Florida tolls are collected by regional authorities, and you can pay them through a prepaid account, at toll plazas, or by mail after the fact

Florida has four toll road systems, each run by a separate authority: the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (which operates the Florida Turnpike), the Central Florida Expressway Authority (SunPass), the Hillsborough County Expressway Authority, and the Broward County Expressway Authority. If you drive a toll road in Florida, you will encounter one of these systems. You can pay tolls three ways: with a prepaid account (SunPass or a regional equivalent), at a toll plaza with cash or card, or by mail if you are mailed an invoice after driving.

The prepaid account route is the fastest and cheapest. SunPass, the statewide system, charges a small discount on tolls and processes them when ready as you drive through. If you do not have a prepaid account and do not pay cash at the plaza, the toll authority will photograph your license plate, mail you an invoice, and add a processing fee—typically $2.50 per toll. Unpaid tolls accumulate quickly and can affect your vehicle registration renewal.

Key Takeaways

  • SunPass is Florida's statewide prepaid toll account and offers a small discount on tolls compared to paying at the plaza or by mail.
  • You can pay tolls at toll plazas with cash or card, but you will be charged a higher per-toll rate than SunPass users.
  • If you do not pay at the plaza, the toll authority will mail you an invoice with a processing fee added, usually $2.50 per toll.
  • Unpaid tolls can prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration in Florida until the debt is resolved.
  • Out-of-state drivers can set up a SunPass account online or pay tolls by mail; rental car companies often handle tolls automatically.

How SunPass works and what it costs

SunPass is a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder system. You mount a small device on your windshield, link it to a prepaid account, and the toll is deducted automatically as you pass through a toll plaza. The account requires a minimum balance—typically $25 to $100 depending on the account type—and you can reload it online, by phone, or at retail locations.

SunPass discounts vary by road and toll amount, but you typically save 25 to 50 percent compared to paying cash at the plaza. For example, a toll that costs $2.50 at the plaza might cost $1.50 with SunPass. If you drive Florida toll roads regularly, the savings add up fast. You can open a SunPass account online at sunpass.com, by phone at 1-888-865-5352, or at retail partners like Publix and Winn-Dixie.

SunPass accounts are personal or commercial. A personal account is tied to one vehicle and one transponder. A commercial account can have multiple vehicles and transponders, which is useful for fleet owners or families with multiple cars. You can also get a temporary SunPass if you are renting a car in Florida—many rental companies offer it at pickup.

Paying tolls without a prepaid account

If you do not have SunPass or another prepaid account, you can pay tolls at the toll plaza itself. Most Florida toll plazas accept cash and credit or debit cards at staffed booths. Some newer plazas have all-electronic lanes that only accept SunPass or other transponders, so look for the cash or card lanes marked "Toll Booth" or "Attendant."

Paying at the plaza costs more than SunPass. A toll that costs $1.50 with SunPass might cost $2.50 at the booth. If you cannot pay at the plaza—because you took an all-electronic lane by mistake or your card was declined—the toll authority will photograph your license plate and mail you an invoice.

The invoice will include the toll amount plus a processing fee, usually $2.50 per toll. If you receive an invoice, you can pay it online, by phone, or by mail. The toll authority's website will be printed on the invoice. Pay it promptly; unpaid tolls can trigger a notice of violation and eventually prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration.

What happens if you do not pay a toll

Unpaid tolls in Florida do not disappear. The toll authority will send you an invoice by mail within 30 days of the toll transaction. If you ignore the invoice, a second notice will follow. If you still do not pay, the toll authority can refer the debt to a collection agency, and the debt can appear on your credit report.

More importantly for vehicle owners, unpaid tolls can block your vehicle registration renewal. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) checks for outstanding toll debt before issuing a renewal. If you owe tolls, you will not be able to renew your registration until the debt is paid. This applies even if you owe tolls from a rental car or a vehicle you no longer own—the debt follows the license plate, not the person.

If you have unpaid tolls from a rental car, contact the rental company first. They may have paid the toll on your behalf and charged your credit card, or they may dispute the charge with the toll authority. If you owe tolls from a vehicle you sold, contact the toll authority and provide proof of sale; they may be able to transfer the debt to the new owner or dismiss it if the sale was recent.

Regional toll systems and which one you will use

Florida's Turnpike Enterprise operates the Florida Turnpike, which runs from Miami to the Georgia border and is the longest toll road in the state. The Central Florida Expressway Authority (SunPass) operates toll roads in the Orlando area, including the Greeneway, Beachline Expressway, and Wekiva Parkway. The Hillsborough County Expressway Authority operates the Selmon Expressway in Tampa. The Broward County Expressway Authority operates the Broward Express in the Fort Lauderdale area.

All four systems accept SunPass, so if you have a SunPass account, you can use it on any toll road in Florida. If you do not have SunPass, you will pay cash or card at the toll plaza, or you will receive an invoice by mail. Each authority has its own website and customer service number, but SunPass is the unified account that works across all of them.

Setting up SunPass as an out-of-state driver or renter

If you live out of state and drive Florida toll roads occasionally, you have two options: set up a SunPass account online before your trip, or pay tolls at the plaza or by mail. Setting up SunPass takes about 10 minutes online at sunpass.com. You will need a valid credit card and a mailing address (it does not have to be in Florida). You can order a transponder to be mailed to you, or you can pick one up at a retail location in Florida.

If you are renting a car in Florida, ask the rental company about toll options at pickup. Most major rental companies (Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget) offer SunPass transponders for a daily fee, usually $3 to $5 per day, plus tolls. The rental company will charge your credit card for tolls and the transponder fee. This is simpler than setting up your own account if you are only visiting for a few days.

Disputing a toll charge or invoice

If you believe you were charged incorrectly—for example, you paid cash at the plaza but still received an invoice, or you were charged twice for the same toll—contact the toll authority that issued the invoice. The authority's phone number and website will be on the invoice. Have your invoice number and the date of the toll ready.

If you paid with a credit or debit card and were charged incorrectly, you can also dispute the charge with your card issuer. Most card companies will reverse a charge if you provide evidence that you paid elsewhere or that the charge was duplicate. However, it is faster to contact the toll authority directly; they can often resolve disputes within a few business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my SunPass account in other states?

SunPass only works on Florida toll roads. Other states have their own toll systems (like E-ZPass in the Northeast or FasTrak in California), and they do not accept SunPass transponders. If you drive tolls in multiple states, you may need separate accounts for each state.

What if I lose my SunPass transponder?

Contact SunPass customer service at 1-888-865-5352 or online at sunpass.com. You can report the transponder lost and request a replacement. There is usually a small replacement fee, around $25. Until the replacement arrives, you can pay tolls at the plaza or by mail.

Do I need to remove my SunPass transponder when I sell my car?

Yes. Remove the transponder from the windshield and contact SunPass to deactivate it from your account. If you leave it on the car, the new owner may use it, and tolls will be charged to your account. You can reuse the transponder on another vehicle by updating your account online.

Will unpaid tolls affect my credit score?

Unpaid tolls can be sent to a collection agency, which may report the debt to credit bureaus and lower your credit score. However, this typically happens only after multiple unpaid invoices and notices. Paying the toll as soon as you receive an invoice prevents this.

Can I pay tolls with a mobile app?

SunPass does not have a mobile app for paying tolls directly, but you can manage your SunPass account (check balance, reload funds, update vehicle information) through the SunPass website or by calling customer service. To pay a toll invoice by mail, you can pay online through the toll authority's website.