Something useful for MCO regulars

VistiorTollPass - used on last trip excellent. Saves needing a transponder at all... https://visitortollpass.com/

Transponder is "free" ATM, so you just pay tolls to credit card. And you also get a discount on said tolls compared to paying cash, so an advantage for you as well as being easier.

The desk is conviently close to the Virgin holidays desk in arrivals baggage hall on Car Hire Level. Pickup transponder, place on rear view mirror as you drive out and for whenever driving on a toll route. Rest of time we put ours in glove box. WHen you return you just place transponder in the (large) return bins in the "tunnel" back to MCO (present in all rental tunnels). It is that simple, and saves on the more expensive rental car agency method of doing tolls "easily" in Florida. Took no more than 3 minutes, and was a lot less faff than finding quarters for the cash toll lanes, OR getting stung by hertz/others platepass arrangement (which this overrides!).

Note sadly only available at MCO right now, but bloke on pickup said they plan to expand to other FL airports in time.

This may be a stupid question, but how do the toll booths know to charge to that and not the Alamo, etc, electronic method?

As you leave/return the rental garages at MCO they have implemented equipment to scan the provided tag, and override the plate recognition linking that to hertz as you leave. You get a nice email telling you that your tag is then associated with numberplate number... and as you return back to rental garage they reverse the procedure (so if the tag is left in car it won't charge to you at that point). You can also call them if that fails to happen and they'll fix it on any tolls before they sent to Hertz on the platepass. I was told "if you don't get the email telling you it's all linked to call them (which is open all day)). But it's seamless, and highly recommended.

Whilst you are there there is also a portal so you can check that tolls have been charged correctly... takes about 24 hours to keep up with reality, but it works REALLY well.

The tag itself is then a "backup" working via the old Sunpass system across parts of Florida not using numberplate recognition. I honestly commend E-pass for this excellent system and we intend to use for ALL future rentals.

Thanks for the info. I've just signed up for our trip in November.

I noticed that this was piloting in the summer when I was there in April/May. Is it now running on a permanent basis? If so, I’ll use it next April/May.

Great, thanks. Will register now. Have 2 trips booked for Nov and May, so this will be really useful

Belated thanks for the heads-up. I will look to make use of this when we're in Florida next year.

Look forward to hearing other people's feedback.