Steve and Ian's trip is in full swing. They are currently camped out in Hershey, PA at the Hershey Highmeadow Campground. Tonight they are getting a visit in the park and will start tomorrow at the park before it opens. As they drove out to Indiana to take possession of Eagle, Steve told me about the tolls they were paying along the way. It is amazing how much money these tolls are, especially when you add a few more axles to the price.
We will have no choice but to take on these fees...it will not be worth the unknown situations we may encounter if we travel too far off the main highways...low bridges, narrow roadways, dirt roads, construction...so, we will purchase the EZ Pass to at least cut the price a tad (possibly), and get us passing through the toll booths quickly.
We've used EZ Pass before, and it is worth it. (Sometimes people pass through the EZ Pass toll booths mistakenly and try to pay $2.00 to an empty booth and then set off alarms as they drive through!) I have to take some time to look into discount plans...each state maintains its own EZ Pass system and I am not sure if the discount plans pertain only to your home state.
Here's how EZ Pass works:
When you sign up for E-ZPass, you open up a whole new frontier in convenient transportation. Instead of the inconvenience of coins, tokens, and tickets, E-ZPass allows you to pay tolls electronically as you pass through specially equipped toll lanes.
You can establish a prepaid E-ZPass account using your credit card, personal check, or cash. The convenient credit card payment option automatically replenishes your prepaid account. Check and cash E-ZPass accounts have a higher replenishment threshold and are replenished by mailing or delivering a payment to the E-ZPass Customer Service Center.
When you establish an E-ZPass prepaid account, you receive a small electronic tag that attaches to the windshield inside your car. Within the tag is an electronic chip that contains information about your account. Each time you use a toll facility where E-ZPass is offered, an antenna at the toll plaza reads the vehicle and account information contained in your tag. The appropriate toll is then electronically debited from your prepaid account. A record of your transactions will be included in your periodic statement.
Your E-ZPass tag is installed using fasteners that come with your tag. The tag should be installed approximately one inch below the top of your windshield above your rearview mirror. If there is not enough room above your mirror, the tag should be installed to the right of the mirror, approximately one inch below the top of your windshield. Be sure to read the E-ZPass Customer Guide that comes with your tag for detailed instructions on proper installation.
Some vehicles may require an external tag. Please refer to the customer application section, “Vehicles Requiring External Tags“ to determine whether your vehicle requires an internal or external tag. Once you've installed your tag, simply drive through the toll facilities that offer E-ZPass. Please remember that not all lanes are equipped with E-ZPass, so you'll need to watch for E-ZPass signs as you approach the toll plazas.
Not all states have EZ Pass at this time...
I've looked online, also, for a website that lists all of the major US Highway Toll Booths...but there does not seem to be one such site. I have found a few sites by state, so as I look, I will create a page with this info. It will be a good resource in case anyone heads for a road trip.
