“Dollar has misrepresented additional rental costs as “administrative fees,” which has misled and caused damage to consumers,” the class-action lawsuit filed in a Tulsa, Okla., U.S. District Court in May states.

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Lark-Marie Anton, a spokeswoman for Hertz, which owns Dollar, said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

According to a 2007 study cited in the lawsuit, electronic tolls improve traffic flow, fuel economy, and reduce congestion and accidents. They were first introduced in New York in 1993 with E-ZPass. Today, 15 states are in the E-ZPass network and use the same transponders. Other states with electronic tolls use their own transponders, according to information from U.S. General Services Administration and EZ-Pass.

States with electronic tolls

Drivers who rent cars within the state or states that use the same transponder can use their own, but if they’re elsewhere, these are the extra charges they’ll pay.

How much rental car companies charge per day to rent a transponder

Per day transponder fees for Dollar and Thrifty vary by state. In Florida, for example, it can cost $8.99, while in California, it can be $10.95.

In addition, rental companies may also charge extra fees for every toll, as the Sallee’s allege in their lawsuit. Enterprise, which owns Alamo and National, charges $14.75 for every toll. Dollar and Thrifty charge $15 per toll if a customer does not elect to opt into using PlatePass. Hertz and Avis do not.