Illinois I Pass

One suggestion from someone who learned the hard way...

Take the time to swing throug an attended booth, at one of your first stations, to make sure the pass is working correctly. I drove ours to and from MI over Memorial Day , flying through the highway-speed checkpoints thinking everything was fine. Two months later, on another trip out, I pulled up to the gate on I90 (where going through the gate is our only option) and, sure enough, nothing! Gate didn't move, and I was stuck with traffic all over the place, no way to go forward, and a 35' trailer in tow. Not fun!

I eventually got through that disaster to a gate attendant to discover that the transponder wasn't working all along, and the had to follow up with written affidavits and other paperwork so that they would waive all of the penalties on the tolls from the first trip.

Really wish I had double-checked it's functionality at the outset!

Here's a link on the various ways you can get an iPass transponder. The transponder belongs to the Tollway Authority. You put down a refundable deposit on it. You'll also need to setup an account with $20 or $30 in it which will go towards tolls. Total cost will be something like $30 or $40. When you use up the money set aside for tolls it will replenish automatically with a credit card.

Thanks! We will go ahead with the I Pass when we can find one since we will be going to the east coast on a future trip. We didn't think we would need an I Pass for this trip. We are ALMOST done with our Great Lakes tour, but can't seem to avoid a toll or two at the end...

Mortimer Brewster wrote:

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
In IL, they do have cash booths, but they are often close to double what they charge you with the pass.

The 50% discount is for cars only. If you are pulling a trailer, there's no discount, even with a transponder.

True - I should have been more clear. Thanks.

Your best bet is to find a route around the toll roads. That’s what I try and do!

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
In IL, they do have cash booths, but they are often close to double what they charge you with the pass.

The 50% discount is for cars only. If you are pulling a trailer, there's no discount, even with a transponder.

I'm with others - unless you will NEVER use it again, it's worth it. I have MA EZ-Pass, Illinois I-Pass (because we moved and needed an additional one) and Florida Sun-Pass. Minimal investment and saves much hassle.

In IL, they do have cash booths, but they are often close to double what they charge you with the pass.

Go online and find the best EZ-Pass deal for you. MA is free and gives you a discount in MA (works best for us) and other states have their own deals.

Any EZ pass works in Illinois. I don't like the cash lanes myself, I find the toll collectors around the windy to be rude for the most part.

I have transponder in all my vehicles (Mass-Pass), no fees on the transponders and I keep a balance on account.

The I-Pass is also good at any EZ-Pass toll gate throughout the Northeast so if you will be visiting PA, NJ, NY, MD, etc. it might be a good idea to pick one up. The I-Pass has no monthly maintenance charge so is good to keep around.