EZPass question

[DrPizza]

They offer various discounts - do the discounts only apply to the state through which the ezpass is issued? E.g., I'm a NY resident. On NY's site, I get 10% off Thruway tolls. If I get my ezpass through PA, would I still get that 10% discount in NY, or would I only get the 25% discount on the PA turnpike?

I don't go through tolls very often (I'm close to 2 hours from the nearest toll booth) - but when I do travel, it's quite annoying when 5 lanes are ezpass only and only 1 lane is taking cash.

I probably spend $32 in tolls each year on the PA turnpike, so do I need a PA issued ezpass to get their discount? If not, then I'd, of course, choose a state with no monthly ($1 in NY) or annual ($3 in PA) fees.

 

[SKORPI0]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass

From what I understand, you pay whatever fee is due for that specific tollway, taking for granted that you have the required required transponder for that location/s.

 

[Midwayman]

All I know is illinois set their cash rate to 'rape' to encourage i-pass(ezpass) usage.

 

[lothar]

They offer various discounts - do the discounts only apply to the state through which the ezpass is issued? E.g., I'm a NY resident. On NY's site, I get 10% off Thruway tolls. If I get my ezpass through PA, would I still get that 10% discount in NY, or would I only get the 25% discount on the PA turnpike?

I don't go through tolls very often (I'm close to 2 hours from the nearest toll booth) - but when I do travel, it's quite annoying when 5 lanes are ezpass only and only 1 lane is taking cash.

I probably spend $32 in tolls each year on the PA turnpike, so do I need a PA issued ezpass to get their discount? If not, then I'd, of course, choose a state with no monthly ($1 in NY) or annual ($3 in PA) fees.

Then what you need is E-Z Pass Massachusetts...It's what I have. Zero cost for the transponder, zero cost in maintenance fees, and low account balance.
-$0 per month if monthly statements by e-mail
-$0 per internal transponder
-$20 minimum balance (Account is charged a replenishment amount whenever the balance falls below $10, replenishing the account to a balance of $20. If usage exceeds $20 in any given month, the account is charged $40.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass#Fees_and_discounts_by_state
In most cases those advertised "xx"% off cash discounts on tolls don't amount to much of anything(at least with my own driving habits in Maryland using a theoretical "Maryland" state E-Z Pass).

http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/EZPassMAProgram/SignUp.aspx
If you want to sign up, make sure you select Massachusetts first, and then you can fill out your info with your actual state on the next page.
If you select anything other than Massachusetts, it will direct you to your own state's E-Z Pass system.

 

[Sinsear]

People who use the cash lane suck; they literally can back up traffic quite far at bridges/tunnels.

 

[DrPizza]

Then what you need is E-Z Pass Massachusetts...It's what I have. Zero cost for the transponder, zero cost in maintenance fees, and low account balance.
-$0 per month if monthly statements by e-mail
-$0 per internal transponder
-$20 minimum balance (Account is charged a replenishment amount whenever the balance falls below $10, replenishing the account to a balance of $20. If usage exceeds $20 in any given month, the account is charged $40.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass#Fees_and_discounts_by_state
In most cases those advertised "xx"% off cash discounts on tolls don't amount to much of anything(at least with my own driving habits in Maryland using a theoretical "Maryland" state E-Z Pass).

http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/EZPassMAProgram/SignUp.aspx
If you want to sign up, make sure you select Massachusetts first, and then you can fill out your info with your actual state on the next page.
If you select anything other than Massachusetts, it will direct you to your own state's E-Z Pass system.

Well, it comes down to two choices - Mass, if discounts in other states apply. Or, PA, if I get the 25% off turnpike tolls in PA. 2 round trips down the NE extension, from before Scranton to the Philly area, and the 25% off would save more than the $6 per year maintenance.

But, if I have a Mass ezpass, AND I still get the PA discount, then it's a no brainer. That is, if this is the case, then there's no reason whatsoever to get the ezpass issued in any other state, hence the original question: do discounts in other states still apply?

 

[kranky]

The discount is applied to the cash price. Each toll authority has a cash price, and an EZ Pass price (regardless of origin).

In NY you'd get 10%. In PA you'd get 25%.

EDIT: just saw Xanis' post above, where it shows Maine does not discount to out-of-state EZ Pass holders. I scanned down the wikipedia page and did not notice any of those exceptions. I guess it's agency-dependent.

 

[xanis]

I was actually wondering this myself, since there are EZPass discounts for NJ/NY tolls and my EZPass originated in PA. Did some quick Googling and found this on the Maine Turnpike website (relevant questions are #12 and #13):

Q: Will a Maine Turnpike E-ZPass tag provide discounts in other states?
A: Each E-ZPass facility operates under its own toll rate structure. Some may offer discounts to customers enrolled with outside agencies, but most do not.

Q: Will the Maine Turnpike provide discounts to customers with an E-ZPass tag from another agency?
A: No. Customers with E-ZPass accounts from other agencies will enjoy the convenience of E-ZPass on the Maine Turnpike, but will pay regular toll rates. To benefit from Maine Turnpike discount programs, you must establish an account with the Maine Turnpike Authority.

https://ezpassmaineturnpike.com/EZPass/info/faqs.jsp#q12
https://ezpassmaineturnpike.com/EZPass/info/faqs.jsp#q13

I wasn't able to get specific info for NY/NJ/PA, but I don't have any reason to believe that it would be different than Maine.

 

[EPCrew]

there's also a car pool plan for the bridges/tunnels. $4.25 but you have to use the cash lanes.

 

[SaurusX]

Toll roads suck. Can we all agree?

 

[nace186]

Interesting. I'll sign up once I get home.

 

[jaedaliu]

I was actually wondering this myself, since there are EZPass discounts for NJ/NY tolls and my EZPass originated in PA. Did some quick Googling and found this on the Maine Turnpike website (relevant questions are #12 and #13):





https://ezpassmaineturnpike.com/EZPass/info/faqs.jsp#q12
https://ezpassmaineturnpike.com/EZPass/info/faqs.jsp#q13

I wasn't able to get specific info for NY/NJ/PA, but I don't have any reason to believe that it would be different than Maine.

The discount is applied to the cash price. Each toll authority has a cash price, and an EZ Pass price (regardless of origin).

In NY you'd get 10%. In PA you'd get 25%.

So there are 2 different responses. and the answer is: Depends on the state in question. Based on the first post's wiki page, MA is place to buy an EZ Pass for usage in NY and PA.

 

[kranky]

According to this article from 2012, AAA reports 5 states do not offer the same discounts to out-of-state EZ Pass holders - Maine, New York, Rhode Island, West Virginia and New Jersey.

http://www.pewstates.org/projects/s...-for-out-of-state-e-zpass-drivers-85899381870

 

[acheron]

Toll roads suck. Can we all agree?

No. More roads should be toll.

According to this article from 2012, AAA reports 5 states do not offer the same discounts to out-of-state EZ Pass holders - Maine, New York, Rhode Island, West Virginia and New Jersey.

http://www.pewstates.org/projects/s...-for-out-of-state-e-zpass-drivers-85899381870

This is kind of bullshit though, and I hope the main EZPass organization cracks down on them.

 

[Linux23]

Wait, are you telling me that I can signup for EZPass outside of my state. The NY/NJ one just freaking sucks, IMO.

 

[Linux23]

More roads should be toll? You mean the roads that were already payed for by the tax payer?

 

[mugs]

Wait, are you telling me that I can signup for EZPass outside of my state. The NY/NJ one just freaking sucks, IMO.

Yes. I live in NJ and have a PA E-ZPass. I used to have one from NJ, but after a couple of years of non-use, an expired credit card and an outdated mailing address, I'm now banned from NJ E-ZPass.

In my defense I tried to update my address and credit card, but their website was broken and I forgot to try again later.

 

[lupi]

I loved driving through jersey last time and seeing the exits being ezpass or pick up an envelope, lol.

 

[acheron]

You mean the roads that were already payed for by the tax payer?

o rly?

Roads don't have to be tax-funded.

That's beside the point anyway. Even if the road was originally constructed from tax funds, upkeep needs to come from somewhere. Either everybody can pay for the road upkeep whether they use it or not, or the people that actually use it can pay for it. I prefer the second option.

 

[JujuFish]

More roads should be toll? You mean the roads that were already payed for by the tax payer?

Roads require upkeep. It makes sense to charge the people who actually use said roads rather than everyone.

 

[Midwayman]

Roads require upkeep. It makes sense to charge the people who actually use said roads rather than everyone.

Well in Illinios the tolls were supposedly to fund the building of the roads, but that was paid off decades ago. We still pay the same road taxes as everyone else in the state who isn't getting charged tolls. Effectively we are paying for the roads twice, at least here. If they outright abolished all road tax and instead charged us when we got new tags per mile I would be fine with that. However only paying on specific roads on top of tax blows.

 

[lupi]

Wihout the roads it'd be fairly difficult for you to eat, drink, have power, clothes..., so it makes sense for everyone to pay for them.

 

[lothar]

Well, it comes down to two choices - Mass, if discounts in other states apply. Or, PA, if I get the 25% off turnpike tolls in PA. 2 round trips down the NE extension, from before Scranton to the Philly area, and the 25% off would save more than the $6 per year maintenance.

But, if I have a Mass ezpass, AND I still get the PA discount, then it's a no brainer. That is, if this is the case, then there's no reason whatsoever to get the ezpass issued in any other state, hence the original question: do discounts in other states still apply?

The wiki link in my post specifically says that the Pennsylvania cash discount is available to *all* transponders.
But then again, it's Wikipedia so I don't know how updated that information is and I've never had to go to Pennsylvania so I can't verify. Maybe there are others here that drive to Pennsylvania on a regular basis with an out of state E-Z Pass that can vouch for this?

I know for a fact in Maryland, the information listed is correct. To get Maryland cash discount, you need Maryland E-Z Pass.

Like I said before, try Massachusetts first. You have nothing to lose.
Again, their transponder costs nothing, and there is zero maintenance costs or minimum usage requirements.

If you try it and the wiki link turns out to be wrong, then you can try Pennsylvania E-Z Pass.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

sucks using ezpass in va. its mainly for convenience as there are no local discounts. Toll roads around here generally dont get all that busy either.

 

[Stifko]

Wait, are you telling me that I can signup for EZPass outside of my state. The NY/NJ one just freaking sucks, IMO.

This is news to me too. There is a monthly fee in NY for it now. When they started it there was no fee. So PA is better than MA? Monthly minimums would ruin it for me too. I use a toll road or bridge once in a while, but hate the cash lanes.