As more and more toll roads become automated, RVers are looking for an easy solution to drive through without worry. They’re looking for a single toll transponder to manage all the charges and avoid any fees.
Does a universal toll transponder exist?
The answer is yes, but we’re still learning about its effectiveness. We’ll tell you about it and offer tips and tricks for dealing with tolls while RVing.
Note: We are not affiliates of RV Toll Pass. We only relate what we have learned about the product and how it may be useful if it lives up to its promises.
If you buy something through our links, we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our lights on so we can continue to provide helpful resources for RVers. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.
Is There a Universal Toll Pass in the U.S. for RVers?
Yes, there is a universal toll pass in the U.S. called RV Toll Pass. It’s a single transponder that people can use for their RVs, whether a motorhome or towable. The company claims it works on “97% of major toll roads in the U.S.”
You can purchase an RV Toll Pass on Amazon and activate it on the RV Toll Pass website.
The Advantages of a Universal Toll Pass
There are some clear advantages for RVers to have a universal toll pass. Here they are in a quick summary:
- Eliminates the need for multiple toll transponders and accounts
- Electronic tolls are typically less than the cash toll price
- Many tolls that use transponders capture the toll at highway speeds in standard lanes. So, you don’t have to squeeze through narrow lanes at toll booths. (Saves your mirrors!)
- Don’t need to stop to pay or send payment in the mail when you get home
Does the RV Toll Pass Really Work?
Honestly, we don’t know. Not many reviews are available, and we haven’t tried it for ourselves. It does, however, have good reviews on Amazon. Users say it gives them peace of mind and makes their travels more seamless.
The few negative reviews that exist seem to revolve around the fees and charges. But, if you are aware of these upfront, you’re less likely to be disappointed with the product.
Is the RV Toll Pass Worth It?
The RV Toll Pass can be worth it if your road trip takes you through a frequent-toll area. States most known for frequent toll roads are Florida, Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and California.
Florida has the most toll roads than any state by far. California’s tolls are mostly limited to the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas but are quite pricey. You can see a list of toll roads in the United States on Wikipedia.
So, if you’re traveling in these states or similar areas with lots of tolls, then the RV Toll Pass can be worth it. But you need to be aware of their fees!
RV Toll Pass Fees
The RV Toll Pass transponder is right around a $100 on Amazon. Once you activate it, you need to deposit $50 into your RV Toll Pass account that’s debited for each toll charge. Your account automatically charges your credit card to maintain an account minimum of $25.
The fee that throws most users off is the $14.99 monthly service fee. This monthly service fee is ONLY CHARGED IF you use the transponder during that month. If, for instance, your RV is in storage for the month, you won’t be charged any service fee.
There is also a 2.6% convenience fee for every charge. This may seem like a lot at first, but when you consider that most tolls are only a couple of dollars, it only adds up in cents.
Are There Other Toll Pass Alternatives?
As far as we’ve found, there aren’t any other universal toll passes. However, there are a couple of other toll passes that cover multiple states with one transponder.
The Uni 19-State Toll Pass is highly rated and covers:
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusettes
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- West Virginia
The E-Pass Toll Sticker is also highly rated and covers all roads in:
- Florida
- Georgia
- North Carolina
The Fastrak Toll Pass is the statewide toll collection system in California. You can get Fastrak online and learn more about how the easy-to-use electronic toll system works. As mentioned, most of California's tolls are in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas.
Texas has multiple toll authorities, but you can get a TXTag to use throughout the state. Or, you can use an EZTag that is good in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The Houston area is especially known for LOTS of tolls.
How Can I Avoid Tolls Altogether While RVing?
It is possible to avoid tolls altogether if other routes are available. Most GPS apps have an “Avoid Tolls” setting. You can usually find it in the app’s settings (typically a cog icon) or in the app’s options.
But BE WARNED! By selecting the “Avoid Tolls” setting, your GPS may reroute you the looooong way around. Or on roads that are not suitable for an RV.
You should always look at the route options with and without tolls to determine whether they’re worth avoiding. And don't forget you have the “Avoid Tolls” setting on.
As we’ve cautioned before, do not trust your GPS completely! If you trust it blindly, it can lead you into a dangerous or even deadly situation…
Why You Should NOT Trust GPS Completely
If you’ve ever wondered whether you should not trust GPS completely, look no further than this tragic news story about an elderly couple stranded in Nevada’s high desert because their GPS routed their RV through backroads.
They were missing for more than a week, and only one survived.
To be sure, other mistakes were made that led to them getting stuck. And local red tape delayed their rescue. But the main factor appears to be that they relied solely on GPS for their directions…
Garmin's Super Expensive RV GPS- Is It Worth It?
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Those who drive large RVs now have a dedicated GPS Navigation unit geared toward their specific needs, but as noted in this Garmin RV 1095 review, it comes with a very large screen and an even larger price tag.
Size and price aside, the unit has just about every bell and whistle you can imagine for a dedicated GPS aimed at large RVs.
The Great Lakes Adventure Guide Bundle
(The Great Lake Shoreline Tour & Upper Peninsula RV Adventure Guide)
Jennifer and I have been visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for more than three decades. We’ve hiked, photographed, camped, fished, and explored every region and the problem of bugs in the UP is minuscule compared to the joy we experience every time we visit!
Bugs aside, the UP is our favorite place. So much so that we wrote an Adventure Travel Guide on the Upper Peninsula aimed at RVers.
This instantly downloadable ebook is a seven-day guided exploration of the Michigan Upper Peninsula.
We provide a suggested route and itinerary, links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, and the best spots to see along the way.
Then we've bundled it with one of our newest ebooks on the Great Lakes!
The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour — One of our favorite RV trips has been driving the United States side of the five Great Lakes.
It is a trip of over 4,000 miles and takes you to 8 states!
And it’s filled with beautiful vistas, welcoming towns and villages, and fabulous places to camp, hike, and explore.
Both of these ebooks have something for everyone and all it takes is one visit to make it one of your top destinations.
All you need to do is point the RV north and follow our guide to experience the UP like a Yooper and explore The Great Lakes like an explorer. CLICK HERE for more details.
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