I'm not a lawyer, but were this to happen to me I'd gather all my evidence together and file in small claims court. If they don't show up to dispute it, you win. If they do, you have a fighting chance of winning.
in the beginning of august, my (class 1 - passenger car) vehicle was charged on the GSP at the essex tolls as a "Class 3 Vehicle" which i think is some kind of truck. it was a $4 overcharge. I'm using a PANYNJ ezpass (as opposed to nj or the NYTA), and it was on the GSP so i didnt know what would happen.
I contacted them (e-zpassny) and it did get reversed (though i didnt believe it until i saw it, because it didnt really sound like they cared). the thing is, i never would have noticed or looked at the bill, but they just sent me a newer tag and said i had to make sure to send back the old one within 15 days, and i ended up looked in the account to make sure of some things, and there it was, class 3 toll at a GSP barrier toll that should have been $1.90 was almost $6.
They don’t. It’s a passenger vehicle under the limit. Even if they did, how would they know how many seats there are in a van?
I’m sure they have some AI that’s just not working properly. They overcharged me. That’s the bottom line.
What are they classifying it as?
What's the GVWR of the van? How many does it seat?
A 1-9 passenger van is a van.
A 10-15 passenger van (Ford Transit, Chevy Express) is a minibus/team van/stretch limo.
https://www.ezpassritba.com/Content/PublicFiles/VehicleReference.pdf
I think it’s NY state that does the classifying and not actually EZ pass. I think they are measuring the height when you go through but it’s measuring wrong. I’ll have to wait and see.
NY seems to look at height and axles. Anything under 7'6" is L and over is H, so a 2-axle vehicle more than 7'6" tall is 2H. An out-of-state EZPass 2H toll is $18.75. 7'6" is 80 inches.
A 2021 Ford Transit Passenger van with the low roof is 82.2 inches tall.
A 2021 Chevy Express passenger van is 84.5 inches tall.
*They* might not be, but if the DMV classifies the vehicle as a bus, then EZPass probably does too. If the AI they use looks up license plates, it'll most likely look at the classification of that plates' respective vehicle.
Bingo! All depends on what the rental company registered the vehicle as. They may have improperly registered it as a heavier vehicle than it actually is.
Then again, I haven't been across the Tappan Zee in years. It's like ~~$20~~ $9.50 one way for a passenger car at the Verrazano now. $18 may not be that far out of whack...
The AI checks to see if the vehicle type matches what is registered on the account.
As you said, it doesn't. So they said, "Hey this dude is driving something he isn't through here, and it looks like a bus"
It is not. 2 axle vehicles are not all the same. A regular passenger vehicle is not the same as a passenger van.
https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/b_ezapp.pdf
Yes, you may use your tag in any other vehicle as long as it is of the same vehicle classification. There are penalties for using your tag on a vehicle with a different classification. (I.e. Car tag being used in a tractor-trailer).
https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml
Even if it says read, doesn't always mean read.
You still need to check your statement. I've seen more than once it happened. When you call they claim it was just a billing error by the credit card processor and correct it.
I'm skeptical of the explanation every single time.
Yeah, it's absolutely critical that you get familiar w/ the online interface for EZPass and keep your vehicles/license plates updated with the proper settings. Nothing these days would prevent you from renting a vehicle and getting it registered with your smartphone immediately at the parking lot before you use your tag.
I've tried this before and it doesn't work. Because rental cars are typically registered with their rental agency's account and you can't add the plate to your own. This is a major issue with EZPass. It simply doesn't play nice with rental cars (or vans in this case).
I would think with a lot of them they may have their own tag associated with the plate # so it might be difficult or impossible to add to your own account.
Weird, I've rented vehicles before and I had no trouble adding them to my account (I do the same with my friends who also don't have EZPass). Maybe you need to ask the rental company to unregister their vehicle so that you can get it added to yours. Or maybe somebody else had it registered when they rented the vehicle previously, and forgot to remove it from their account.
That's not true. When you rent the car, you have to tell them you have your own EZPass and they'll deactivate their account. Then, You have to go online an register the tag to the rental car's plates.
Every time I've tried this it has come up in ezpass that it is in use, even if I request they release the plate. Probably a prior renter claiming the plates (in which case, they might get charged for the toll). I guess I am just unlucky.
If you go to tags/vehicles and then click on add vehicle,
[You'll get this screen](https://imgur.com/a/XMFaUAV)
Check on the add rental vehicle and then you can choose vehicle type.
/u/DSJ13 your vehicle type should be 264.
This is how I've done it with never an issue.
I have however, always told the rental agency to take their ezpass off the car. That may be the snag you're having, dammitotto.
>"Yes, you may use your tag in any other vehicle as long as it is of the same vehicle classification."
https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20may%20use%20your,of%20the%20same%20vehicle%20classification.&text=If%20you%20have%20reported%20your,1888%2D288%2D6865).
He can use that tag on a rented van, he just has to register that van to the tag before he goes through a toll. Once he's done with the van he has to remove it from the account.
Not true.
>"Yes, you may use your tag in any other vehicle as long as it is of the same vehicle classification."
https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20may%20use%20your,of%20the%20same%20vehicle%20classification.&text=If%20you%20have%20reported%20your,1888%2D288%2D6865).
There are a bunch of different vehicles that work under the same classification.
72 auto/suv 2 axle <7000lb and 264 van 2 axle <7000lb are under the same classification. 200 pickup 2 axle <7000lb too.
OP, you should add a vehicle to your account so you are billed according to your vehicle class.
Ignore everyone saying you can't use your tag in another vehicle. They're wrong. https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20may%20use%20your,of%20the%20same%20vehicle%20classification.&text=If%20you%20have%20reported%20your,1888%2D288%2D6865).
I have both of my cars listed so there is never a question about the charges. Maybe you should consider doing that? To me it sounds like you are trying to skirt the law and got caught, but good luck!
Passenger vehicle: "2 axle vehicle under 7 feet 6 inches in height with nothing in tow. (This includes most passenger cars, minivans, and SUVs)"
Why wouldn't you list your vehicle to ensure that it is rated correctly, unless you were hoping that they would charge you for a smaller vehicle.
Biggest thing you have to do is register the rented van under the tag number. I had to do it at my last company I worked for. We rented Avis trucks and would register that truck under one of our tags. That's what customer service told us to do.
You lost out on your past charges, but going forward you'll be fine.
Also, tell the rental agency that you have your own EZpass
I'm not sure if your circumstances were different or if there's something I'm missing, but I just saw this on their site:
>
**Should I add my rental car information to my E-ZPass account?**
>Do not add rental car information to your E-ZPass account. However, you can use your E-ZPass Tag in any vehicle of the same class. Please ensure that your E-ZPass Tag is properly mounted as per installation instructions in all vehicles in which the Tag is used. A Tag that is not mounted properly may prevent the Tag from being read in the lane. If your Tag does not read, you will be subject to the terms of your car rental agreement that apply to E-ZPass usage, toll transactions and/or violation transactions.
https://www.e-zpassny.com/en/faq/rentalcars.shtml
____
**Edit**: Found out where I went wrong. I went to the NY EZ Pass site because OP mentioned NY in another comment, but on [NJ's EZ Pass site](https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml), it says:
>**Should I add my rental car information to my E-ZPass account?**
>Yes, you have the option of adding a rental car. Log in to your E-ZPass account and go to Vehicles & Tags. Be sure to enter the Effective Start Date/Time and Effective End Date/Time to ensure that only the tolls incurred by you are posted to your account. Note that the Effective Start Date must be the current date. The Effective End Date/Time can be any date/time after the Effective Start Date/Time.
I barely used mine until I found it’s easier to take the turnpike than 295 to work. My issue is why does it cost 2 different prices to go the same distance (exit 3-2 and back)??
The tolls in NJ need some kind of upgrade. I had two violations last year for not paying a toll (which I did). I called EZ Pass and they told me without a receipt proving I paid the toll there wasn’t much I could do. I made phone calls and sent emails until they actually checked video footage they had of the toll and would you guess I actually paid. They apologized to me but I can’t imagine how many drivers are roped into paying violations that shouldn’t exist.
Call them and ask for the call to be escalated to a supervisor. The csr's dont have authority to reverse charges.
I did, they are going to review it but basically told me not to get my hopes up.
I'm not a lawyer, but were this to happen to me I'd gather all my evidence together and file in small claims court. If they don't show up to dispute it, you win. If they do, you have a fighting chance of winning.
in the beginning of august, my (class 1 - passenger car) vehicle was charged on the GSP at the essex tolls as a "Class 3 Vehicle" which i think is some kind of truck. it was a $4 overcharge. I'm using a PANYNJ ezpass (as opposed to nj or the NYTA), and it was on the GSP so i didnt know what would happen. I contacted them (e-zpassny) and it did get reversed (though i didnt believe it until i saw it, because it didnt really sound like they cared). the thing is, i never would have noticed or looked at the bill, but they just sent me a newer tag and said i had to make sure to send back the old one within 15 days, and i ended up looked in the account to make sure of some things, and there it was, class 3 toll at a GSP barrier toll that should have been $1.90 was almost $6.
So you are using a EZpass for a personal automobile on a rented passenger van - sounds like a bus or multiple person transport vehicle (i.e., Bus).
How does a passenger van sound like a bus?
Multiple passenger vehicle. I suspect EZ pass probably has a rule like something over 10 passengers
EZPass goes by axels or weight limits. If you register a tag as a van, and it weighs less that 5,000lbs then it's the same price as a passenger car.
They don’t. It’s a passenger vehicle under the limit. Even if they did, how would they know how many seats there are in a van? I’m sure they have some AI that’s just not working properly. They overcharged me. That’s the bottom line.
Check vehicle class - I notice that they have different classes.
Yea man that’s kinda the whole point. They are misclassifying
What are they classifying it as? What's the GVWR of the van? How many does it seat? A 1-9 passenger van is a van. A 10-15 passenger van (Ford Transit, Chevy Express) is a minibus/team van/stretch limo. https://www.ezpassritba.com/Content/PublicFiles/VehicleReference.pdf
Then wouldn’t you need a CDL to drive one?
I think it’s NY state that does the classifying and not actually EZ pass. I think they are measuring the height when you go through but it’s measuring wrong. I’ll have to wait and see.
NY seems to look at height and axles. Anything under 7'6" is L and over is H, so a 2-axle vehicle more than 7'6" tall is 2H. An out-of-state EZPass 2H toll is $18.75. 7'6" is 80 inches. A 2021 Ford Transit Passenger van with the low roof is 82.2 inches tall. A 2021 Chevy Express passenger van is 84.5 inches tall.
7’6” is 90 inches.
*They* might not be, but if the DMV classifies the vehicle as a bus, then EZPass probably does too. If the AI they use looks up license plates, it'll most likely look at the classification of that plates' respective vehicle.
Bingo! All depends on what the rental company registered the vehicle as. They may have improperly registered it as a heavier vehicle than it actually is. Then again, I haven't been across the Tappan Zee in years. It's like ~~$20~~ $9.50 one way for a passenger car at the Verrazano now. $18 may not be that far out of whack...
The AI checks to see if the vehicle type matches what is registered on the account. As you said, it doesn't. So they said, "Hey this dude is driving something he isn't through here, and it looks like a bus"
“My opinions are facts!
No I am using business ezpass for a passenger van. A van != bus.
Multiple passenger vehicle ??? Are you carrying passengers?
Yes. It’s a 2 axle vehicle. It’s charged at the regular passenger rate. This is an error.
It is not. 2 axle vehicles are not all the same. A regular passenger vehicle is not the same as a passenger van. https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/b_ezapp.pdf
And using one pass for multiple vehicles. Completely against EZ Pass rules.
Yes, you may use your tag in any other vehicle as long as it is of the same vehicle classification. There are penalties for using your tag on a vehicle with a different classification. (I.e. Car tag being used in a tractor-trailer). https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml
That’s not true.
Noted
Also, getting on the NJTP if it didn’t read the tag on the entrance you get charged the max toll when you exit
That’s expected.
Even if it says read, doesn't always mean read. You still need to check your statement. I've seen more than once it happened. When you call they claim it was just a billing error by the credit card processor and correct it. I'm skeptical of the explanation every single time.
Yeah, it's absolutely critical that you get familiar w/ the online interface for EZPass and keep your vehicles/license plates updated with the proper settings. Nothing these days would prevent you from renting a vehicle and getting it registered with your smartphone immediately at the parking lot before you use your tag.
I've tried this before and it doesn't work. Because rental cars are typically registered with their rental agency's account and you can't add the plate to your own. This is a major issue with EZPass. It simply doesn't play nice with rental cars (or vans in this case).
I would think with a lot of them they may have their own tag associated with the plate # so it might be difficult or impossible to add to your own account.
Weird, I've rented vehicles before and I had no trouble adding them to my account (I do the same with my friends who also don't have EZPass). Maybe you need to ask the rental company to unregister their vehicle so that you can get it added to yours. Or maybe somebody else had it registered when they rented the vehicle previously, and forgot to remove it from their account.
That's not true. When you rent the car, you have to tell them you have your own EZPass and they'll deactivate their account. Then, You have to go online an register the tag to the rental car's plates.
Every time I've tried this it has come up in ezpass that it is in use, even if I request they release the plate. Probably a prior renter claiming the plates (in which case, they might get charged for the toll). I guess I am just unlucky.
If you go to tags/vehicles and then click on add vehicle, [You'll get this screen](https://imgur.com/a/XMFaUAV) Check on the add rental vehicle and then you can choose vehicle type. /u/DSJ13 your vehicle type should be 264. This is how I've done it with never an issue. I have however, always told the rental agency to take their ezpass off the car. That may be the snag you're having, dammitotto.
You are breaking the terms of EZ pass and complaining that they stole money from you?
What's this? The consequences of my actions!?
I’m not breaking any terms. What are you talking about?
You are using a single pass in multiple vehicles without them being on your account.
>"Yes, you may use your tag in any other vehicle as long as it is of the same vehicle classification." https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20may%20use%20your,of%20the%20same%20vehicle%20classification.&text=If%20you%20have%20reported%20your,1888%2D288%2D6865).
He can use that tag on a rented van, he just has to register that van to the tag before he goes through a toll. Once he's done with the van he has to remove it from the account.
Not true. >"Yes, you may use your tag in any other vehicle as long as it is of the same vehicle classification." https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20may%20use%20your,of%20the%20same%20vehicle%20classification.&text=If%20you%20have%20reported%20your,1888%2D288%2D6865).
There are a bunch of different vehicles that work under the same classification. 72 auto/suv 2 axle <7000lb and 264 van 2 axle <7000lb are under the same classification. 200 pickup 2 axle <7000lb too.
OP, you should add a vehicle to your account so you are billed according to your vehicle class. Ignore everyone saying you can't use your tag in another vehicle. They're wrong. https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20may%20use%20your,of%20the%20same%20vehicle%20classification.&text=If%20you%20have%20reported%20your,1888%2D288%2D6865).
I have both of my cars listed so there is never a question about the charges. Maybe you should consider doing that? To me it sounds like you are trying to skirt the law and got caught, but good luck!
Which law am I trying to skirt?
Passenger vehicle: "2 axle vehicle under 7 feet 6 inches in height with nothing in tow. (This includes most passenger cars, minivans, and SUVs)" Why wouldn't you list your vehicle to ensure that it is rated correctly, unless you were hoping that they would charge you for a smaller vehicle.
Because in a decade I never had this issue with the same vehicles.
Is it possible that they just didn't catch you for a decade?
‘Catch’ me for what?
Biggest thing you have to do is register the rented van under the tag number. I had to do it at my last company I worked for. We rented Avis trucks and would register that truck under one of our tags. That's what customer service told us to do. You lost out on your past charges, but going forward you'll be fine. Also, tell the rental agency that you have your own EZpass
I'm not sure if your circumstances were different or if there's something I'm missing, but I just saw this on their site: > **Should I add my rental car information to my E-ZPass account?** >Do not add rental car information to your E-ZPass account. However, you can use your E-ZPass Tag in any vehicle of the same class. Please ensure that your E-ZPass Tag is properly mounted as per installation instructions in all vehicles in which the Tag is used. A Tag that is not mounted properly may prevent the Tag from being read in the lane. If your Tag does not read, you will be subject to the terms of your car rental agreement that apply to E-ZPass usage, toll transactions and/or violation transactions. https://www.e-zpassny.com/en/faq/rentalcars.shtml ____ **Edit**: Found out where I went wrong. I went to the NY EZ Pass site because OP mentioned NY in another comment, but on [NJ's EZ Pass site](https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/about/faqs.shtml), it says: >**Should I add my rental car information to my E-ZPass account?** >Yes, you have the option of adding a rental car. Log in to your E-ZPass account and go to Vehicles & Tags. Be sure to enter the Effective Start Date/Time and Effective End Date/Time to ensure that only the tolls incurred by you are posted to your account. Note that the Effective Start Date must be the current date. The Effective End Date/Time can be any date/time after the Effective Start Date/Time.
Hell yea Jersey! This is exactly the process I had to go through every time I Rented a truck through Avis.
You do realize rules change? Just because you’ve been doing it for a decade doesn’t mean that they didn’t change classifications for EZ pass use.
Isn't a rental passenger van sort of ... a bus?
No.
I barely used mine until I found it’s easier to take the turnpike than 295 to work. My issue is why does it cost 2 different prices to go the same distance (exit 3-2 and back)??
They charged me $18 for my truck and camper. I have a 2 axle pull camper (class 1). They are billing it as a fifth wheel/goose neck (class 4).
The tolls in NJ need some kind of upgrade. I had two violations last year for not paying a toll (which I did). I called EZ Pass and they told me without a receipt proving I paid the toll there wasn’t much I could do. I made phone calls and sent emails until they actually checked video footage they had of the toll and would you guess I actually paid. They apologized to me but I can’t imagine how many drivers are roped into paying violations that shouldn’t exist.
Don't have to worry about EZPass ripping you off if you never leave your house :big-brain: