Should I SunPass?

[tomngerri]

We make the drive to FL from central KY 1 or 2 times a year...once for Disney and usually again to FLL or MIA for a cruise. I was looking at the SunPass details and it appears the only one time charge is $25. SunPasss users get a toll discount, and it seems we could make up this cost in just a couple years. Based on some of the plaza lines we've waited in the convenience factor also seems high.

My question...any other non-Florida residents use SunPass?

Any Florida resident comments would also be appreciated.

[Bequia]

As a resident, I wouldn't leave home without it. When driving to Orlando I easily save 30-45 minutes that would have been wasted stopping at every toll plaza. Too bad they don't have a national SunPass or EzPass. Besides the transponder cost I believe you have to maintain a balance of $25 in your account. They automatically replenish it from a designated credit card. In Florida you can associate more the one car with a single SunPass.



74

[critterfriend]

What route do you take from KY to Miami? We are going to be driving from Nashville TN to Miami next month. How long does it generally take you? I checked mapquest and yahoo maps but am not sure they are really accurate. Is there a good way to avoid the toll roads?

[RHefley228]

My question...any other non-Florida residents use SunPass?

Yes, and I find it invaluable when we visit our condo in Miami, just to be able to bypass the manual toll lanes. Mine has little suction cups, so I just stick it on the rental car windshield and I'm ready to go.

[tomngerri]

We're hitting Disney on both ends of the cruise so we take i-75 to the turnpike. We average 12 hours to Orlando...then 3 more to FLL.

[snelsonbrown]

I have had my E-Pass which is the same as Sunpass and I will tell you, it sure makes life less complicated. My hubby in the beginning did not feel the expense was worth it, but after hearing "honey get 50 cents ready, honey get a dollar ready etc", I said to heck with it and got the pass. Now we do not use it that much, but when we do, how great to drive straight through and no longer hear "get $$$ ready". I also know it does save time BUT just keep a record of your charges. Its just a good thing to start from the beginning.
always
Shirley

[kf4zra]

dunno about e-pass, but with sunpass, you log into www.sunpass.com (http://www.sunpass.com) and you will have a record of all the plazas you traveled through, your current balance, etc. you can also update info there too

[Tanker4]

Never leave home without it! A real convienence and time saver.:D

Tanker 4

[ashtyn]

I have had an e-pass for over 10 years and couldn't imagine life without it.

One correction, if you change vehicles you must go to the website or call and have that car registered to the pass. We switched one from a car we don't use to my son's and he somehow didn't register when he went thru and they sent him a "fine" letter. I was able to get it straightened out but what a hassle. Just a small piece of advice;)

[tomngerri]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

We just returned from our Disney World and Ft. Lauderdale trip. We really enjoyed having our SunPass, and I think it's a good value for any non-Floridians who travel to south Florida on a regular basis. Here are some highlights:

- We saved $4-5 in tolls (the unit has a one time charge of $25 to buy)
- There were several toll booths with 30-40 cars queued at each spot. It's hard to quantify how much savings(gas and wear/tear) there is avoiding these stop and go situations, but I'm sure it was a few more dollars.
- Blowing past a line of stopped cars just felt good.
- The website allows you to easily modify and fund your account.

I'll conservatively put our total toll savings at $8 for this trip. 3 trips to south Florida and we've broke even on the cost of the SunPass unit. We'll have this covered in 2 more years. If you factor in the convenience...it was a no brainer.

[Bequia]

A smaller, cheaper SunPass device will become available this summer for drivers who want to pay tolls in advance and use the no-stop toll lanes on Florida's Turnpike and other toll highways.

State officials say the SunPass Mini will be about the size of a credit card. It will be cost $4.95 instead of $25 for the current larger SunPass transponder. The larger ones will still work. The new one should be available in July.

The mini device won't be able to be transferred from one car to another, though. If someone tries to take it off a car, it will break. That's meant as a theft-deterrent.

Turnpike officials haven't yet set the minimum balance for the device. Officials hope to find a way for users to pay through a debit card system.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Here some additional SunPass facts that new users should be aware of:

1. Throughout Florida from the Panhandle to the Keys you will find toll roads and toll bridges displaying the SunPass logo. If you have a SunPass it is good at all those locations.

2. Around Orlando many toll roads are operated by the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority which has its own similar EPass program. Signs will only display the EPass logo however you SunPass is valid. Likewise, the SunPass transponder is also valid in O-Pass lanes in Osceola County (Kissimmee) as well as LeeWay bridge tolls around Fort Myers/Sanibel Island.

3. SunPass can be used to pay for parking at Orlando International Airport and other major airports in Florida have or will be added.

4. The northeast United States has a multi-state transponder system called E-ZPass. That does NOT work in Florida nor does SunPass work up north.

BobK/Orlando

[H2Otstr]

I have an EZ Pass from upstate NY and I am in Florida for 2 months and I have used it on numerous occasions. Just zipp right through all the Sun Pass lanes.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I have an EZ Pass from upstate NY and I am in Florida for 2 months and I have used it on numerous occasions. Just zipp right through all the Sun Pass lanes.

LOL.....are you being serious? Have you noticed that the TOLL PAID sign does not come on? Have you noticed the flashing toll violation light? Have you noticed the flash of the camera? I expect that you'll be receiving a number of UNIFORM TRAFFIC CITATIONS in the mail once they see how many times you've skipped the toll. Let me assure you that E-ZPass is not valid in Florida.

Also see: http://www.sunpass.com/missedtoll.cfm
BobK/Orlando

[AlaskaBound0507]

We make the drive to FL from central KY 1 or 2 times a year...once for Disney and usually again to FLL or MIA for a cruise. I was looking at the SunPass details and it appears the only one time charge is $25. SunPasss users get a toll discount, and it seems we could make up this cost in just a couple years. Based on some of the plaza lines we've waited in the convenience factor also seems high.

My question...any other non-Florida residents use SunPass?

Any Florida resident comments would also be appreciated.
I'm a Florida resident & don't use it that much - but I love it! Some of the toll plazas in the Miami area just let you drive through in the Sunpass lane without even slowing down to 25mph & going through a toll booth. It's so much easier & you don't have to worry about getting stuck behind someone that needs change or directions.