E-ZPass® Frequently Asked Questions

Note: E-ZPass is still several months away from implementation (Fourth Quarter 2009) and the business rules have not been finalized. Some details are still being developed and are subject to change.  More information will be posted online and relayed to customers when available.

1. Is E-ZPass available on the Ohio Turnpike?
   
   
2. Will this technology be compatible with other states offering E-ZPass?
   
   
3. Where and when can I obtain a transponder?
   
   
4. What if I’m already a Ready Toll or Corporate Charge Account customer?
   
   
5. As a current Ready Toll customer, how can I transfer my balance to an E-ZPass account?
   
   
6. Will there be dedicated E-ZPass lanes?
   
   

7. Can vehicles share an E-ZPass transponder?
   
   

8. Are there administrative fees charged for using an out-of-state transponder on the Ohio Turnpike?
   
   

9. How often will I receive statements showing my E-ZPass usage?
   
   

10. What is the cost to purchase an E-ZPass transponder?

Q1: Is E-ZPass available on the Ohio Turnpike?
A1: No, currently E-ZPass is not available on the Ohio Turnpike; however, the Commission awarded a contract (Project No. 64-08-01) for a new toll collection system, which will include the implementation of electronic toll collection technology. The Commission anticipates that E-ZPass will be available to Ohio Turnpike customers in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Q2: Will this technology be compatible with other states offering E-ZPass?
A2: Yes, customers with a transponder from any of the agencies in the E-ZPass Interagency Group (listed below) will be ready for Ohio's conversion to E-ZPass. 

Member organizations include:

• Burlington County Bridge Commission
• Chicago Skyway
• Delaware Department of Transportation
• Delaware River and Bay Authority
• Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
• Delaware River Port Authority
• Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
• Indiana Toll Road 
• Maine Turnpike Authority
• Maryland Transportation Authority
• MTA Bridges and Tunnels 
• Massachusetts Port Authority
• Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
• New Hampshire DOT Bureau of Turnpikes
• New Jersey Turnpike Authority
• New York State Bridge Authority
• New York State Thruway Authority
• Peace Bridge Authority
• Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
• Port Authority of New York/New Jersey
• Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
• South Jersey Transportation Authority
• Virginia Department of Transportation
• West Virginia Turnpike
  

Q3: Where and when can I obtain a transponder?
A3: The Ohio Turnpike expects to open its own Customer Service Center (CSC) sometime before E-ZPass is implemented in the fall of 2009.  The Ohio Turnpike's CSC will have the capability to service accounts by mail, telephone and/or the internet.  Any transponder customers may currently hold from another IAG member agency (see list above) will also function on the Ohio Turnpike when E-ZPass is implemented.

Q4: What if I’m already a Ready Toll or Corporate Charge Account customer?
A4: The existing Ready Toll and Corporate Charge Account programs will continue uninterrupted until the final changeover to the E-ZPass system. Current customers who wish to maintain an account with Ohio will receive an application with Terms and Conditions and further details explaining Ohio’s E-ZPass program in the near future. Customers who prefer not to open an Ohio E-ZPass account must either pay toll fares with cash payments by stopping in a lane staffed by a toll collector or have an E-ZPass transponder from another toll facility within the network (see list above).

Q5: As a current Ready Toll customer, how can I transfer my balance to an E-ZPass account?
A5: The OTC plans to open an E-ZPass Customer Service Center (CSC) in the summer of 2009 which will be able to establish new accounts or transfer a Ready Toll account to a new E-ZPass account. 

Q6: Will there be dedicated E-ZPass lanes?
A6: All toll plazas will be capable of handling E-ZPass transactions and some of the larger toll plazas will have dedicated lanes available exclusively for electronic toll payment (E-ZPass) customers.  Until driver participation increases, smaller toll plazas with lower volume of traffic will not have dedicated E-ZPass lanes.

Q7: Can vehicles share an E-ZPass transponder?
A7:  While the sharing of transponders among vehicles of the same classification is not prohibited, the OTC recommends that customers obtain one transponder per vehicle in order to avoid any complications or delays in travel that may occur due to missing or mismatched transponders.

Q8: Are there administrative fees charged for using an out-of-state transponder on the Ohio Turnpike?

A8: If a customer has already established an E-ZPass account with another toll agency, there is no "administrative" or "service" fee paid to the OTC. When traveling on the Ohio Turnpike, the toll for usage will be the amount deducted from that account.  

Q9: How often will I receive statements showing my E-ZPass usage?
A9: Customers with Ohio transponders will be able to access their E-ZPass account information online and their transactions generally will be accessible within 24-hours. A small processing fee will be charged to customers requesting paper statements via US mail. 

Q10: What is the cost to purchase an E-ZPass transponder?
A10: Transponder pricing varies by toll agency.  While some charge an upfront fee, the OTC is planning to lease transponders to new E-ZPass customers.  Although the transponder lease price has not yet been decided, the Commission believes it will be less than $1.00 per month.  Additionally, a credit card will be required to open an E-ZPass account.  An initial starting balance (amount yet to be determined) will be charged to the customer’s credit card to establish the account, from which toll fares will be deducted when the transponder is read at an interchange. When the balance on the E-ZPass account is drawn down to a certain level, the customer’s credit card on file will be charged to replenish the E-ZPass balance for future use.