EZPass - Internal or External Tag

[scwolfe]

I just picked up my new Prius this past Saturday and now want to get a New Jersey E-ZPass for it. Does anyone know if the internal tag works in the '2005 model?

Also, if you have an internal or external E-ZPass tag, where did you mount it?

Thanking you in advance for your replies, Steve

[mss]

Steve:

I have an internal EZPass mounted on a 2005 for the past three months. I only use EZPass a couple of times a week at most, but I have not had any problems. The same as my other cars, I have mounted it just in front of the rear view mirror, so that under normal circumstances I don't even see it is there. It is on the clear glass portion of the windshield, not on the "dots" at the edge of the glass that cut down on the glare.

Hope that helps, and good luck.

[DanMan32]

I have SunPass, which works under the same principle. Works fine (why wouldn't it?). Many have reported it even works in the upper glove box, though I would not recommend putting it there.

[altaskier]

I have been too lazy to put the strips on the glass to mount mine on the window, so I've been setting it on top of the dash when I need it. Not so good - about a quarter of the time the RF interrogation fails. Add string to finger to get the velcro-like sticky strips...

[DanMan32]

Check to see if there is a suction cup mount. They have them here for SunPass. Since those strips went with the Saturn, I went and got the suction cup mount. One benefit is that if you have multi-cars, and EZ-Pass would only be useful in one car at a time, you can transfer it to the other car.

[scwolfe]

Thank you all for your responses. I had read that the EZPass does not work in the previous Prius model due to the windshield so I was wondering about the new Prius. I will look for the suction cups, I have not seen them available on the web, does anyone know a site that sells them?

Steve

[bentdvr]

The transponders we have here in California work just fine in the upper glove box. I have had mine there for 3 months and it has worked every time.

[FBear]

I installed mine directly behind the mirror on the passenger side and it works perfectly. Don't bother with the suction cup mount, as E-Z Pass transponders are assigned by number to each car and if you use it with another car you will have problems with the company that runs the program for the Port Authority of NY/NJ. Trust me I know I rented a car and took my E-Z Pass with me every single toll I paid with it I received a notice that I illegally used the transponder and would not only have to pay the toll but a $25.00 fine. After many letters back an forth they let me write a check for just the tolls and forgave the $300.00 in fines. Never again, it's easier just to pay the toll.

[jbreynolds]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scwolfe\";p=\"80130)</div>

Thank you all for your responses. I had read that the EZPass does not work in the previous Prius model due to the windshield [/b]

My I-Pass (identical transponder - the Illinois Tollway is planning to join E-ZPass) works just fine on the windshield of my 2002 Prius.

[scwolfe]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FBear\";p=\"80143)</div>

I installed mine directly behind the mirror on the passenger side and it works perfectly.  Don't bother with the suction cup mount, as E-Z Pass  transponders are assigned by number to each car and if you use it with another car you will have problems with the company that runs the program for the Port Authority of NY/NJ.  Trust me I know I rented a car and took my E-Z Pass with me every single toll I paid with it I received a notice that I illegally used the transponder and would not only have to pay the toll but a $25.00 fine.  After many letters back an forth they let me write a check for just the tolls and forgave the $300.00 in fines.  Never again, it's easier just to pay the toll.[/b]

I just looked at the NJ E-ZPass FAQ, because I remember them saying you can share your Tag amongst same class vehicles:
http://www.ezpassnj.com/static/faq/tag.shtml#share

Where they say:

Can I use my tag in other vehicles?

Yes, you may transfer a tag between vehicles as long as they are of the same vehicle class. There are penalties for using a tag in a different vehicle class (i.e. Car tag in a tractor-trailer).

Perhaps your problem was that they were unable to read the Tag, and therefore went by the photo they took of your license plate on the car. If that license plate is not registered with EZPass, then they assume you are driving without a Tag, and are fining you for the toll and going through an EZPass lane. Remember this is only a problem if they could not read the Tag! It has happened to my son when he changed his license plate number and did not tell EZPass, they could not read his Tag at one toll, used the picture of his license plate, found who owned the car and fined him. Once we fixed his number online, it was not a problem. I am assuming you need to register all car license plates online with EZPass, so if they can not read the tag, they know who to charge. You then only get charged the normal toll