While a summer road trip can often be more affordable than flying, toll roads often lead to high costs and hefty fines (if you don’t have the right pass).
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Of the 50 states, 38 have toll roads or bridges, according to TollGuru.com. Florida has the largest collection of toll roads, while the priciest road in the world is the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
States often provide discounts if you pay tolls using a transponder — a digital device that sticks to your windshield and is connected to an account you can fund via credit or debit card. If you drive through a toll plaza and do not have the correct pass for that state, a camera will take a photo of your license plate and send a bill to the address linked to your license plate.
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Penalties for Toll Violations
If you don’t pay a toll, either in cash or through the appropriate toll pass transponder, you’ll receive a bill in the mail. If you fail to pay the toll within the timeframe set by the state, it’s considered a toll violation. You may get billed additional fees and penalties. Your vehicle registration may also be suspended or revoked in some states.
For instance, in New York, you have 30 days to pay your toll bill by mail. The second toll bill includes a $5 late fee. If you don’t pay that bill within 30 days of receipt, you’ll be charged up to $50 per transaction on top of the toll fees.
On some California toll roads, violations cost an additional $57.50 on top of the toll amount. If you ignore the first violation notice, the bill goes up by another $42.50, according to TheTollRoads.com.
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The Right Toll Pass for Any Road
Not only can having the right toll pass help you avoid fees and penalties, but many passes provide toll discounts. It pays to know which toll pass you’ll need in each state if you’re planning a cross-country road trip.
Multiple States: EZPass or E-ZPass
E-ZPass is one of the largest tolling agencies in the U.S., and E-ZPass is one of the most widely accepted passes, spanning multiple states across the East Coast and parts of the Midwest. Your E-ZPass works in Delaware, Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, Georgia and Florida.
An E-ZPass is also cross-compatible with toll passes in some other states, including Florida’s SunPass Pro, Georgia’s Peach Pass, North Carolina’s NC Quick Pass, I-Pass in Illinois and RiverLink in Kentucky.
Alabama: Freedom Pass
This prepaid toll system is only accepted on Alabama’s four toll roads.
California: FasTrak
FasTrak is California’s tolling system and can only be used in California. You can’t use other toll transponders in California, and FasTrak transponders won’t work outside the state, with one exception. If you purchase your FasTrak through TheTollRoads.com, you can use it in certain cities in North Texas. However, you can’t use North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) passes in California.
Colorado: ExpressToll
Colorado’s ExpressToll is only accepted in Colorado and can offer discounts of 20% to 25%. Drivers can also use the ExpressToll pass to pay to drive on Colorado’s Express Lanes.
Florida: SunPass, E-Pass
Florida’s tolling agency issues different version of a SunPass: the Mini and the PRO. SunPass Mini works in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. The PRO works in these states, as well as states that accept E-ZPass. The SunPass Mini transponder costs around $5, while the SunPass PRO costs around $15. In addition to being accepted in more states, it also allows you to move the transponder between different vehicles.
Drivers in Florida can also choose the E-Pass, issued by the Central Florida Expressway Authority. This pass is accepted in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Georgia: Peach Pass
Georgia drivers can use a Peach Pass for discounts and automatic payments on Georgia’s toll roads. The Peach Pass is also accepted in states that use the E-ZPass system.
Illinois: I-Pass
An I-Pass transponder, issued in Illinois, is accepted on any roads that accept E-ZPass, and delivers a discount of up to 50% off Illinois tolls.
Kansas: K-Tag
Issued by the Kansas Turnpike Authority, the K-Tag is accepted in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Passes in these three states are all cross-compatible.
Kentucky: RiverLink
The RiverLink Pass is good on Kentucky’s tolled bridges. It is also accepted in states that accept E-ZPass and E-ZPass compatible transponders, including I-Pass in Indiana.
North Carolina: NC Quick Pass
The NC Quick Pass works across North Carolina, as well as in states that accept E-ZPass, E-Pass, I-Pass, Peach Pass and SunPass.
Oklahoma: PikePass
Issued by the Oklahoma Transit Authority, the PikePass is good across Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and parts of Colorado and Florida. A PikePass transponder can save you as much as 50% off PlatePay tolls, according to PikePass.com.
Oregon: BreezeBy
The BreezeBy transponder offers a discount for travelers on Oregon’s Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge and the Bridge of the Gods.
Texas: TxTag, TollTag, EZ Tag
Texas has three toll passes, which are all cross-compatible. They are all issued by different authorities and pricing varies. The TxTag, TollTag and EZ Tag are all accepted across Texas and in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Washington: Good To Go!
Washington state’s Good To Go! pass ranges in price from $5 for a sticker to $15 to a Flex Pass that can be transferred to a new car and allows drivers to carpool for free on certain roads.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s the Toll Pass You’ll Need To Travel in All 50 States
