Hertz adds toll charges to your rental bill, and they work differently depending on which state you rent in
When you rent a car from Hertz, you may be charged for tolls you use during your rental period. Hertz does not pay these tolls upfront for you. Instead, the company collects toll invoices after your rental ends and bills you for them. The amount you pay depends on which tolls you actually drove through, not a flat fee — though Hertz also offers an optional toll service program that charges a daily rate instead.
How Hertz handles tolls varies by state and region. Some states use license plate readers to track vehicles and send bills to the rental company. Others require you to pay tolls directly at toll booths. Hertz's approach changes based on these local systems, so understanding what applies to your rental location matters before you drive off the lot.
Key Takeaways
- Hertz bills you for tolls after your rental ends, either as individual charges or through an optional daily toll program, depending on which you choose at pickup.
- If you decline Hertz's toll service, you are responsible for paying tolls yourself at toll booths or through the state's toll payment system.
- Hertz charges an administrative fee on top of the actual toll amount when they bill you for tolls you used.
- Some states use license plate readers that photograph your rental car, and Hertz receives the invoice weeks or months after your rental ends.
- Toll charges appear on your final rental bill or as a separate invoice sent to your billing address after the rental period closes.
How Hertz toll programs work at pickup
At the rental counter, Hertz offers you a choice about tolls. You can either decline their toll service and handle tolls yourself, or enroll in Hertz's toll program for a daily fee. The daily fee varies by location — it typically ranges from around $10 to $20 per day, though the exact amount depends on the rental location and current rates.
If you enroll in Hertz's toll program, the daily charge covers all tolls you drive through during that rental day. You pay the flat rate regardless of whether you use one toll or ten. This removes the uncertainty of not knowing what tolls cost, but it only makes financial sense if you plan to use tolls regularly during your rental.
If you decline the program, you must pay tolls yourself at toll booths or through the state's toll payment system. This means stopping at toll plazas, using a toll tag if you have one, or paying online after the fact. Hertz will not bill you for these tolls later — they become your responsibility entirely.
What happens when Hertz bills you for tolls after your rental
If you declined Hertz's toll program but still drove through tolls, Hertz may receive an invoice from the toll authority weeks or even months after your rental ends. This happens in states that use license plate readers — cameras photograph your vehicle's license plate as you pass through a toll plaza, and the toll authority bills the registered owner of the vehicle, which is Hertz.
When Hertz receives this invoice, they add an administrative fee on top of the actual toll cost and bill you. The administrative fee is Hertz's charge for processing and forwarding the toll invoice to you. This fee is separate from the toll itself, so your total bill is higher than what the toll authority originally charged.
Hertz sends this bill to the address on your rental agreement, usually several weeks after your rental period ends. The invoice shows the toll amount, the administrative fee, and the total you owe. You pay this directly to Hertz, not to the toll authority.
States and regions where tolls work differently
Toll systems vary significantly across the United States. The Northeast has extensive toll roads, including the New Jersey Turnpike, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the Massachusetts Turnpike. These systems use license plate readers and send invoices to vehicle owners. The Florida Turnpike and toll roads in Texas also use this method.
Some states, like New York, operate toll plazas where you must pay at the booth or use a toll tag. If you have a personal toll tag (like E-ZPass in the Northeast or SunPass in Florida), you can use it in a rental car, though you may need to notify your toll tag provider first. Hertz cannot use your personal toll tag for you.
Other regions have minimal or no tolls. If you are renting in a state without toll roads, this is not a concern. Before your rental, check whether your destination includes toll roads. You can search online for "tolls in [state name]" to see which roads charge tolls in your rental area.
Administrative fees and what they cover
When Hertz bills you for tolls, they add an administrative processing fee to the actual toll amount. This fee covers Hertz's cost of receiving the invoice from the toll authority, matching it to your rental agreement, and sending you a bill. The fee is not a tax — it is Hertz's charge for handling the transaction.
The administrative fee amount varies and is not always clearly stated upfront. Some rental locations disclose it at pickup; others do not. If you want to know the exact fee before renting, ask the Hertz agent at the counter what their administrative fee is for tolls in that region.
You cannot avoid this fee if Hertz bills you for tolls. The only way to avoid it entirely is to enroll in Hertz's daily toll program at pickup, which bundles all tolls into a flat daily rate, or to pay tolls yourself at the booth or through the state's online system so Hertz never receives an invoice.
How to avoid unexpected toll charges
The clearest way to avoid surprise toll bills is to enroll in Hertz's toll program at pickup if you know you will use tolls. You pay a known daily rate, and there are no additional charges later. This works best if you are driving through multiple toll areas or if you want certainty about your final bill.
If you decline the toll program, plan to pay tolls yourself. Research which roads in your rental area charge tolls before you pick up the car. Many toll authorities have websites where you can look up toll amounts and payment methods. If you have a personal toll tag, bring it and use it — this way you pay the toll authority directly, not Hertz.
Keep receipts for any tolls you pay yourself. If Hertz later bills you for a toll you already paid, you have proof to dispute the charge. Contact Hertz customer service with your receipt and the toll invoice they sent you.
Disputing a toll charge on your Hertz bill
If you receive a toll charge from Hertz that you believe is incorrect, contact Hertz customer service. Bring your rental agreement, the toll invoice Hertz sent you, and any receipts showing you paid the toll yourself. Explain the discrepancy clearly.
Common disputes include being charged for a toll you did not drive through (which can happen if another vehicle with a similar license plate was photographed), being charged twice for the same toll, or being charged after you enrolled in the toll program. Hertz can contact the toll authority to verify the charge and may reverse it if there is an error.
If Hertz does not resolve the dispute, you can contact the toll authority directly using the invoice Hertz sent you. The invoice includes the toll authority's contact information and the specific toll transaction details. The toll authority can confirm whether the charge is legitimate and may be able to help if there was a misidentification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own toll tag in a Hertz rental car?
Yes, you can use your personal toll tag (like E-ZPass or SunPass) in a rental car. However, you should notify your toll tag provider before using it in a rental vehicle, as some systems require advance notice. Using your own toll tag means you pay the toll authority directly, not Hertz, so you avoid Hertz's administrative fee.
What if I did not know there were tolls on the road I drove?
If Hertz bills you for a toll you did not know existed, you still owe the charge — lack of knowledge does not exempt you from paying tolls. However, you can research toll roads before your next rental to avoid this situation. Most toll authorities have maps showing which roads charge tolls.
Does Hertz's daily toll program cover all tolls everywhere?
Hertz's daily toll program covers tolls in the region where you rented the car. If you cross into a different state or region with a different toll system, the program may not cover those tolls. Ask the Hertz agent at pickup which geographic area the daily rate covers.
How long after my rental will Hertz bill me for tolls?
Toll invoices can arrive weeks or months after your rental ends, depending on how quickly the toll authority processes and sends the bill to Hertz. License plate reader systems are slower than toll booth payments. Budget for potential toll charges even after your rental period closes.
Can I refuse to pay a toll charge Hertz bills me for?
You are legally responsible for tolls you incurred during your rental, whether you pay them directly or Hertz bills you later. Refusing to pay can result in collection action or damage to your credit. If you dispute the charge as incorrect, contact Hertz and the toll authority with evidence.