Hello all,
I spent some time investigating how the ezPass system works (used from Illinois through New York). Here is what I found (based on PA as the source):
- If you have a motorhome that weighs under 15,000 GVW, has ONLY 4 tires on the ground there is a
special transponder that you can get that goes on a personal account. The normal personal account covers vehicles that weigh under 7500 lbs and you can put up to 4 vehicles on the personal account. You CAN NOT pull a toad with any transponder on a personal account. For personal accounts they are about $35 (most of which goes against tolls) and about $3 a year to maintain the account.
- If you have a motorhome that weighs over 15,000 GVW or has more than 4 tires you must get a commercial account. Under this account there are special transponders that cover how you normally ride (if you pull a toad, how many tires, etc). So if you pull a toad you need to have a different transponder than if you just run with the motorhome by itself.
- When you go to get one you need to figure out which one covers the bulk of how you travel. Accounts of this class cost about $100 which goes against tolls and $10 for the transponder. Annual costs are about $1.50 per month that you use the transponder.
- Finally, if you have a transponder for your toad you must wrap in in aluminum foil or put in the original static bag that it came with that way they don’t register when you go through the ezPass lanes and you get double billed.
Bottom line is that only for the small class B’s can you use the personal account (remember the weight limit) otherwise you will need to get a commercial account. It is a pain because you can not have both types of accounts under a single login but need to create two separate accounts.
Interesting side note, according to the person that helped me stated that in PA they actually weigh your vehicle in many of the lanes but in New York their system counts axles. Either way having an ezPass is well worth the money!
I hope this helps any of you that travel the northeast portion of the US!