E-ZPass Recommendations for simple beginners 101

[RShea]

So looks like everyone is going to the pay by mail (and catching up to Canada that had that more than 15 or 20 years ago if I remember) or requirements to have an E-ZPass transponder device now for toll roads. Used to be able to pull out cash and make the payment for the trip. That is dead and no longer an option.

First time I encountered this was in the middle of last winter. They took the photo of my license plate, but I get to the destination and I had 4 or more inches of snow and never got the letter with the amount. But now that thing are opening a bit more, I probably will want to either get an E-ZPass with the account balance or since it is more of an non-regular usage, maybe the option of tying to a bank account and not having a balance?? Do you have to sign up in the state the vehicle is registered in? There are links to the various states that use it.

Looks like there are the GO PAK's at some retailers locations- mentions a possible surcharge though probably for the retailer handling it.

E-ZPass appears to be cheaper than the standard camera tags and pay after the fact via camera. So what is the Mag wisdom on this?

[Just Looking]

Not sure its wisdom, but not sure why you would want to give any entity direct access to your bank account to withdraw as they see fit. Any problem and you are on the hook for the withdrawl until you get through to some 800 number and it gets resolved somewhere down the line.
My experience with ezpass is I have a small balance $10-$15 that they keep on account, and a threshold for replenishment that you set, and a replenishment amount. They will suggest adjustments if you use more or less than the balance over a couple months, which I have found to be fairly accurate, both increasing or decreasing as my use changes. I have seen stuff they have sent saying there is a discount for using the ezpass over the photo-bill option, but don't have a clue what it was/is.
I do think they have the option to make one time payments, so you dont have to use the automatic replenishment, and just add the balance you think you will use. I hate to say this about any gov't or gov't sponsored entity, but I have not had any real problems with it. Also not sure about the sign-up, I did it in my home state.

[Talisman]

I probably will want to either get an E-ZPass with the account balance or since it is more of an non-regular usage, maybe the option of tying to a bank account and not having a balance??

EZ Passes in some states only require $25 balance from a credit card. I wouldn't link it to my bank account incase the system was hacked. There is recourse with a bank card.

Do you have to sign up in the state the vehicle is registered in?

No you do not. I have had a NY EZ pass for 16 years and chose NY at the time because it had the lowest deposit and no fee for the transponder at the time.

E-ZPass appears to be cheaper than the standard camera tags and pay after the fact via camera. So what is the Mag wisdom on this? EZ Pass is the way to go IMHO, but if you rarely travel on toll roads. If you drive across multiple states with tolls EZ Pass is well easy. Most states have websites where you can pay the toll retroactively or sign up your vehicle for a "pay by plate" program.

I was thought EZ Pass was cheaper than paying fines for delinquent tolls or being pulled over by the state police in NY, NJ or DE.

[JayPowHound]

I've had EZ-Pass for years here in Mass. No complaints, just load it and go. Tolls are cheaper, no bills in the mail.. do it.

[Benny Profane]

It was such a hassle to pay a 5 dollar Tappan Zee toll by mail or otherwise, and the penalty for late payment was so severe, I capitulated and got one, again. They took it away from me some time ago because of speeding through toll lanes (35 in 25, stupid shit like that) I said, fuck it, I don't need it anyway where I live. But, yeah, now you do. Just watch your speed, remember you're always being tracked, (and that tracking has been used in courts for a long time. Especially divorces.)

It's good for not realizing it costs well over 25 dollars to drive from Asbury Park to Katonah.

[ötzi]

I have New Jersey EZ Pass with the auto replenishment. I've also had Maryland and Massachusetts and NJ ihas the best interface and app that I've used and they're good about notifying you when you reached the replenishment threshold, plus they email you a monthly itemized statement.

I don't live in NJ or have a vehicle registered there, they don't care. I just happen to have NJ because the first transponder I got was on the Jersey turnpike years ago on a day when the cash tolls were slammed.

[warthog]

I have had this for years. Called Sun Pass down here. Works in the EZ Pass lane though, since ORL had EZ pass first because of all the New Yawkahs.
I have it set to replenish $20 when it goes below $10. Keeps my bill below the threshold for me needing to turn in a receipt to my company. Never worried too much about it. I have enough shit pulling $$ out of my account, SunPass is the least of my worries.

Speeding through the gates gets it denied? WTF? I see people blaze through there at 50+. Must be a NY thing.

[Talisman]

Speeding through the gates gets it denied? WTF? I see people blaze through there at 50+. Must be a NY thing.

I got a warning via email from NY State for being 10 mph over going through a toll lane on the old Tappan Zee Bridge. If it happened again my EZ Pass would be denied access for a year in NY. Lesson learned.

[warthog]

That is nuts. FL would lose all their revenue because everyone would be cut off and they would have to go back to hiring actual humans at $15 an hour.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Get the ezpass, but realize the call for money for money from the CC can take 2 overnights to actually replenish the account even though the money is paid by the CC the instant the request comes. So if you keep only a few $ on account and you go from Asbury Park to Katonah in one day you could get penalized by having a negative balance despite it being on automatic replenishment.

Many of the old style tolls are in place in NY and some lanes take both ezpass and cash so speed limits are necessary. Other areas have the overhead readers that you can go under at speed w no issue.

[gravitylover]

NY is going to all cashless, the project is almost done. If you don't have an ez-pass the tolls are usually 20% higher but sometimes more and you only get a few days after it's mailed to pay it. Mass sux too so you definitely want it there also. All of the states other than NY and NJ penalize you for having a pass from another state but it's less than the no pass price.

[RShea]

So doing a bit of research still. Here is what I learned. The Go Pak that I spoke of is available at a few of the grocery chains and AAA (not sure if you have to be a member or get a discount for being a AAA member). The one store right across the street from work I asked and they want $42 for the device (and that does not get you any balance, just a fee for the transponder.) They also had a pamphlet discussing a few basics- Visit the Turnpike web site to get the device, the store with the Go Pak or call the E-ZPass directly... You set up the account and register the device (claims just a few days to do the registration) and then i 1 day or 2 (out of state roads) you will be able to use it.

They do the automatic pay with a mim. $35 per transponder for the toll balances. Once you get under $10 then you are automatically refilled (which may not be immediately available) and again you have to do $35 as mim replenishment amount. There is a small $3 per transponder fee when you sign up, and then $3 annually from that point on.

They do have a manual replenishment option, but the fees are higher also, so not sure if that would be of benefit over just doing the pay by mail billing....

So looks like tomorrow I'll be doing the pay via mailed bill anyway as this just came up earlier today and it used to be about $2.70 round trip when they had the toll collectors doing cash.... Or drive the slower back roads through each little town (not very good use of time unless you are out for a weekend leisurely trip) ....

[Hopeless Sinner]

I don't remember any initial or annual fees, or paying anything at all for the transponders, unless you failed to swap out for new ones periodically. I had a fleet of 6 of them for almost 20 years - started when NYS Thruway and NY PA each had their own systems, which has now been blended.

[RShea]

I don't remember any initial or annual fees, or paying anything at all for the transponders, unless you failed to swap out for new ones periodically. I had a fleet of 6 of them for almost 20 years - started when NYS Thruway and NY PA each had their own systems, which has now been blended.

Assume you did the order directly and not one of the Go Pak's at a retailer. I have not called the E-ZPass directly to ask a few questions and clarify some items.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Assume you did the order directly and not one of the Go Pak's at a retailer. I have not called the E-ZPass directly to ask a few questions and clarify some items.

Sounds like the go pak is making others wealthy at your expense.

[smartyiak]

I didn't even know not having one was an option....It is just so simple, easy, and saves time. Every month or so, I get a "low balance" notification e-mail...I throw $20 or so on there and good for another month.

I seriously would not not have an EZ Pass.

[ötzi]

I bought a new car a while back and didn't sell an old one so I didn't have a pass yet for the new car on a 500-mile trip from DC to Boston. Never again, if I can help it. What a pain that trip was.

[Benny Profane]

I didn't even know not having one was an option....It is just so simple, easy, and saves time. Every month or so, I get a "low balance" notification e-mail...I throw $20 or so on there and good for another month.

I seriously would not not have an EZ Pass.

Yeah, they make it pretty easy, because it's easier for you to spend for tolls, obviously, and you don't know how much you're spending, like back in the olden times when you had to slow down and actually pay out of pocket. Now they can raise tolls 10-30% or whatever, and you'll just speed by and think, eh, whatever.

[ötzi]

whaddayagonnado?

[Mazderati]

I bought a new car a while back...

Time to update the car porn or trucks threads.

[Benny Profane]

whaddayagonnado?

Well, the upside is no fucking toll traffic jams, which is cool.

[riser4]

Trying to figure out if NH E-ZPass is my best bet.

[riser4]

I bought a new car a while back and didn't sell an old one so I didn't have a pass yet for the new car on a 500-mile trip from DC to Boston. Never again, if I can help it. What a pain that trip was.

Never again going to drive DC to Boston? I don't blame you. In either direction. Toll or no toll.

[RShea]

Well, the upside is no fucking toll traffic jams, which is cool.

Not really- at least the temporary "Road Construction" is over. They are ripping out the toll booths, and in this case at the state line to the Thruway today it was a 5 mile traffic jam- bumper to bumper parking lot as everyone merged down into 1 single lane that they had opened while they reconstruct the concrete and islands they pulled out. It was probably easily wide enough to have 4 or 5 lanes open in peak traffic times (like a Friday afternoon in the summer as travelers are headed somewhere) and they had each of the Thruway lanes down to merge into 1 lane to get through a set of orange cones... Would have been faster to take the state mostly 4 lane highway that runs parallel to it but goes through every little town and burgh with 25 to 35 MPH and traffic lights.

[Benny Profane]

Don't stress, in a few years, where ever you are, that'll be finished. Then it's easy sailing.