USA Toll Transponder Interoperability - 2025 edition

[Rothman]

Speaking of FL, since the Sunshine Skyway bridge is now cashless, I wonder how all the tourists renting a car are going to pay the tolls without those ridiculous processing fees charged by the rental car companies. Not everyone has an EZ-Pass or other valid out of state toll tag to take with them on their trip, so toll-by-plate is their only option?

I don't think most tourists paying 4 digits for airfare and lodging for the Family Trip to Florida actually bat an eye at the ~$7/day fee most rental places charge to use a bundled SunPass. I've thought about bringing my spare NC Quick Pass on a few trips to New England and Florida but it's almost never been worth the hassle.

Few dollars here, another 20 there, oh it's another hundred for a mandatory resort convenience fee.. that's how a 4-digit trip becomes 5-digit one

Renting a car and paying tolls?  Nah.

[interstatefan990]

Speaking of FL, since the Sunshine Skyway bridge is now cashless, I wonder how all the tourists renting a car are going to pay the tolls without those ridiculous processing fees charged by the rental car companies. Not everyone has an EZ-Pass or other valid out of state toll tag to take with them on their trip, so toll-by-plate is their only option?

I don't think most tourists paying 4 digits for airfare and lodging for the Family Trip to Florida actually bat an eye at the ~$7/day fee most rental places charge to use a bundled SunPass. I've thought about bringing my spare NC Quick Pass on a few trips to New England and Florida but it's almost never been worth the hassle.

Then what about the son/daughter taking a basic trip to visit their retired parents for a few days, who just needs to get around and isn't there to blow thousands of dollars on a fancy vacation?

[ElishaGOtis]

Can confirm Ambassador Bridge does not currently accept E-ZPass. Used it today.

[Radem]

Can confirm Ambassador Bridge does not currently accept E-ZPass. Used it today.

Since the Ohio Turnpike does take EZ Pass and is not very far away, I think this was a mistake on their part.

[fwydriver405]

Maine Turnpike Authority will begin to have windshield sticker tags available for purchase starting on July 8:

https://www.maineturnpike.com/news/recent-news/new-windshield-sticker-tags-available-july-8

You have to pay for them? California sent me a free FasTrak tag unsolicited, after I did one pay-by-plate, about five years ago.

Just went to check my Maine Turnpike E-ZPass account for something else, and noticed that the Sticker tags are now available for purchase. The hardcase tags went up in price from $10.55 to $15.82 (prices after Maine 5.5% sales tax) while the sticker is $5.28.

[oscar]

Can confirm Ambassador Bridge does not currently accept E-ZPass. Used it today.

Since the Ohio Turnpike does take EZ Pass and is not very far away, I think this was a mistake on their part.

The Ambassador has its own electronic toll payment system already. But aside from not wanting competition for their own system, the owners seem not really interested in spending money to improve customer service when they are looking at revenue losses from the new Gordie Howe bridge. The existing toll collection equipment (including decrepit credit card readers -- you have to swipe your card, no contactless option) is evidence of that.

[ElishaGOtis]

Can confirm Ambassador Bridge does not currently accept E-ZPass. Used it today.

Since the Ohio Turnpike does take EZ Pass and is not very far away, I think this was a mistake on their part.

The Ambassador has its own electronic toll payment system already. But aside from not wanting competition for their own system, the owners seem not really interested in spending money to improve customer service when they are looking at revenue losses from the new Gordie Howe bridge. The existing toll collection equipment (including decrepit credit card readers -- you have to swipe your card, no contactless option) is evidence of that.

The main reason why I mention that is because of their website suggesting they will in the near future. I think it's well past "early" 2026 

[Great Lakes Roads]

From the NTTA June 17th board meeting in terms of nationwide interoperability:

Central hub (TX- NTTA and CTRMA, OK, KS, and CO- E-470 and CDOT express lanes) with E-ZPass- sometime in August and in phases with the full rollout expected in late 2027
West Coast hub (CA, WA, and UT)- 2027 or 2028? (blame California)

https://ntta.new.swagit.com/videos/391463

[Brandon]

Maine Turnpike Authority will begin to have windshield sticker tags available for purchase starting on July 8:

https://www.maineturnpike.com/news/recent-news/new-windshield-sticker-tags-available-july-8

You have to pay for them? California sent me a free FasTrak tag unsolicited, after I did one pay-by-plate, about five years ago.

Just went to check my Maine Turnpike E-ZPass account for something else, and noticed that the Sticker tags are now available for purchase. The hardcase tags went up in price from $10.55 to $15.82 (prices after Maine 5.5% sales tax) while the sticker is $5.28.

Interesting.  ISTHA's stickers are free; you just need $10 in prepaid tolls.  The only extra cost is if you get them at a Jewel-Osco or Road Ranger ($2.90), and that fee goes to the merchant, not to ISTHA.  ISTHA doesn't even offer the hard cases anymore.

[kalvado]

Maine Turnpike Authority will begin to have windshield sticker tags available for purchase starting on July 8:

https://www.maineturnpike.com/news/recent-news/new-windshield-sticker-tags-available-july-8

You have to pay for them? California sent me a free FasTrak tag unsolicited, after I did one pay-by-plate, about five years ago.

Just went to check my Maine Turnpike E-ZPass account for something else, and noticed that the Sticker tags are now available for purchase. The hardcase tags went up in price from $10.55 to $15.82 (prices after Maine 5.5% sales tax) while the sticker is $5.28.

Interesting.  ISTHA's stickers are free; you just need $10 in prepaid tolls.  The only extra cost is if you get them at a Jewel-Osco or Road Ranger ($2.90), and that fee goes to the merchant, not to ISTHA.  ISTHA doesn't even offer the hard cases anymore.

Funny that NY Thruway just exchanged both our hardshells - to new hardshells.
It is possible that one of them was close to 10 year battery lifetime limit, but they were staggered by a few years. so the other one should have some lifetime left.
I wonder if that was purging out stockpile before shifting to stickers?

[fwydriver405]

Interesting.  ISTHA's stickers are free; you just need $10 in prepaid tolls.  The only extra cost is if you get them at a Jewel-Osco or Road Ranger ($2.90), and that fee goes to the merchant, not to ISTHA.  ISTHA doesn't even offer the hard cases anymore.

Funny that NY Thruway just exchanged both our hardshells - to new hardshells.
It is possible that one of them was close to 10 year battery lifetime limit, but they were staggered by a few years. so the other one should have some lifetime left.
I wonder if that was purging out stockpile before shifting to stickers?

When MTA announced the sticker tags, they have said that they would keep the hardcase transponders for those customers who preferred a device to transfer between vehicles, unlike MassDOT like other agencies who phased out the hardshells. This is suggested in their latest press release out of the three they've released about them:

2026-07-10, 2026-06-12, and 2026-03-09

[vdeane]

From the NTTA June 17th board meeting in terms of nationwide interoperability:

Central hub (TX- NTTA and CTRMA, OK, KS, and CO- E-470 and CDOT express lanes) with E-ZPass- sometime in August and in phases with the full rollout expected in late 2027
West Coast hub (CA, WA, and UT)- 2027 or 2028? (blame California)

https://ntta.new.swagit.com/videos/391463

Wow.  I still don't understand why the central hub is doing this in phases, but once all this is done, IIRC that would leave just SC, AL, LA, and most of MI as non-interoperable.  I would expect AL and LA to join once a couple prominent bridges on I-10 become tolled, and I think PalmettoPass is supposed to go away once the bonds on I-185 are paid of (2030s???).  It will certainly make the periodic MacPass arguments on this forum interesting if/when those of us not from Michigan can say "it's literally the only non-interoperable toll pass in the nation not on an international bridge".

[chrisdiaz]

From the NTTA June 17th board meeting in terms of nationwide interoperability:

Central hub (TX- NTTA and CTRMA, OK, KS, and CO- E-470 and CDOT express lanes) with E-ZPass- sometime in August and in phases with the full rollout expected in late 2027
West Coast hub (CA, WA, and UT)- 2027 or 2028? (blame California)

https://ntta.new.swagit.com/videos/391463

Wow.  I still don't understand why the central hub is doing this in phases, but once all this is done, IIRC that would leave just SC, AL, LA, and most of MI as non-interoperable.  I would expect AL and LA to join once a couple prominent bridges on I-10 become tolled, and I think PalmettoPass is supposed to go away once the bonds on I-185 are paid of (2030s???).  It will certainly make the periodic MacPass arguments on this forum interesting if/when those of us not from Michigan can say "it's literally the only non-interoperable toll pass in the nation not on an international bridge".

As of now, I-185 will be paid off in 2051  . South Carolina state legislators recently passed something that will allow SCDOT to work with private companies to create tolled express lanes, so I fear we may have tolls in this state for the foreseeable future. I can only hope that PalmettoPass merges into the EZPass / Quick Pass / Peach Pass system of interoperability. But that would be a dream.

[ElishaGOtis]

From the NTTA June 17th board meeting in terms of nationwide interoperability:

Central hub (TX- NTTA and CTRMA, OK, KS, and CO- E-470 and CDOT express lanes) with E-ZPass- sometime in August and in phases with the full rollout expected in late 2027
West Coast hub (CA, WA, and UT)- 2027 or 2028? (blame California)

https://ntta.new.swagit.com/videos/391463

Wow.  I still don't understand why the central hub is doing this in phases, but once all this is done, IIRC that would leave just SC, AL, LA, and most of MI as non-interoperable.  I would expect AL and LA to join once a couple prominent bridges on I-10 become tolled, and I think PalmettoPass is supposed to go away once the bonds on I-185 are paid of (2030s???).  It will certainly make the periodic MacPass arguments on this forum interesting if/when those of us not from Michigan can say "it's literally the only non-interoperable toll pass in the nation not on an international bridge".

They now literally have a giant sign saying "NO E-ZPASS / NO I-PASS" as of last week when I went there... 

[doorknob60]

Just a warning about using a SunPass Pro on DFW toll roads. I used mine last week, had the physical transponder as well as adding my license plate to the account. It worked no problem on all the mainline toll roads I used: George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Tollway, Sam Rayburn Tollway. They all posted to my Sunpass account no problem, and pretty quickly (under 12 hours). All at the discounted TxTag rate.

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked. I just got my first bill from National Toll Pass for using the TX-183 Express Lanes. $2.09 toll with a $4.95 fee, which I bought the transponder to avoid I expect another 1 or 2 sets of express tolls (I also used I-635 and I-35E express lanes on different days) with fees will come in over the next few days too...

After all the charges come through, I'll probably contact Sunpass and ask them what's up. I don't expect any compensation (worst case scenario I'm only out about $15-20), though if they offer something it would be nice. More important is that they get things working moving forward, or update the information to be accurate.

[I-55]

Just a warning about using a SunPass Pro on DFW toll roads. I used mine last week, had the physical transponder as well as adding my license plate to the account. It worked no problem on all the mainline toll roads I used: George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Tollway, Sam Rayburn Tollway. They all posted to my Sunpass account no problem, and pretty quickly (under 12 hours). All at the discounted TxTag rate.

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked. I just got my first bill from National Toll Pass for using the TX-183 Express Lanes. $2.09 toll with a $4.95 fee, which I bought the transponder to avoid I expect another 1 or 2 sets of express tolls with fees will come in over the next few days too...

After all the charges come through, I'll probably contact Sunpass and ask them what's up. I don't expect any compensation (worst case scenario I'm only out about $15), though if they offer something it would be nice. More important is that they get things working moving forward, or update the information to be accurate.

E-ZPass Group is good about listing the operating agencies that accept E-ZPass and not just the states, which is particularly helpful when there are multiple tags available in each state (particularly FL and TX). A brief browsing on the SunPass site and I only found states, which I doubt will be updated as there are other graphics on their site that have needed modification for five years or more.

[kphoger]

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked ... I don't expect any compensation

I would.  If their map says it should work, then they should pay you back if it didn't work.  Take screenshots, and ask to be reimbursed.

[doorknob60]

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked ... I don't expect any compensation

I would.  If their map says it should work, then they should pay you back if it didn't work.  Take screenshots, and ask to be reimbursed.

I will ask, but I won't fuss too much if they can't do it.

One way I can look at it, it's karma coming back around for the free trip I got on ON-407 ETR last year because they couldn't bill my rental car's Missouri plates. That would have probably been close to a $50 toll (but it probably saved me close to an hour sitting in traffic).

[ElishaGOtis]

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked ... I don't expect any compensation

I would.  If their map says it should work, then they should pay you back if it didn't work.  Take screenshots, and ask to be reimbursed.

I'll look into this as well. I dealt with a similar issue, although this was in Houston. My tolls went through just fine on SH-183 express.

[doorknob60]

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked ... I don't expect any compensation

I would.  If their map says it should work, then they should pay you back if it didn't work.  Take screenshots, and ask to be reimbursed.

I'll look into this as well. I dealt with a similar issue, although this was in Houston. My tolls went through just fine on SH-183 express.

I believe all the Houston area toll roads are not compatible with Sunpass yet, so that may be expected in your case. They're marked red on the map I saw. Confusing, I know, considering if you have a Texas based transponder it will work on all of them. Even more confusing, in Austin some of the roads are compatible, and some are not.

EDIT: I found some conflicting information. The map on the Sunpass site says Houston roads don't work, but HCTRA's site says Sunpass does work there. https://www.hctra.org/FAQ/All What a mess haha.

Interesting that yours worked on SH-183 Express Lanes though.

[doorknob60]

Just a warning about using a SunPass Pro on DFW toll roads. I used mine last week, had the physical transponder as well as adding my license plate to the account. It worked no problem on all the mainline toll roads I used: George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Tollway, Sam Rayburn Tollway. They all posted to my Sunpass account no problem, and pretty quickly (under 12 hours). All at the discounted TxTag rate.

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked. I just got my first bill from National Toll Pass for using the TX-183 Express Lanes. $2.09 toll with a $4.95 fee, which I bought the transponder to avoid I expect another 1 or 2 sets of express tolls with fees will come in over the next few days too...

After all the charges come through, I'll probably contact Sunpass and ask them what's up. I don't expect any compensation (worst case scenario I'm only out about $15), though if they offer something it would be nice. More important is that they get things working moving forward, or update the information to be accurate.

E-ZPass Group is good about listing the operating agencies that accept E-ZPass and not just the states, which is particularly helpful when there are multiple tags available in each state (particularly FL and TX). A brief browsing on the SunPass site and I only found states, which I doubt will be updated as there are other graphics on their site that have needed modification for five years or more.

The Sunpass website doesn't make it easy to find if you're just looking for information. But if you actually create an account and go to purchase a transponder, they do make that information visible. Here's what it looks like:



And the link goes here, which gives a helpful map with a detailed list of the compatible roads.

Whether or not it is still accurate/up to date, well maybe not based on my experience. Also notable they make no mention of Colorado on that particular page (though they do on this page), when it's supposed to be supported, so that's not great.

[ElishaGOtis]

Just a warning about using a SunPass Pro on DFW toll roads. I used mine last week, had the physical transponder as well as adding my license plate to the account. It worked no problem on all the mainline toll roads I used: George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Tollway, Sam Rayburn Tollway. They all posted to my Sunpass account no problem, and pretty quickly (under 12 hours). All at the discounted TxTag rate.

But I also used some express lanes. None of those came through on my Sunpass, even though on the map on the Sunpass site they should have worked. I just got my first bill from National Toll Pass for using the TX-183 Express Lanes. $2.09 toll with a $4.95 fee, which I bought the transponder to avoid I expect another 1 or 2 sets of express tolls with fees will come in over the next few days too...

After all the charges come through, I'll probably contact Sunpass and ask them what's up. I don't expect any compensation (worst case scenario I'm only out about $15), though if they offer something it would be nice. More important is that they get things working moving forward, or update the information to be accurate.

E-ZPass Group is good about listing the operating agencies that accept E-ZPass and not just the states, which is particularly helpful when there are multiple tags available in each state (particularly FL and TX). A brief browsing on the SunPass site and I only found states, which I doubt will be updated as there are other graphics on their site that have needed modification for five years or more.

The Sunpass website doesn't make it easy to find if you're just looking for information. But if you actually create an account and go to purchase a transponder, they do make that information visible. Here's what it looks like:



And the link goes here, which gives a helpful map with a detailed list of the compatible roads.

Whether or not it is still accurate/up to date, well maybe not based on my experience. Also notable they make no mention of Colorado on that particular page (though they do on this page), when it's supposed to be supported, so that's not great.

The map in the first link is supposedly outdated, but the map in the second is supposedly the current one. Emphasis on supposedly.

[hwyfan]

Can confirm Ambassador Bridge does not currently accept E-ZPass. Used it today.

Since the Ohio Turnpike does take EZ Pass and is not very far away, I think this was a mistake on their part.

The Ambassador has its own electronic toll payment system already. But aside from not wanting competition for their own system, the owners seem not really interested in spending money to improve customer service when they are looking at revenue losses from the new Gordie Howe bridge. The existing toll collection equipment (including decrepit credit card readers -- you have to swipe your card, no contactless option) is evidence of that.

The main reason why I mention that is because of their website suggesting they will in the near future. I think it's well past "early" 2026 

The Detroit International Bridge Company has put minimal effort into working towards interoperability.
They aren't listed members of the Interagency Group consortium.  The terms for their independent A-Pass transponder and required subscription plan is lucrative enough.