There’s nothing worse then encountering an unexpected toll road while driving in 40’ RV towing a Jeep 4-down. Sometimes our Texas EZ-Tag is accepted, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes the toll will be manned and we can pay an attendant. Sometimes they’re set up to pay by tag but that usually has added costs. Sometimes they are unmanned and you have to have change to throw into the machine.
Luckily, we have several options these days for Toll Passes, which wasn’t the case when we first started our fulltime life.
Why Use a Prepaid Toll Program for Your RV Instead of Paying in Cash or Toll by Plate?
If you choose not to purchase a prepaid toll transponder for your RV, you have two options- Toll by Plate or paying in cash.
If you elect for the Toll by Plate method, a camera photographs your license plate when you pass a tolling station and you receive an invoice in the mail.
Pay by Plate Tolls are More Expensive-
You should know that in addition to the toll amount, you are assessed an additional administrative cost to cover the costs of billing. Also, if your RV license plate is obstructed (by a tow vehicle) or difficult for the cameras to read, you may receive additional fines plus the toll amounts. And if you are traveling and not getting mail on a regular basis, you may incur a late charge for not paying by the deadline. We’ve had 2 incidences where we never got a bill in the mail but we sure got the late notice! Luckily, when we called they waived the late fee.
Manned Toll Booths Are Being Eliminated-
If you decide to use the old fashioned cash method of paying for your tolls, you should know that many states are eliminating manned toll booths so change is not provided. You will also not receive the discounts offered for the prepaid toll systems, so depending on how many axles you have and how often you travel, your toll costs can be as much as 33% more.
The best pass we have found so far? – The North Carolina Quick Pass. Why? It is low cost and covers 18 states – unfortunately all are in the North East and down to Florida. We also have the Texaz EZ Tag but that’s because we are from Texas. We surprisingly found out by accident that Oklahoma honors the Texas EZ Tag.
There are more Toll paying options for us these days. I’ve list a few below so you can compare and make your own decision about what works for you.
E-ZPass – NC Quick Pass E-ZPass Transponder
Cost: $7.40 plus tax (one time charge – as of 9/2020)
How It Works
The NC Quick Pass E-ZPass transponder is a hard-case transponder that is mounted on the interior of a windshield. Antennas above the road read a signal from a microchip inside the device, and tolls are deducted automatically from your prepaid NC Quick Pass account.
NC Quick Pass is the easiest and most cost-effective way to enjoy toll roads in North Carolina and several other states. With an NC Quick Pass transponder, you can:
- Save up to 35 percent on tolls in North Carolina
- Eliminate extra fees that can be associated with toll bills
- Pay lower rates on some E-ZPass, SunPass and Peach Pass toll roads
A pre-paid transponder account automatically deducts tolls from a pre-paid balance and provides drivers up to 35 percent discounts on tolls in North Carolina.
With an NC Quick Pass transponder, NC Quick Pass allows for inter-operability with toll facilities in Florida (SunPass), Georgia (Peach Pass) and all states that use E-ZPass.
Your NC Quick Pass E-ZPass and NC Quick Pass E-ZPass Flex work on toll facilities in North Carolina, Florida (SunPass), Georgia (Peach Pass) and the following states where E-ZPass is accepted.
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Uni Pass
RVs can use a transponder to pay tolls in 18 states. Florida’s Uni Pass (formerly E-PASS Xtra) is fully compatible and works everywhere the following passes are accepted including E-PASS, SunPass, LeeWay, PeachPass, NC QuickPass, E-ZPass, RiverLink, I-PASS and QuickPass toll systems.
In addition to the convenience of only having one toll account to manage, you still receive the toll discounts that prepaid toll transponders provide. It’s also a portable transponder that can be moved from your RV to your car, and works on motorcycles too.
What States Can I Use a Uni (formerly E-PASS Xtra) in?
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia West
- Virginia
How Much Does the Uni Pass Cost?
The one-time cost to purchase the Uni Pass transponder at the official CFX site is $15 or from Amazon for an extra $3 of less than $20. There are no annual contracts or monthly account fees, but you will need to provide a credit or debit card and fund it with a minimum of $10 of prepaid tolls.
How Can I Get a Uni Account?
Open an Uni account using one of the 3 choices below:
- Online- Go to the E-PASS site to open an account online
- Phone- Call the E-PASS Customer Service Center at 407-823-7277 or 1-800-353-7277, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM
- In-Person – go to the Customer Service Center located at 762 South Goldenrod Road (Pinar Plaza), Orlando, FL 32822 which is open 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Monday through Friday and 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Saturdays
Six Things You Need to Open a Uni Toll Pass Account
Make sure to have the following information available when opening your E-PASS account:
- Your address information for billing
- Your Email address
- Your Driver’s license number
- Your License plate numbers and the state where issued for both your RV and tow vehicle
- The model/make/year/color of vehicles
- Credit or debit card to activate your account with a minimum of $10 in prepaid tolls
The New Single Toll Tag Solution For RVs And Trailers
The revolutionary RV Toll Pass transponder now makes the open road even more open. Owners of RVs and trailers can now access major toll roads across the United States with a single toll transponder. They can also easily manage all nationwide toll fees from a single account.
Approved by Major Toll Authorities
Simple and Convenient
- RV Toll Pass covers the majority of toll roads in the U.S.
- One registration | One Account | One transponder
- Eliminates difficult maneuvering through narrow toll booth lanes
Saves Money
- Pays for itself with lower electronic rates versus cash or video toll rates. (subject to agency policy)
- Nominal monthly service fee of $14.99 charged ONLY on months when toll charges are incurred, otherwise there is no service fee.
Easy Install/Maintenance
- No maintenance/Easy Installation-battery powered transponder with 5-year life under normal usage
- Self-installed on the windshield
- Also comes in a vehicle-powered version for RV dealers and OEMs for concealed installation
What and Where to Buy
There are three models of the RV Toll Pass transponder to match the configuration of your RV.
- MH3 – RV Toll Pass model MH3 for Motorhomes with 3 axles
- MH2 – RV Toll Pass model MH2 for Motorhomes with 2 axles
- TR2 – RV Toll Pass model TR2 for all 2 axle tow vehicles (Cars, SUVs & Pickup trucks) that can tow a trailer or 5th wheel
So you have a few choices now when it comes to Toll Passes. If anyone knows of others, please feel free to let me know and we will add them to the list. Thanks.
2 axle motor homes towing a car will require which transponder?
The one pictured on my website.
From their website:
The NC Quick Pass E-ZPass Interior Transponder.
The NC Quick Pass E-ZPass transponder is the best option for customers who plan to travel on toll facilities within North Carolina, Florida (SunPass), Georgia (Peach Pass) and where E-ZPass is accepted. Your NC Quick Pass E-ZPass can also be used with the NC Quick Pass HOV App or website to set HOV status and travel toll-free in the I-77 Express Lanes.
Cost
$7.40 plus tax
How It Works
The NC Quick Pass E-ZPass transponder is a hard-case transponder that is mounted on the interior of a windshield. Antennas above the road read a signal from a microchip inside the device, and tolls are deducted automatically