Yep, even though I rarely cross them, I still keep my NY tag and use it every so often. I also have an NC Quick Pass with the HOV functionality, and a Maryland tag for the Hatem Bridge north of Baltimore ($20/year for unlimited crossings, with no monthly E-ZPass fee).

You do have a point there. Often, I could not add a rental to my NY account because PlatePass already had them on file and I got an error that the plate was already registered. Then again, if something goes wrong (where your E-ZPass is debited but the system still thinks you didn't have a transponder) and you didn't add the vehicle to your account, you would have to deal with both the rental agency (and their extra fees) and E-ZPass to rectify the double billing.

So, what's the cost analysis then? Say u r a NYrker driving 2 rental round-trips to FL annually. Or even driving a rental South, and a different rental North...What are the costs of utilizing HOV or Express lanes along I-95?

p.s. My passing impression was that some special VA EZpass was needed to utilize Express lanes free

We have family in the DC area, so it could come in handy when driving around town. The tolls can definitely reach $10-20 during peak times.

Any E-ZPass can access the express lanes but a special one is required in order to claim the HOV exemption.

ok so, we don't have determination for a very typical case: what's most cost-efficient for a NewYorker (already has NY EZpass) who drives rental cars to/from FL
1) considering cost - how much - of other state EZpass
2) utilizing Express Lanes on I-95 (South of DC, East of DC, West of DC, around Baltimore, and other)

If you're using any of the crossings in or around NYC, the New York E-ZPass is your best bet because the savings will likely offset any discounts you forego at other toll facilities outside NY.

As for express lanes, the operation varies by state/area. The express lanes south and west of DC (all in Virginia currently) are HOT lanes, which means the lanes are free to use if you have 3+ people in the vehicle AND you have an E-ZPass Flex (which has a carpool mode). In contrast, the express lanes north of Baltimore have no passenger exemption - all users pay a toll. As such, it makes more sense to look at the Virginia HOT lanes.

If you don't have more than three occupants in the vehicle, then it makes no difference whose E-ZPass you have (you'll pay the same toll). If you have 3+ occupants but you are traveling when traffic is light (and the lanes happen to be open in your direction), the carpool mode might not save you enough to offset the higher tolls you would pay in NY with an E-ZPass from another state (historical rates are no longer available, but I think you'd look at under $10 on something like a Sunday morning). On a Friday afternoon heading out of DC, however, you might come out ahead with an E-ZPass Flex from Virginia (the toll at the current moment from the Beltway to the end of the lanes is nearly $30).

It's a little more inconvenient, but this might be a time when carrying two E-ZPasses makes sense (use the NY tag as your primary and carry the VA Flex transponder in a read-proof bag or wrapped in foil). That way you have options when you approach DC. Virginia does not charge fees but has an inactivity rule, so using their E-ZPass once in a while would keep the account open.

I like your thinking about tandem usage, and I'm not seeing much inconvenience. My NY transponder is small, and never attached. So on approach to a reader: I just hold it up against windshield in the exact spot, where people in their own car would have it glued up. I could wrap it in foil on approach of DC express lanes, and take out the Flex - which hopefully is just as easy to hold up to windshield? How do I procure Flex?

I just discovered Virginia requires you use HOV mode once a year to keep the Flex pass. If you can do that, here’s the link

https://www.ezpassva.com/EZPages/Get-Flex.aspx

Otherwise, I’d pay the $17 and get the NC version (that one only has an inactivity rule for any toll usage, not just HOV)

https://www.myncquickpass.com/en/home/index.shtml

As for them fitting, I have both the old style NY transponder and the Flex pass from NC. Both use the same width for the Velcro strips, so it is easy to swap.

https://www.ezpassva.com/EZPages/New-Flex.aspx
So if I order on-line from NY address, what do I pay?

You just pay the initial $25 load amount if you are using a credit card. There is no monthly or transponder fee, but you will need to use HOV mode at least once every 12 months to keep the Flex transponder.

I was driving on SR-528 and the FL-Turnpike in Orlando last night and every dot matrix highway information sign was adverting that EZ-Pass is now accepted on all Florida Toll roads.

I live in NY and will be flying to MCO in August. I'll be renting a car for a week.

Can I just bring my NY EZ-Pass to FL and put it on the dash of my rental? I would love to not have to use the rental agency's toll pass package.

Yes you can. Put it on your windshield of your rental. There are suction cup velcro mounts that you can get on Amazon that enable this in your rental car.

Also put your rental car license plate temporarily on your NY E-ZPass account during the duration of your rental in case you get photo tolled.

Thank you very much!

I didn't know about adding the plate to the NY EZ-Pass account temporarily—that was the thing I was a little concerned about.

It’s in the event your EZ-Pass Transponder isn’t read by the toll gantry, it will take a picture of your license plate instead and will later match it to your SunPass/E-Pass/EZ-Pass account. If traveling on a FTE/Sunpass maintained road (like the FL-Turnpike or SR-528 west of McCoy Road), they have indicators next some of the toll booths that will glow “SUNPASS, GO” to let you know it picked up the transponder. If on CFX/E-Pass maintained roads (like 417, 408, 429), these indicators were removed these several years ago so there is no way to know if it picked up your transponder or not (CFX also automatically takes a picture of every license plate that goes through so you will see it flash at night).