LAST UPDATED: November 14, 2023
If you’re a snowbird who drives to and from your winter destination in the U.S. every year - or if you drive around exploring the U.S. while spending your winter there - then you might want to consider purchasing a toll road pass for your region.
Toll road passes allow you to breeze through toll booths without having to come up with cash and change each time.
There are several toll road passes in the U.S. that provide access to many local toll roads and bridges and it is well worth considering whether a toll road pass might be appropriate for you.
This is especially true now that many tolls have gone cashless since the pandemic. Once you sign up with a toll pass program, you’ll need to get a transponder for that toll pass and all of your toll charges will be consolidated and debited from your toll pass deposit or charged to your credit card, instead of receiving individual bills sent to your home using your license plate information.
The pass or passes that would be most appropriate will depend on where you are travelling in the U.S.
Depending on where you live in Canada and where you are headed in the U.S., here are a few passes worth considering.
Eastern U.S. heading to Florida
E-ZPass
If you are driving to Florida from Central and Eastern Canada then it is worth considering getting an E-ZPass. The E-ZPass Program is the largest toll collection program in the world with toll agencies in 20states and growing.
It is also useful while you are in Florida for toll roads and bridges there. However, Florida also has SunPass – and if you get the SunPass PRO transponder, it covers the states that E-ZPass covers in addition to all Florida tolls, so you don’t need both.
Once you set up an E-ZPass prepaid account, you will receive a small electronic transponder that attaches to the inside of the windshield. You will then deposit money into your E-ZPass account, which will be debited each time you use a toll.
E-Zpass is valid in 20 states: Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C. and Georgia is to be added soon.
For more information, visit: https://www.e-zpassiag.com/
Florida SunPass
SunPass is Florida’s prepaid toll program and the preferred method of payment for tolls. Since many toll roads in Florida are converting to all-electronic, no cash tolling, it makes sense to get a SunPass.
You can save an average of 25% on your tolls, plus, driving Florida’s toll roads with a SunPass transponder ensures quick and easy passing through toll booths.
SunPass PRO includes E-ZPass
SunPass PRO is a portable transponder that works in Florida plus the 20other states where E-ZPass is accepted.
SunPass PRO offers drivers the convenience of paying tolls automatically, allowing nonstop travel with just one toll account. SunPass PRO is a product of SunPass, Florida’s Prepaid Toll Program. Powered by SunPass and E-ZPass.
For more information, visit: https://www.sunpass.com/en/about/pro.shtm
Central U.S. heading to Texas
TxTag
Snowbirds who travel from Central Canada down to Texas should consider getting TxTag – a toll pass for all toll roads in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
With TxTag, you will always pay the lowest rates in all three States. The tag can be used wherever you see any of these symbols:
For more information, visit: https://www.txtag.org/txtagstorefront/en/
Western U.S.
Good to Go Pass
The Good to Go Pass provides access to all toll roads and bridges in Washington State if you are en route to California or Arizona from Western Canada.
For more information, visit: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/roads-bridges/toll-roads-bridges-tunnels/good-go-accounts-passes
California FasTrak
If you are driving anywhere in the state of California, FasTrak is the electronic toll collection system you will want to consider. The system is used statewide on all of the toll roads, toll bridges, and high-occupancy toll lanes along the California Freeway and Expressway System.
For more information, visit: https://www.thetollroads.com
TollGuru - a useful tool
For general information on toll passes throughout the United States and in other countries, Canadian snowbirds might want to check out Toll Guru here: https://tollguru.com/tolls-pass-all-us-states/.
