Someone explain the EZ Pass toll program to me

Klutch9

Klutch9

Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
3,036
Location
Rochester, MI, US, World
Just got my bill from our trip to E-town PA last month. I know PA tolls are high but my goodness! $147.04 was the bill. I decided to halve that bill by signing up for EZ Pass and funding it the minimum amount (plus the first year's fee of $3). Even if I don't use it again, it will take just under 12 years to catch up and start costing me. We have multiple friends out there so I'm sure we'll use it again at some point.

My question is: can this EZ Pass account (and transponder) be used for all toll roads in all states? I created an account with PA, but I see the same EZ Pass logo in Ohio too. Forgive my ignorance, I'm from Michigan and we don't have toll roads... just bad roads.
 
I’m from PA and use my EZ pass in multiple states without any problems. We have bad roads too, with tolls.
 
Last edited:
Klutch9 said:
My question is: can this EZ Pass account (and transponder) be used for all toll roads in all states? I created an account with PA, but I see the same EZ Pass logo in Ohio too. Forgive my ignorance, I'm from Michigan and we don't have toll roads... just bad roads.
Click to expand...
No, E-Z Pass can only be used in the states/areas shown in purple below:

1748980417630.webp
 
Klutch9 said:
My question is: can this EZ Pass account (and transponder) be used for all toll roads in all states? I created an account with PA, but I see the same EZ Pass logo in Ohio too. Forgive my ignorance, I'm from Michigan and we don't have toll roads... just bad roads.
Click to expand...

Not all states. The ez pass works on most tollways east of the Mississippi. The Illinois tollway (iPass) also accepts ezpass and vise versa. Other states like Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas are on their own. You'd have to look up exactly which states though.
 
IIRC the initial/monthly fee and discounts depend on where you get your transponder from.

Also $147? How long was the trip?
 
I had an EZ Pass from PA since I used to use the turnpike to get to my folks pretty regularly. When OH got EZ Pass, it worked fine for that too, and used it in IL once. So, if the state has EZ Pass, then yes, it doesn't matter which state you bought the transponder from, but not all states use EZ Pass. Be aware the transponder has a battery that's only good for 7 years or so. Mine finally stopped opening the unmanned tollbooths so I returned it.
 
Pew said:
Not all states. The ez pass works on most tollways east of the Mississippi. The Illinois tollway (iPass) also accepts ezpass and vise versa. Other states like Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas are on their own. You'd have to look up exactly which states though.
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The new RFID Transponder sticker that the Illinois Tollway sent me a couple of weeks ago has both EZPass and IPass logos on the sticker.

I've also used the IPass on the Chicago Skyway bridge several years ago.
 
Pew said:
Not all states. The ez pass works on most tollways east of the Mississippi. The Illinois tollway (iPass) also accepts ezpass and vise versa. Other states like Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas are on their own. You'd have to look up exactly which states though.
Click to expand...
A private company in Colorado just signed a 100 year lease for the hov lanes. I think that is the same company that owns the E-470 tollway.
 
Well I'm gunna find out soon. Went to OK to see family. The pay stations were closed. You just through and camera took your picture. I asked daughter, she said I would get a bill in 2-3 weeks.
 
Wowser. That is high. Grew up in Pa. Here around Austin,Tx we have TxTag. It supposedly works in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. No monthly fees and no battery in a transponder or whatever. Just a small doohickey on the windshield near rearview mirror that the overhead reader/camera detects. My bill is about 80.00 per month. The savings for fuel and time is worth it I suppose. Traffic here is brutal. Pa. the Land of taxes and now high tolls on (salted in winter) crappy roads. LOL no offense.
 
opus1 said:
The new RFID Transponder sticker that the Illinois Tollway sent me a couple of weeks ago has both EZPass and IPass logos on the sticker.

I've also used the IPass on the Chicago Skyway bridge several years ago.
Click to expand...

Yea I've been able to use the iPass on all eztolls, all the way to Maine.

97prizm said:
A private company in Colorado just signed a 100 year lease for the hov lanes. I think that is the same company that owns the E-470 tollway.
Click to expand...

Privatization of the tolls and highways is crazy. Pritzker wants to lease the IL tollway to cover union pensions. Chicago ex-mayor Daley completely sold the Chicago skyway to a Brazilian (I think) company.
 
You need to be careful with the rfid stickers - I don't think they work everywhere. I know the sunpass one I have does not work in GA, although the regular transponder does.

I was about to order a new sunpass transponder. I wonder if I should switch to EZ-pass? Probably same at this point, so I already have sunpass account?
 
If you go to OK frequently, I would recommend KTAG. In Kansas you get half off the cashless mail in rate. Not sure about the other states discounts.

It is good in TX, OK, CO & Fla. The tag is free and you can leave a credit card on file so the account gets charged when you use the toll road. Account is billed monthly if over $10 and every three months if the bill stays under $10. Very simple small RFID tag.
 
Some states have an annual fee, or other hidden costs. I once read an article listing the various advantages of each state's system (within the EZ Pass network), and recommended a couple specific states which have the most advantageous "deal". In other words, no, you don't have to be a resident of that state (but last time I looked, the various websites try to link you back to your own home state's website). I live in Illinois, but have an Indiana transponder, for example.
 
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