flying into IAH late at night, getting rental car
Jan 31, 2016, 5:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: IAH
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Yes the toll roads do accept cash or exact change. Here are the rates for the toll road.
https://www.hctra.org/tollroads_rates/
Feb 1, 2016, 5:43 am
#3
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I've faced similar situations at other airports. My advice is to reserve the rental car, but have a back up plan as well, either a second reservation at a rental company that's open later, a taxi, etc. Of course, make sure it's a standard, non pre-pay reservation that you can no-show without penalty.
Feb 3, 2016, 3:19 pm
#6
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The last time I was in Houston (about 2 years ago), the rental car had a transponder in the rear-view mirror. You had to slide it out to use it, and it didn't register if you kept it in with the mirror. I think it was something that if I used it even once, I'd get charged about $7-8 per day, which covered all tolls. I managed to just use a few roads that took cash.
Here's a map of the Houston area toll roads:
https://www.hctra.org/tollroads_map/...74695798351523
Keep in mind that you can ride free on some HOV lanes on freeways during rush hour, if you have 2+ people in the car, but you'd have to pay outside of rush hour.
Depending where you are going, if Thrifty offers the toll transponder, you might just want to do that, especially if they offer an, "unlimited," plan like Hertz used to. Ask how they handle tolls if they don't explain, as if you, "pay as you go," they'll add on extra fees.
Last year I was renting from a small airport that didn't have 24 Hour rental car coverage. Of course I got stuck on the way, due to weather. I called the local office and explained, and they stayed open for me (we had talked about them leaving the contract/keys in the rental car, but it turned to not be necessary).
I'd get the local number for Thrifty at IAH and call them if you suspect you might be delayed.
As noted, you'll need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the rental car center.
Here's a map of the Houston area toll roads:
https://www.hctra.org/tollroads_map/...74695798351523
Keep in mind that you can ride free on some HOV lanes on freeways during rush hour, if you have 2+ people in the car, but you'd have to pay outside of rush hour.
Depending where you are going, if Thrifty offers the toll transponder, you might just want to do that, especially if they offer an, "unlimited," plan like Hertz used to. Ask how they handle tolls if they don't explain, as if you, "pay as you go," they'll add on extra fees.
Last year I was renting from a small airport that didn't have 24 Hour rental car coverage. Of course I got stuck on the way, due to weather. I called the local office and explained, and they stayed open for me (we had talked about them leaving the contract/keys in the rental car, but it turned to not be necessary).
I'd get the local number for Thrifty at IAH and call them if you suspect you might be delayed.
As noted, you'll need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the rental car center.
Feb 3, 2016, 7:37 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 140
thanks all for advise
The last time I was in Houston (about 2 years ago), the rental car had a transponder in the rear-view mirror. You had to slide it out to use it, and it didn't register if you kept it in with the mirror. I think it was something that if I used it even once, I'd get charged about $7-8 per day, which covered all tolls. I managed to just use a few roads that took cash.
Here's a map of the Houston area toll roads:
https://www.hctra.org/tollroads_map/...74695798351523
Keep in mind that you can ride free on some HOV lanes on freeways during rush hour, if you have 2+ people in the car, but you'd have to pay outside of rush hour.
Depending where you are going, if Thrifty offers the toll transponder, you might just want to do that, especially if they offer an, "unlimited," plan like Hertz used to. Ask how they handle tolls if they don't explain, as if you, "pay as you go," they'll add on extra fees.
Last year I was renting from a small airport that didn't have 24 Hour rental car coverage. Of course I got stuck on the way, due to weather. I called the local office and explained, and they stayed open for me (we had talked about them leaving the contract/keys in the rental car, but it turned to not be necessary).
I'd get the local number for Thrifty at IAH and call them if you suspect you might be delayed.
As noted, you'll need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the rental car center.
Here's a map of the Houston area toll roads:
https://www.hctra.org/tollroads_map/...74695798351523
Keep in mind that you can ride free on some HOV lanes on freeways during rush hour, if you have 2+ people in the car, but you'd have to pay outside of rush hour.
Depending where you are going, if Thrifty offers the toll transponder, you might just want to do that, especially if they offer an, "unlimited," plan like Hertz used to. Ask how they handle tolls if they don't explain, as if you, "pay as you go," they'll add on extra fees.
Last year I was renting from a small airport that didn't have 24 Hour rental car coverage. Of course I got stuck on the way, due to weather. I called the local office and explained, and they stayed open for me (we had talked about them leaving the contract/keys in the rental car, but it turned to not be necessary).
I'd get the local number for Thrifty at IAH and call them if you suspect you might be delayed.
As noted, you'll need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the rental car center.
Feb 3, 2016, 9:21 pm
#9
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Feb 4, 2016, 12:05 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Posts: 314
If you're arriving late, I wouldn't bother with toll roads--they're really only useful when traffic is really bad.
Use waze or google maps with toll roads disabled and you'll be fine. If you really insist on using Texas toll roads, then I'd suggest this for the best prices on tolls: https://www.ntta.org/custinfo/rental...s/default.aspx
Use waze or google maps with toll roads disabled and you'll be fine. If you really insist on using Texas toll roads, then I'd suggest this for the best prices on tolls: https://www.ntta.org/custinfo/rental...s/default.aspx
Feb 4, 2016, 6:59 am
#11
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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As noted, if you really don't want to use toll roads, set your GPS to avoid them. But it could possibly add a significant amount of time to your trip.
Feb 6, 2016, 8:10 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IAH
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Posts: 143
I'm not sure about Thrifty, but all of National's cars at IAH come with a toll pass already fixed to the car. It relieves you of the need to worry about going on toll roads, but you do pay a surcharge for every day that you use it.
As noted above, a large part of the Northeastern sector of Beltway 8 is EZTag only, as is the new Grand Parkway (TX 99).
As noted above, a large part of the Northeastern sector of Beltway 8 is EZTag only, as is the new Grand Parkway (TX 99).
Last edited by Baritone73; Feb 6, 2016 at 8:10 am Reason: Corrected airport code.
Feb 6, 2016, 9:47 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 140
thanks for all help
I'm not sure about Thrifty, but all of National's cars at IAH come with a toll pass already fixed to the car. It relieves you of the need to worry about going on toll roads, but you do pay a surcharge for every day that you use it.
As noted above, a large part of the Northeastern sector of Beltway 8 is EZTag only, as is the new Grand Parkway (TX 99).
As noted above, a large part of the Northeastern sector of Beltway 8 is EZTag only, as is the new Grand Parkway (TX 99).
Mar 8, 2016, 4:14 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Posts: 7,251
If you are driving between Houston and Austin, it is difficult not to take a toll road, and I have yet to see a toll road in Austin that allows you to pay cash (they could possibly exist, but I haven't seen one).
As noted, if you really don't want to use toll roads, set your GPS to avoid them. But it could possibly add a significant amount of time to your trip.
As noted, if you really don't want to use toll roads, set your GPS to avoid them. But it could possibly add a significant amount of time to your trip.
mind you i started in dt houston and i ended up in dt houston so maybe there's something i'm missing