Driving around the New York metropolitan area frequently involves cashless toll roads, express lanes, or bridge crossings. Because many of these routes no longer accept physical cash payments, you must have an electronic toll transponder or use pay-by-plate billing. If you pass through a toll plaza without a transponder, the toll will be billed directly to the rental agency based on your license plate.
Rental agencies charge high administrative fees (ranging from $5.00 to $12.00 per day, capped at $50.00 per rental) just to process these tolls. To avoid these fees, check if you can use the local toll system (E-ZPass) by bringing your own personal transponder from home and registering the rental car's license plate in your account upon pickup.
If you choose to use the agency's toll program, review the daily rate options carefully at the counter. A flat-rate daily toll option is only worth the cost if you plan to drive extensively on toll highways. For simple one-off airport transfers, decline the counter offer and pay the tolls online directly or use your own device to save up to $30 to $50 over a week-long trip.