Sanibel Causeway Toll – How to Pay
How much is the Sanibel Causeway Toll?
THE SHORT ANSWER – STARTING ON OCTOBER 1, 2021
If you HAVE a physical transponder in your car it is $6.00 to come on to the island and it is free (no toll) to leave
If you DO NOT have a physical transponder in your car it is $9.00 to come on the island and it is free (no toll) to leave.
THE LONG ANSWER
In the advent of Covid-19, gone are the in-person toll collectors at the Sanibel Causeway toll booths.
There has been confusion on how to pay the toll and what the different rules are for rental cars or owner vehicles.
How do you get to the beaches? How do you go to all the amazing restaurants?
The Sanibel Causeway Toll plaza uses a license plate recognition system and if you are driving a personal car with a transponder you will be invoiced $6.00 via your transponder for the toll usage associated with your travel.
We have outlined below the various transponder options, they are easy to apply for and should be delivered within 10 days.
Personal vehicles without any form of transponder will be charged $9.00 ($6.00 for the toll + $3.00 administration fee) and you will be sent a bill in the mail using the address associated with your license plate.
We have heard reports of the bill taking weeks to months to show up.
RENTAL CARS are a separate beast. They are outlined below.
MOTORCYCLES are now also $6 rather than the prior price of $2 and, must carry a transponder. If you do not have a transponder you will be charged $9.00 ($6.00 for the toll + $3.00 administration fee).
Payments That Are Accepted For The Sanibel Causeway Toll
1. The LeeWay Transponder
LeeWay Electronic Toll Collection
One of the easiest ways to pay the Sanibel Causeway toll and in fact, all the tolls in Lee County is with a LeeWay Transponder. This allows for automatic electronic pay with a prepaid account option and discount benefits are available. The LeeWay toll is a good option for people planning to stay for over 2 months.
You can have a LeeWay Transponder for any car however if the account is closed within 60 days or less of the opening date there will be a $45 charge.
How to get a LeeWay Transponder
You can get a LeeWay transponder shipped to your house by creating an account with LeeWay and adding funds to your prepaid account.
- Sign up for a LeeWay account online
- Fill in your personal and vehicle information, and whether you want the free transponder, or the hard case transponder ($22)
- Fund your prepaid account
- Your transponder will be shipped to your address in about seven days
- Customers must also pay any outstanding pay-by-plate tolls.
Call LeeWay Tolls: 239-533-9297
Sign up for a FREE transponder
There are 3 types of transponders to choose from:
LeeWay Mini Sticker Transponder (free)
– Must affix to windshield
– Not reusable if you purchase a new vehicle
LeeWay Hard-Case Transponder ($22)
– Must affix to windshield
– Reusable if you purchase a new vehicle
LeeWay Bumper Mount Transponder ($22)
– Reusable if you purchase a new vehicle
– External For Outside Installation
LeeWay Transponder Discount Programs
There are several discount programs residence and visitors staying up to 6 months can take advantage of! Visit the LeeWay Website Discount Programs.
Discounts Available:
Unlimited – Unlimited toll crossings with no toll fee for 1 year – $400
Reduced Fare – A reduced toll fare of $2 for 1 year – $67
Unlimited 6 Months – Unlimited toll crossings with no toll fee for 6 months- $300
Reduced Fare – A reduced toll fare of $2 for 6 months – $50
2. Florida SunPass
Florida SunPass Prepaid Toll Program
The Florida SunPass is a prepaid toll program that allows vehicles to pass through all the tolls on Florida including the Sanibel Causeway toll without having to stop and use cash. All transactions are electronic and this is a good option for the Sanibel Causeway. You can purchase a SunPass at AAA, Publix, Walgreens, & CVS Pharmacy. (BE AWARE not all local stores have the SunPass in stock or they run out) or on Amazon.
If you have a portable SunPass transponder you can use it in your rental car but you must make sure to register your rental vehicle’s license plate through your SunPass account and know the rental agencies policies regarding their toll programs.
Florida SunPass Mini ($4.99)
– Must be permanently adhered to the inside of the windshield
– Won’t work if removed from windshield
– Does not work for Motorcycles
– Includes SunPass Parking Plus
Florida SunPass Portable ($19.99)
– Sticks to the inside of windshield with suction cups
– Can carry it with you when you travel
– Works on motorcycles
– Includes SunPass Plus Parking
3. E-Pass
E-Pass covers toll roads through Florida (including the Sanibel Causeway toll), Georgia and North Carolina. There are no monthly account fees, your toll credit never expires and, you can receive discounts. The E-Pass sticker is free and can be attained by opening an E-Pass account.
Sign up for an E-Pass Account HERE
4. Uni
Uni is a toll pass that covers 19 states including Florida. It can be used for the Sanibel Causeway toll. The Uni pass is movable from car to car and has no account fees. It works with rental cars and motorcycles and, you can pay for parking at Orlando International Airport!
The 19 states where the Uni pass is accepted:
Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
Uni is fully compatible with E-PASS, SunPass, LeeWay, PeachPass, NC QuickPass, E-ZPass, RiverLink, I-PASS and QuickPass toll systems.
Purchase Uni on Amazon HERE.
5. Georgia Peach Pass
A Georgia Peach Pass transponder is a small, thin electronic toll collection device that adheres to your vehicle. The Georgia Peach Pass is accepted in Lee County and is valid for the Sanibel Causeway toll.
Find out more about Georgia Peach Pass HERE.
6. North Carolina NC Quick Pass
North Carolina’s NC Quick Pass is the easiest and most cost-effective way to enjoy toll roads in North Carolina and several other states. The NC Quick Pass is accepted in Lee County and is valid for the Sanibel Causeway toll.
Find out more about NC Quick Pass HERE.
7. E-ZPass
The E-ZPass can be used for the Sanibel Causeway toll. Once you have established an E-ZPass prepaid account, you will receive a small electronic transponder that attaches to the inside of the windshield of your vehicle.
When you travel thru a toll facility where E-ZPass is accepted, an antenna at the toll plaza will read your transponder and your account will be debited the appropriate amount for the toll.
The 19 states where the E-ZPAss can be used: Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia. Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia & Wisconsin (coming soon to Georgia).
Find out more about E-ZPass HERE.
Get a holder for your E-ZPass HERE
Holder for older style E-ZPass HERE
8. I-Pass
I-Pass is the electronic toll collection system utilized by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority on its toll highways. The I-Pass is also valid for the Sanibel Causway Toll booth.
Find out more about I-Pass HERE.
9. RiverLink
RiverLink is all-electronic tolling system in Louisville, KY and Southern Indiana. which means no slowing, no stopping and no lines.
Three bridges connecting Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana are tolled. The Abraham Lincoln Bridge (I-65 North), the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge (I-65 South) and the Lewis and Clark Bridge (SR 265/KY 841) connecting Prospect, KY and Utica, IN. RiverLink can also be used for the Sanibel Causeway toll booth.
Find out more about RiverLink HERE
Motorcycles
How much is the the Sanibel Causeway toll for a motorcycle?
THE SHORT ANSWER – STARTING ON OCTOBER 1, 2021
$6.00 with a transponder
$9.00 without a transponder ($6.00 + $3.00 administration fee)
THE LONG ANSWER
Starting on October 1, 2021 the fee for motorcycles for the Sanibel Causeway will raise from the previous $2.00 to $6.00. You must have a physical transponder on your motorcycle through which you will be charged the $6.00 toll. Various transponders can be used. See above for all of the Sanibel toll transponder options.
If you do not have a physical transponder on your motorcycle you will be sent a bill in the mail via the license plate on your motorcycle. The Sanibel Causway toll plaza uses pay-by-plate technology. The bill will be $9.00 ($6.00 for the toll +$3.00 for an administration fee).
Rental Cars
The majority of rental car companies offer toll packages and the option for the customer to pay the Sanibel Causeway tolls with the debit or credit card used to rent the vehicle. The Sanibel Causeway has a cashless toll booth so a license plate recognition system is used to record your toll usage which can then be paid through your rental agreement. The fee’s associated with collecting your tolls will be at the discretion of your rental company so make sure you check as each company will have its own program and fees for electronic toll usage.
Rental Car Company Contact Information For Southwest Florida Airport
Alamo Rental Car – 239 768 2424
Avis/Budget – 239-872-6342
Budget – 239-768-1500
Dollar – 239-337-9646
Enterprise – 239-561-2227
Hertz – 239-768-3100
National – 239-768-2100
Payless Car Rental – 239-980-1813
Sixt – 239-204-5781
Thrifty – 239-337-9656
Fox Rent A Car – 888-849-4218
Easirent Car Rental – 239-666-3090
