Toll Costs (Orlando: credit, travel, income)

[ManFromMissouri]

I am considering moving to Florida and want to know what the average motorist pays per month in tolls. I have come to find out that the ES-PASS or whatever it is called is not a flat fee. You put money into your account and basically pay the same amount as everyone else (except of course if you use it 40 times/month 5% discount and then 80/month is a 10% discount.

Can anyone tell me how much I can expect to pay per month for these stupid things? Can you avoid them or is it pretty much impossible unless you want to drive serious extra miles to go around them? I would imagine that with the price of gas approaching 3.75/gallon is most cities that it would not be worth it.

Thanks!

[Pynknoyz]

It all depends on where you live and where you work as to how many, if any, toll roads are going to be necessary. I live on the east side of town and work on the west, so I have to take 408 because it would take me FOREVER to use another road (lights every block or so) to get to the other side of town. Because of where I drop my kids off at school, I pay 50 cents and 50 cents on the 417, then I get on 408 and pay 75 cents and another 50 cents before I get off on the other side of town. Coming home, I don't pay that first 50 cents, so I pay $4.25 a day to get to and from work. As far as the dicount goes, when I drop below a certain amount (is it $10?), they just put another $25.00 on it, so I don't really think of it as a discount. Maybe I get another toll or two before they withdraw more money. -Nancy

PS - But let me tell you - when it is rush hour (or any other time for that matter), you will be so thankful that you aren't sitting in those lines to pay your tolls, which can back up 3 lanes of 30 cars, easily on the main toll plaza.

[daniellefort]

The E-pass device is a flat fee to buy. You only pay for that once. It's the toll money that you keep putting on the device and that can be done automatically. You set your balance at a certain amount and when it gets down to a certain low amount you set it at, you can have your credit/debit card add more money to it automatically.

[orlandoforsale]

Probably because of the expense, the tollway is comparatively un-congested and fast-moving versus street traffic. I have to travel 20 miles to and from my office , but since I can take the 417 (south extension), it's a breeze at just about any time of day and gets me there and home in 30 minutes flat each way. Taking the 417 on the north extension, however, isn't always as reliable. Taking the 408 is often iffy but still faster than street traffic.
Bottom line: though expensive, it's worth it. Probably saves at least a gallon of gas that would be burned just sitting at stoplights.

[right-here-i-say]

I paid about $7 per workday day in Orlando using 417 (that is pretty high for being in the area, my first job I paid $0 for 7 years). However, I saved roughly $10,000 per year in income taxes because Florida doesn't have any.

[AONE]

Tolls can be avoided if you like. Sometimes it just makes more sense to use the highways. as a realtor my tolls tend to be higher than the norm... something like 100-150/ month. yes E-Pass does have a discount but it is minimal. the time saved from the pass can be sizable so I do encourage it.
They actually take your bank card and as funds fall below $10 they draft off your account $40 or what ever you set up.. 40 is the standard.I live near the 408 and the main toll there is .75c by Semoran, and .50 C on the far East side. I think the other toll on it is .75c. The 417 is $2, .75 and I think 2 more .75c the 528 is 1.25 , .75 , and at loeast one more at .50c those are the 3 main ones... There is the turnpike too but for the distance it is actually the cheapest.

There is no state income tax, and we don't pay property tax on cars each year like we did in Missouri...

[ManFromMissouri]

I guess it's all relative when you really consider what you're saving on considering there is no state income tax. However, I wasn't aware of not having to pay personal property tax. Living in missouri, state income taxes and personal property cost me around 7000 this year alone. So, yeah, i guess when you think of it that way, the tolls are definitely cheaper than paying income tax and PPT.

Thank you all for your input, it is much appreciated.

ManFromMissouri

[A2Mich]

When I lived in Orlando, my wife and I were spending about $40-50 per month in tolls. Sure living in Orlando may seem less expensive due to no state income taxes, but they will get you in tolls and house prices! We just moved back to Michigan from O-Town last year (previously lived in O-Town from 1980-1995 as well), and our cost of living in Michigan is about the same as Florida.....our houses are less expensive here, groceries are about the same, gas prices are comparable/maybe a bit higher here. There were certain things I liked about Orlando, but the high cost of living and low wages did not make that list.

[right-here-i-say]

House prices have gone down at least 30% since March 2005. There are bargains to be had. It is a good time to move to Orlando, but don't rush out and buy a place. Rent until you find the best bargain (I know this is easier said than done)