Car hire and toll charges

katizim · 2 Sep 18, 12:53 PM

Hello all,

As you're all so knowledgeable, I am after some help please.

We are flying into Oakland and home from LAX. We're hiring a car with Hertz through DFCH. Unfortunately, Alamo wasn't an option or I'd be using them. I have read online that Hertz have a PlatePass system which I assume is similar to that offered by Alamo in Florida - where you pay a maximum of $25 or so for the period of the hire - except with Hertz, the website states the below:

"You will be charged for each toll at the highest, undiscounted toll rate plus a $5.95 convenience fee for each calendar day when tolls are incurred. There is no maximum PlatePass convenience fee."

platepass/locations/faq/renting-with-hertz/

I have read conflicting information about this online - with some fairly recent websites/articles stating that Hertz charge the 'convenience fee' for every day that the car is hired.

Does anyone know what the case is now please? Is it worth getting coins together now to ensure we can just go through the cash tolls?

Thank you!

(I wasn't sure whether to post this in the Car Hire and Transportation section because I thought that pertained more to Florida - please do move it if necessary!)

sparkles18 · 2 Sep 18, 12:57 PM

I�ve been to California a few times and have never paid a toll and we have travelled all over the state.

berneslai · 2 Sep 18, 12:59 PM

Have you checked to determine if there are any tolls on your route (ViaMichelin site usually helps)? There are usually no tolls and, if you do come across one, they almost never have a cash lane.

I have been charged a convenience fee by Hertz in the past, although a long time ago, and that was charged per day but only from the entrance to the first toll. Thankfully, we only went through a toll on the penultimate day of our holiday so were only charged for two days usage.

katizim · 2 Sep 18, 02:29 PM

Thanks both.

Originally Posted by berneslai

Have you checked to determine if there are any tolls on your route (ViaMichelin site usually helps)? There are usually no tolls and, if you do come across one, they almost never have a cash lane.

I have been charged a convenience fee by Hertz in the past, although a long time ago, and that was charged per day but only from the entrance to the first toll. Thankfully, we only went through a toll on the penultimate day of our holiday so were only charged for two days usage.

I have checked and on our drive from Oakland to Sacramento, there is one toll - apparently - which shows on Google Maps. I've never used ViaMichelin before, but just checked it and found it too fiddly to work out

I shall persevere and see what I can find. The rest of the planned trip doesn't seem to have any, so that's good. It would be very frustrating to be charged a 'convenience fee' from the very first evening for the duration of the trip if we don't encounter any others!

Thank you for your help

Olympiad · 2 Sep 18, 03:38 PM

There also a toll on the bridge from Oakland to SF (which is easy to pay by cash) and on the Golden Gate bridge back into SF if you go that way (this is not cash but you just pay online).

Unless you're using these toll routes multiple times a day there is no need to use the rental company service which will be a lot more expensive. Aside from.the above there are very few tolls.

katizim · 2 Sep 18, 03:48 PM

We're not going into SF at all, so hopefully we won't be required to pass through those tolls. Thank you for your help.

2 Sep 18, 03:38 PM	#5
	2 Sep 18, 03:38 PM Olympiad slightly serious Dibber
Olympiad slightly serious Dibber Join Date: Jan 14	There also a toll on the bridge from Oakland to SF (which is easy to pay by cash) and on the Golden Gate bridge back into SF if you go that way (this is not cash but you just pay online). Unless you're using these toll routes multiple times a day there is no need to use the rental company service which will be a lot more expensive. Aside from.the above there are very few tolls.