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What Are the Best E-Z Pass Deals?

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Back in late 2011, I was working on putting together a piece of all the E-Z Pass transponders around the country since our family tends to travel on the turnpike quite often. However, as I was researching, I discovered that the State of Delaware was offering free transponders at the time, so I abandoned my research, posting what I had found on the E-Z Pass system.

Every time my family goes through the E-Z Pass lane on the turnpike, I say out loud to my wife how the system was one of the best “investments” we ever made. Nine times out of ten, there are no cars in the E-Z Pass lane, while the cash/ticket lines are backed up with vehicles. The E-Z Pass system is great for a family that does not typically carry a lot of cash on hand, therefore making the quick drive-thru a huge time saver.

So now that I have been sold on the technology, I thought it would be worth the effort to reevaluate the E-Z Pass system and see where the best bargains are located.

The Details

In 2013, there are 15 States that participate in the E-Z Pass program.

2013 E-Z Pass Map

  1. Delaware
  2. Illinois
  3. Indiana
  4. Maine
  5. Maryland
  6. Massachusetts
  7. New Hampshire
  8. New Jersey
  9. New York
  10. North Carolina
  11. Ohio
  12. Pennsylvania
  13. Rhode Island
  14. Virginia
  15. West Virginia

This list helps tally which toll technology one should get to help save some money when traveling the roads of America, or at least up and down the East Coast.

Delaware

Website: ezpassde.com
Advantages: Discounts within the State of Delaware if you make a minimum of 30 trips within a month.
Monthly Fee: $0
Equipment Fee: $15 per transponder
Initial Fund Deposit: $25 for up to 8 vehicles per account

Illinois

Website: www.illinoistollway.com
Advantages: 50% Discount within the State of Illinois
Monthly Fee: $0
Equipment Fee: $10 refundable deposit for automatic replenishment; $20 refundable for manual replenishment
Initial Fund Deposit: $40 for automatic replenishment; $40 for manual replenishment

Tip: If you purchase a transponder at a local Jewel store, there is an additional $2.90 administrative fee.

Indiana

Website: www.ezpassin.com
Advantages: Your valid 2-axle i-Zoom® tag will lock you into the i-Zoom® toll rates – in effect since 1985 – until 2016. Discounts from other states also appear to be valid.
Monthly Fee: $1 a month per transponder, account maintenance fee
Equipment Fee: $0
Initial Fund Deposit: $10

Tip: You can purchase a transponder at retail for $10, but only $8 will be applied towards your initial fund deposit, with the remaining $2 covering administrative costs at the retailer.

Maine

Website: ezpassmaineturnpike.com
Advantages: 30-39 one-way trips per month earn a 25% discount; 40 or more one-way trips get a 50% discount
Monthly Fee: $0
Equipment Fee: Interior windshield tag cost $10 each, plus tax. Exterior tags, installed on the license plate of your vehicle, cost $17 each, plus tax.
Initial Fund Deposit: $20 per transponder

Maryland

Website: www.ezpassmd.com
Advantages: Standard Plan receives a 10% discount off the two-axle cash rate at all Maryland toll facilities except the InterCounty Connector/MD 200. There are various discount plans for those with more frequent travel within the State of Maryland; however, you need to pre-purchase the discounted plan and any funds not used within 45 days are non-fundable.
Monthly Fee: You will be charged a fee of $1.50 per month if you do not use the transponder at least three times within the State of Maryland each month.
Equipment Fee: $9 (standard), $15 (exterior), $50 (fusion)
Initial Fund Deposit: $25

Massachusetts

Website: www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/EZPassMAProgram.aspx
Advantages: Discounts on the Tobin Memorial Bridge, Sumner and Ted Williams Tunnels (for select Boston residents)
Monthly Fee: $0
Equipment Fee: $0
Initial Fund Deposit: $20

New Hampshire

Website: www.ezpassnh.com
Advantages: 10%-30% discount dependent on class of vehicle
Monthly Fee: $0.50/month for leased transponders with automatic credit card withdraw
Equipment Fee: If purchased, $8.90 interior transponder; $15.19 exterior transponder. See monthly fee above for lease option.
Initial Fund Deposit: Customers must pay a minimum pre-paid amount of $30.00 for 1 to 2 transponders and $60.00 for 3 to 4 transponders.

New Jersey

Website: www.ezpassnj.com
Advantages: Various discounts for seniors, green vehicles, and New Jersey residents
Monthly Fee: $1
Equipment Fee: $10 refundable deposit on cash or check accounts
Initial Fund Deposit: $15 when purchased at select merchants, otherwise $25

New York

Website: www.e-zpassny.com
Advantages: Discount plans are available for frequent travelers, though the programs are pre-paid an non-use is not refundable.
Monthly Fee: $1
Equipment Fee: $10 refundable deposit on cash or check accounts
Initial Fund Deposit: $10-25 dependent on method of funding

Tip:: Purchase an E-Z Pass on the go kit from select retailers for $25-30 and the full amount gets applied to the initial fund deposit once activated, saving you the equipment fee.

North Carolina

Website: www.myncquickpass.com
Advantages: Rates are discounted in North Carolina for Quick Pass/E-Z Pass holders.
Monthly Fee: $1 if not used within a 12 month period
Equipment Fee: Sticker Transponder ($5); Hardcase Transponder ($20); Exterior Transponder ($25)
Initial Fund Deposit: $20

Ohio

Website: ezpassoh.com
Advantages: Discounted fares are offered on the Ohio Turnpike (Fare Tables)
Monthly Fee: $0.75 per transponder
Equipment Fee: One-time $3.00 shipping and handling fee per transponder
Initial Fund Deposit: $25

Pennsylvania

Website: www.paturnpike.com/ezpass/ezpassINTRO.htm
Advantages: E-Z Pass holders save approximately 25% compared with cash toll rates
Monthly Fee: $3 Annually
Equipment Fee: $10, waived with automatic replenishment
Initial Fund Deposit: $35

Rhode Island

Website: www.ezpassritba.com
Advantages: Resident and pre-purchased plans available
Monthly Fee: $0
Equipment Fee: $20.95 (Interior transponder); $33.04 (Exterior transponder)
Initial Fund Deposit: $25

Virginia

Website: www.ezpassva.com
Advantages: High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) with 3 or more people pay no tolls on Virginia toll roads (but do pay a monthly fee)
Monthly Fee: $0.50 for Standard and $1.00 for E-ZPass Flex Transponders
Equipment Fee: $0
Initial Fund Deposit: $35

West Virginia

Website: www.transportation.wv.gov/turnpike
Advantages: Pre-purchased discount plans available within the State for heavy toll road users; West Virginia E-Z Pass holders automatically receive up to a 35% discount on tolls within the State.
Monthly Fee: $0
Equipment Fee: $5/year
Initial Fund Deposit: $20

In Conclusion

States vary drastically across the board on how they administer the costs associated with the E-Z Pass program. At this time, it appears the best “deal” is through the State of Massachusetts, who covers the cost of the transponder without any additional recurring fees. The only time I would necessarily recommend getting your home State’s transponder is if you can benefit from the discount plans offered.

Our family is a big fan of the convenience associated with the E-Z Pass of being able to pay automatically by driving through the lines with less wait time. However, some people, like my parents, can not get over the idea of having to keep money on deposit in the system, even though you get it back should you ever leave the program.

Do know that while the system is automated, it is prone to mistakes. While I have not encountered them personally, even something as simple as having an expired credit card on file with E-Z Pass can result in a fine if your account goes negative. I would hope the State you purchase from at least attempts to notify you of a situation. After reviewing all of the State programs, they all have fines and violations of some sort, so just make sure your account information is always up to date.

My biggest concern is the battery life of the unit. We got ours in 2011, and by every State’s account, it appears the batteries only last three years. What I do not know if what will happen should the batteries die in the transponder? I would imagine the gates will not open, but what do I do then when we typically go thru the E-Z Pass only lane?

Right now the E-Z Pass system works great, and I recommend families traveling across the east coast and midwest look into getting them for their vehicles.

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Source: InACents

Virginia Beach Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk

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Over Thanksgiving in Williamsburg, we had an extra day to wander and decided to take a drive down to Virginia Beach, not only so I could see it, having never been there before, but also to see the Boardwalk Holiday Lights display.

Each night between November 16, 2012 to January 1, 2013, the Virginia Beach boardwalk is closed to pedestrian traffic, and you can drive your vehicle through the lights between 2nd and 34th Streets.

121124 Virginia Beach Holiday Lights Part 1

At first I was a little skeptical of how valuable the experience was going to be considering it cost $15 just to drive through. However, after spending over 45 minutes to drive through the displays, I was thoroughly impressed. The lights were plentiful and made great scenes of various themes. Now to figure out how to build some of them for our house.

121124 Virginia Beach Holiday Lights Part 2

Driving and videoing the event proved to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. First not checking my battery life, then realizing my camera only wanted to record in half hour increments. Not even to mention what the wind does to sound quality coming in from the ocean. At least the company running the Holiday Lights event gives you a Christmas music CD to listen to during the drive.

Nothing like a late November trip to the beach!

121124 Virginia Beach Holiday Lights Part 3

Happy Holidays Everyone!

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Preparing for War at the Jamestown Settlement

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121123 The Importance of Jamestown Settlement

After a day with the colonists in Williamsburg, our family had the better part of a day to “waste” before the start of Christmas Town. After driving around witnessing the gorgeous fall changing of the leaves, we arrived near the Jamestown Settlement, located along the James River in Virginia. After a brief introduction at the welcome center, we were on our way to explore the history and living history of the Jamestown interpretive site.

121123 Jamestown Settlement Fountain

121123 Jamestown Settlement Tower

121123 Jamestown Settlement Tower Plaque

The English colonists had developed a working relationship with the Powhatan Indians, and as a result, it probably helped contribute to their survival in the foreign land. After a five month journey at sea, finally getting to establish their feet on soil must have been a welcomed relief. However, besides creating a relationship with the Powhatan Indians, the colonists also had to be fearful of the Spanish.

121123 Jamestown Settlement Powhatan Indian Ceremonial Circle of Carved Wooden Posts

121123 Jamestown Settlement Powhatan Indians Reenactment

121123 Jamestown Settlement Powhatan Indians Huts

There were several presentations by the Powhatan Indian actors, including Thanksgiving food preparations, where we learned the skill of making cornbread biscuits directly in the ashes of the fire. The boys and I also got to try our hand at corn grinding with a mortar and pestle. You do not think we are all fun and no work, do you?

121123 Jamestown Settlement Susan Constant

121123 Jamestown Settlement Susan Constant Porthole

121123 Jamestown Settlement Discovery and Godspeed

Once our hands were dirty, the boys, Mrs. and I were on to explore the recreations of the Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed ships that brought the original English colonists to America. Land-Shark (1) and I really got to explore the innards of the Susan Constant, and quickly realized how difficult life would have been for 5 months on the small ship.

In addition to the small quarters, and rough seas, we learned about the typical biscuits and assorted foods that would have been transported while at sea. The difficulty back then was the transportation of water, as it quickly would mold inside the wooden barrels. That is why beer was the traditional beverage of transport. Their biscuits were a dry food, as anything containing water would quickly go bad.

After getting a real world understanding of colonial life, it was amazing to think how anyone could be convinced to go out and explore a new land.

121123 Jamestown Settlement Voyage Map

121123 Jamestown Settlement Fort

My most noble adventure of the day took place once entering into the fort. While others were learning how to prepare the feast, or shoot guns, I was busy getting ready for war by dawning my bronze headgear and breast plate. You just never know when you are going to get attacked by a rogue sippycup or whacked in the back of the head while driving down the road by a leftover Skittle.

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