Hate rental car ‘convenience’ fees for tolls? Orlando has an answer
If you’ve ever rented a car in Orlando, one of the biggest rental car markets in the country, (or anywhere else), you may be familiar with the often-excessive fees many rental car agencies charge for those “convenient” toll payment transponders.
Most companies rent out those transponders for up to $4.95 day, whether you go through a toll booth each day of your rental or not. Some charge even larger flat fees per rental. Even worse, they charge the renters the cash toll rate, which is always higher than that charged to electronic toll pass users.
Many consider those exorbitant, often unavoidable, charges a racket. Or a rip-off. After getting a lot of complaints from visitors, Orlando’s mayor, Buddy Dyer, and regional toll agency, the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) decided it was a challenge.
“We had conversations with many of the rental car companies,” said Michelle Maikisch, Chief of Staff/Public Affairs Officer for CFX). But they were unsuccessful in having those companies reduce or eliminate the fees. “So, we decided to try to come up with a solution,” she says.
And they did. Orlando’s Visitor Toll Pass, which debuted in May 2019 and was put on hold during the pandemic, is back. It allows anyone renting a vehicle at Orlando International Airport (MCO) to get a transponder tag that allows them to bypass the rental car toll devices and pay the road tolls on their own, electronically.
Getting the Visitor Toll Pass is easy. You can download an app on Google Play or the Apple App store before you arrive at the airport or at the toll pass vending kiosk on Level 1 of Terminal A at MCO. The app will walk you through creating an account with your credit card and reserve a pass that you retrieve from the kiosk with a bar code. Then– an important step–be sure to decline the rental car toll transponder option on your rental contract and hang the toll pass on the mirror of your rental car vehicle.
“When you leave the parking garage, technology pairs your toll pass to the license plate of the car and you can see all the toll transactions on the app,” says Maikisch. “You will pay the exact toll that that local e-pass customers pay.”
Related: Airport rental car users are increasingly dissatisfied as prices increase
There are no hidden fees, but you’ll pay $10 if you forget to drop the toll tag in a marked drop box at the airport when you return your rental car. “But we even give you a period of time to mail it back to us if you forget to do that,” says Maikisch.
Before COVID-19 landed, the Visitor Toll Pass program was just gearing up. There was an app to download, but visitors received their pass from a person in a booth at the airport. During a hiatus during COVID-19, from March 2020 to June 2021, the program was tweaked. “Now we have a team onsite to help out, but you get your pass from our vending machine,” said Maikisch. The agency has also ordered more toll tag dispensing kiosks, but supply chain issues have slowed down delivery.
Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car
The Visitor Toll Pass program is a win for travelers, of course, saving them more than 80% over the cost of using the car rental toll schemes. But it is also a win for the city of Orlando, the tourism community, the regional toll authority, and even the airport, which is the first place visitors experience when flying into or out of the region.
“Providing our passengers with another option to enhance their travel journey while here in Central Florida is all part of what we call The Orlando Experience,” says Tom Draper, Chief of Operations, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.