that make mistakes, and then the driver is liable for 4 or maybe 5 figures over a $1 toll crossing. If I remember the story, it was a $1 toll for the Grand Island Bridge and a $25 fine. Now figure a person works 20 days a month so they rack up $520/mo when it should have been $20.

It's interesting, in 2023, Phila is the wild wild west--reminds me of NYC in 1978. In NYC, when people smoke out their plates, flip their plates, smoke their windows, they're actually apprehended. Here in Phila even after a hit and run nothing is done.

rental & ez pass

johnnatash4 wrote:

~snip~

I don't like the rental scenario when on personal. On business it is what it is. Because the rental car will always pay, then charge the credit card on the rental contract.

~snip~

I don't know how other states handle ezpass or similar products. I am commenting on a PA Turnpike issued pass.

On the turnpike ezpass website you can add a 'temporary' vehicle to your transponder. I've done this several times, most recently when wifey had an accident that required the car be in the shop for a few weeks and she got a rental to use in the meantime. She uses her pass everyday on I-476 to get to work. You just have to be sure to tell (ask) the rental company if they have an ezpass in the vehicle and have them remove it so you don't get charged twice.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

I used my ezpass in a rental last year

I had to go to the ezpass site (NY) and put in the plate number. The problem I had was verifying I got billed to the ezpass. You would think that being cashless tolls and electronic you would see the charge immediately. Not the case. It took over 2 weeks to see the charge.

--
Nuvi 2460LMT.

Thanks.

Mine is about 8 years old, and I never gave this issue any thought. Thanks again.

--
RKF (Brookeville, MD) Garmin Nuvi 660, 360 & Street Pilot

Rentals

monophoto wrote:

Actually, in my opinion its now essential to have an EZPass. Many states (including NY and MA) have gone to cashless tolling which means that if you don't have a transponder, you will get a bill in the mail, and that bill may include a service charge on top of the toll.

Several years ago, I rented a car in the Bay Area and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge which is now cashless. I ended up paying several times the amount of the toll - the rental car company contracted with a collection agency to handle tolls, and the collection company charged fee for each day of the rental in addition to any tolls that were actually due. Painful lesson! Turns out that there was a web site where you can register the car plate number to have tolls directed to a credit card, but you have to know about it and register before the toll collection company intervenes.

When I rented a car last year, I was given the option to pay tolls as an added rental fee. It was reasonable, so I took it. Small insurance to pay against these outrageous fees!

Reliable

And convenient

--
non-native nutmegger

with work

bdhsfz6 wrote:
monophoto wrote:

Actually, in my opinion its now essential to have an EZPass. Many states (including NY and MA) have gone to cashless tolling which means that if you don't have a transponder, you will get a bill in the mail, and that bill may include a service charge on top of the toll.

Several years ago, I rented a car in the Bay Area and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge which is now cashless. I ended up paying several times the amount of the toll - the rental car company contracted with a collection agency to handle tolls, and the collection company charged fee for each day of the rental in addition to any tolls that were actually due. Painful lesson! Turns out that there was a web site where you can register the car plate number to have tolls directed to a credit card, but you have to know about it and register before the toll collection company intervenes.

When I rented a car last year, I was given the option to pay tolls as an added rental fee. It was reasonable, so I took it. Small insurance to pay against these outrageous fees!

If a business rental I would do that as I've not got the time to research all the tolling options for a locale.

But on personal I would not do the rental car thing. Why? Because when we went to NorCal we only crossed the Golden Gate 1X when tolled. The rental car co. charges a daily fee for every day of the contract, up to X days, maybe 7. So it's like agreeing to then $35 to handle the tolls, plus the tolls. On personal I don't want to pay the $35+x or over $40 for a single crossing. i.e. I registered the plate with the tolling authority.

But 100%, on business, just pay the $40+ for a single crossing.

Depends

johnnatash4 wrote:
bdhsfz6 wrote:
monophoto wrote:

If a business rental I would do that as I've not got the time to research all the tolling options for a locale.

But on personal I would not do the rental car thing. Why? Because when we went to NorCal we only crossed the Golden Gate 1X when tolled. The rental car co. charges a daily fee for every day of the contract, up to X days, maybe 7. So it's like agreeing to then $35 to handle the tolls, plus the tolls. On personal I don't want to pay the $35+x or over $40 for a single crossing. i.e. I registered the plate with the tolling authority.

But 100%, on business, just pay the $40+ for a single crossing.

Of course this decision depends on individual circumstances.

My last CA rental involved multiple crossings of the Oakland Bay Bridge. At $7 a pop, it was cheaper to pay up front.

For rentals where the toll situation is unknown, I just add the rental plate to my electronic toll account.

guess

NJ E-ZPass is gonna earn their $12/yr fee as I requested another tag to total 6. Why should I have ones that don't work when I'm paying the fee. I will drop off the 2 non-working ones when I have a chance, if I can figure out how to get to their building.