Avoid Slowdowns at Tolls: How to Use PlatePass®

Immediately you start to panic and scramble for loose change, snapping you out of your road trip euphoria.

To avoid the mad dash for loose change every time you pass through a toll, consider an electronic toll payment solution, like PlatePass, instead. Read on to discover everything you need to know about PlatePass, including what it is and how it works. 

Electronic Toll Collection: What It’s All About

Most major toll roads and High Occupancy Tolling (HOT) lanes now offer the option of electronic toll collection (ETC) to eliminate delays. Some tollways are all-electronic, meaning there is no option to stop and pay with cash. So, instead of tossing coins into a receptacle, which can cause congestion, ETC allows drivers to pass through tolling points without stopping.

Throughout the US, toll authorities use two methods of ETC: transponder and video. In transponder regions, the toll agency communicates with a transponder installed in your vehicle to collect funds from a connected bank account. In video regions, the toll authority obtains a photo of the vehicle’s license plate and sends the toll to the account associated with that vehicle.

What is PlatePass® and how does it work?

PlatePass is a toll payment solution that allows renters to use high-speed electronic toll collection lanes and bypass cash lanes.

If you’ve rented a vehicle that is PlatePass-enabled, using it is simple:

· In a transponder region - open the transponder box (located behind the rearview mirror), so that the toll agency can read the transporter.  If the transponder malfunctions or is not present, just drive through the toll lane. The toll road system will automatically detect the license plate of the vehicle.

· In a video region - simply drive through the cashless toll lane. The toll road system will automatically detect the license plate of the vehicle.

Note: In both transponder and video tolling regions, charges will be applied to the credit card you used to rent the vehicle, typically within one to three weeks after the rental agreement ends. The charges will include the cost of each toll, plus an additional fee for each day when tolls are incurred.

Ready to hit the open road? See if your next destination is on the list of toll roads that accept PlatePass. For more information on how to avoid slowdowns at cash toll plazas, check out our PlatePass and electronic tollways FAQs.