How to avoid the sneakiest rip-offs on a Great American Road Trip
British holidaymakers planning an American road trip are facing the threat of a new wave of charges imposed by hire car companies.
Travellers exploring the US by road are in danger of becoming victims of the new highway rip off in states that have removed traditional tollbooths, replacing them with electronic toll sensors.
Instead of handing over a few dollars, motorists speed through with the car being tracked automatically and the motorist billed accordingly.
At least six states - California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and Texas — have introduced cashless systems on some roads and bridges. The iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco got rid of its toll booths in 2013.
For American motorists, the convenience of cashless tolling is a boon, but for unwary tourists, it paves the way for ever higher car rental bills.
Rental giants are offering clients the option of hiring a transponder, ensuring the tolls are paid automatically, but the generous offer comes with a price tag, which varies according to the company and location.
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Avis, for example, offers what it describes as its “e-toll” service along the eastern seaboard from Maine to North Carolina as well as California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Puerto Rico.
Motorists who sign up for the service are charged $3.95 (￡2.76) a day for the duration of the rental, even when the driver does not use a toll road. The fee, which must be paid in addition to the toll charges, is capped at $19.75 (￡13.90) a month.
Alamo charges the same amount, but the convenience fee is waived on days when the service is not used. Hertz uses PlatePass automated payment system, whereby drivers are charged for each toll at the highest, undiscounted toll rate plus a $4.95 (￡3.49) convenience fee for each calendar day when tolls are incurred. There is no maximum PlatePass convenience fee.
Drivers wanting to avoid using a PlatePass responder and running up charges are told to keep the device in a closed shield box, which prevents it from being read automatically.
Dollar’s terms and conditions are even more draconian for those who decline to use the PlatePass system. Not only are drivers subject to the toll charges but also an administrative fee of up to $15 (￡10.57) for each occurrence.
Mercifully, there is a way of avoiding the convenience fees by setting up a toll account in advance.
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California, for example, says drivers can go online and and register their credit card. Having set up the account, they can enter their number plate details as soon as they collect the rental car. Alternatively, the toll road authority will even post transponders to the UK, if given enough advance notice.
Florida offers a comparable service, through its Sun Pass prepaid toll programme. Drivers give the toll authority the number plate details to avoid being charged twice. Transponders can also be purchased at branches of Publix, CVS and Walgreens.
Electronic tolls, though not widespread in Europe, are not restricted to the US. Portugal has also began replacing its cash booths with sensors.
road or rail?
Easy Toll allows visitors to create an account linked to their credit card and the car’s licence plate, negating the need to hire a transponder from the car hire firm. Prepaid, fixed-rate toll payments are also possible.
A spokesperson for Rentalcars.com advises that all drivers on the Continent contact the national highway authority ahead of travelling to understand the toll road system.
“It’s really important to leave the rental desk with a crystal-clear understanding of the toll systems you’ll come across on your journey and how you’re going to pay, so you don’t get fined along the way,” the spokesperson said.
“Remember that if you use the road without paying the toll, the local highways authority will fine you, and if you’re in a hire car it’s likely the rental car company will charge an admin fee to process the fine too.”