Tolls options please. MCO / TPA

Question

We usually just pay cash but realise that option is going.

We are picking up rental car in Orlando but handing it back in Tampa.

Is there a visitor toll pass option for this?

Trying to avoid the higher costs the rental companies offer.

Thanks

Answer

Florida has increasingly moved away from cash tolls, especially on major expressways connecting Orlando (MCO) to Tampa (TPA). Most toll roads now use electronic payment systems, such as SunPass, and cash lanes are rare or being phased out. This can make paying cash directly at the tolls difficult, especially if you are driving a rental car without a pre-activated toll device.

Rental car companies often offer their own toll programs, but these can be expensive, sometimes charging a daily fee plus the toll amount. To avoid these higher costs, there are a few alternatives for visitors:

SunPass Visitor Toll Pass – Florida offers a visitor-friendly toll pass that can be purchased in advance or at participating retailers. This is a prepaid toll device that can be mounted in the rental vehicle and covers all tolls electronically, usually at standard toll rates rather than the higher rental company rates.
Toll-By-Plate (TBP) – Some Florida toll roads offer the Toll-By-Plate system, where cameras photograph your license plate and send a bill to the registered owner. Most rental agencies can register the rental car with TBP, but it may include an administrative fee from the rental company.
Manual planning to avoid tolls – You can plan a route using alternative non-toll roads, but this often increases travel time and may be inconvenient for the MCO to TPA route.

Practical steps for your trip:

Check with the rental company if you can add a SunPass device to your rental for a daily fee. Some companies allow you to pay the tolls directly without extra administrative fees if you use a SunPass.
If your rental doesn’t include a toll device, consider buying a prepaid SunPass Mini or using the visitor toll pass option available online. You can then mount it in the rental vehicle and remove it before returning.
Be aware that some toll roads between Orlando and Tampa are entirely electronic (like the Florida Turnpike), so having a toll pass or SunPass is strongly recommended to avoid fines or high administrative fees.

In summary, while paying cash is becoming less feasible, a visitor SunPass toll pass or arranging a SunPass with your rental car is the most cost-effective and straightforward option for driving from Orlando to Tampa without incurring high fees from the rental company.