In 2013, Walmart partnered with the operators of E-ZPass and Walmart keeps E-ZPass transponders at most of its stores. On reading this news, one question popped into my mind – Can I buy an EZ Pass at Walmart?
The answer is yes, of course, we can buy an E-ZPass from them. The reason why Walmart keeps E-ZPass transponders at most of its stores is for the ease of vehicle owners who are interested in buying the pass can buy it easily from the Walmart stores and increase the savings by giving less toll tax.
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is the most widely known and popular toll collecting system, used especially in the Northeastern US, it uses RFID to allow the vehicle owners and drivers to pass through the toll and pay the toll in a contactless manner.
The company operates with 39 agencies and in 17 US states. The company was found in 1987 in Delaware, US.
Generally, the drivers of vehicles pay the toll of next month in advance and they are issued with a transponder.
The driver has three options of mounting the E-ZPass – Window mount, Side mount, and roof mount.
The whole system works on the use of RF waves to activate the systems of both drivers and collecting antenna, the waves send the information about the financial institution of the driver to the system and come back.
The benefit of using E-ZPass is that it will cut on human labor and will ease down driving by reducing the time.
Here are some examples of places where E-ZPass is accepted:
- Delaware Route 1,
- Hampton toll plaza on I‑95 in New Hampshire
- Hooksett toll plaza on I‑93 in New Hampshire
- Interstate 78 Toll Bridge
- Maine Turnpike at its mainline toll barriers except for York(though an open road barrier is under construction there) and at its South Portland interchange with Interstate 295; the West Gardiner I-295 interchange is under construction
- Newark Toll Plaza on the Delaware Turnpike[5]
- Pocahontas Parkway in Virginia
- Atlantic City Expressway
- Three locations on the New Jersey Turnpike (near the Delaware Memorial Bridge (Exit 1), near Exit 18W, and the Pennsylvania Extension, which connects to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Exit 6))
- Garden State Parkway
- Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Warrendale, Neshaminy Falls, and Mid-County (I‑476) toll plazas
- New sections of the Mon–Fayette Expressway
- New York State Thruway at the Woodbury toll barrier
- Illinois Tollway system
How to mount E-Zpass?
Windshield Mount
- Firstly, you need to clean and dry the windshield toward the rearview mirror.
- Next, you need to identify the front face of your E-ZPass tag (it contains the label with the logo of Maine Turnpike Logo the serial number of your E-ZPass). This side usually faces the interior side of your vehicle and its arrows usually point towards roof.
- Next thing that you need to ensure is how to ensure that the pass does not fall apart, once you are done tagging it and it can be achieved by putting it with your firm palms against your windshield.
- To remove your pass, you need not to put all your strength lifting it up; you just need to remove the strips slowly and gently.
Please note: Do not try to reuse the mounting strips attached to the windshield. The company provides the extra set of strips with your E-ZPass.
The company provides you the option of ordering the extra pair of E-ZPass by calling Customer Service at 1-888-MTA-PASS.
License Plate Mount
- The first step in setting up your E-ZPass on your license plate is by mounting it on the side with the logo of the company.
- Next, you can attach the E-ZPass using the boults at the bottom of the E-ZPass tag, and do all this procedure in a way that it does not cover the state name on your license plate. Boults should be tightened in a way that they are easy to open whenever required to open.
Please note: Do not forget to attach the license plate to the center of the bumper of the vehicle, so that it is easy to be detected by the antennas.
Roof Mount
Before mounting the E-ZPass on the roof of your vehicle, you need to find an appropriate position to attach the tag. The correct position should be, on the centerline a minimum of 3″ from the front of the cab roof.
Competitors of E-ZPass
E-ZPass is not one of its kind systems, rather it has a lot of competitors operating in the market and we have listed a few for you.
Following is the list of other passes similar to E-ZPass.
SunPass
SunPass is a US-based electronic system of toll collection. This pass majorly operates in the state of Florida.
SunPass rewards the frequent drivers on different routes and the difference in cost is visible from the below figures:
If you use SunPass, you will have to pay $7 for a ride from Wildwood to Cocoa beach and if you decide to pay via cash, the same ride would cost you $8.
North Carolina and Georgia also accept SunPass from drivers passing through the tolls in these states.
Vehicle owners can pass through the tolls at 30mph. However, the pass is majorly operated in Florida and can be operated with E-Pass, O-Pass, and LeeWay.
Palmatto Pass
Palmetto Pass also is known as PAL PSS is a US-based electronic system of toll collection used majorly in South Carolina is an electronic toll-collection system. The transportation department operates and manages this pass in the state.
Vehicle owners can pass through the tolls at 30mph. However, the pass can only be operated in South Carolina and do not have any agreement of mobility with other states.
However, if you are not used to go to the two toll roads mentioned above, you do not need this pass, as there are no other toll roads in South Carolina.
Peach Pass
Peach Pass is a widely known electronic toll collection system in the US state of Georgia; this pass is currently used primarily for high frequency and traffic lanes on Interstate 75 (I-75), I-85, and I-575 in metropolitan Atlanta.
Drivers can also use Peach Pass on toll roads in Florida and North Carolina and it can be used interchangeably with SunPass, E-PASS, and NC Quick Pass, and vice versa; however, it cannot be used in the places where E-ZPass is used.
Vehicle owners can pass through the tolls at 45 mph.
The goal is to keep traffic moving consistently above 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) in the express lanes and help reduce traffic congestion in the free lanes as well.
FasTrak
FasTrak is a US-based electronic system of toll collection. This system is widely used and popular in California in the United States.
FasTrak can be used by drivers on the national highways and state-bound roads that are having toll system placed.
It was first set up in Francisco, but currently, it is also used in San Diego and los Angeles.
FasTrak help in the smooth passage of cars on the national highways and other state roads, which are toll-based and transportation department is the authority for issuing FasTrak for passage of vehicles in California.
FasTrak offers a variety of discounts for its customers. For instance, you can get $1 off on the Golden Gate Bridge, and drivers operating in San Diego can be entered into a drawing for $50 is free tolls by using the system.
Operations of Fastrak are limited to California.
BestPass
BestPass is another electronic toll system, used majorly by truck owners and drivers in the US and in the future, this pass will also allow the truckers to go to Canada and vice-versa.
There is a nominal registration fee based on the fleet size you are operating.
For the different fleets, you will have to use one payment provider and manage the toll payments of all the fleet through one pass.
Conclusion
Walmart has E-ZPass transponders at all its stores and customers can contact their nearest store before going to find out more details.
We have tried our best to provide the best of insights and information related to the sale of E-ZPass transponders by Walmart.
We understand that you had a lot of the questions before and a lot more of your doubts must be cleared by now. We hope that you liked the article and got answers to your questions related to E-ZPass and its alternatives. You can share your experiences in the comment section below.
If you are looking to return the products that you bought from different stores – check our guides on Stores’ return policies. Most widely read guide – Walmart Return Policy
However, if you face any query in future related to selling of toll passes by different retailers, please feel free to ask below – we would love to answer 🙂