Following the successful launch of PlatePass, an electronic toll payment system that allows renters to bypass back-ups at cash toll lanes, in the New York metropolitan area, Hertz announces the program's expansion to Boston, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The PlatePass program provides renters a cost-effective way to save time and reduce stress on the road by enabling customers to utilize "E-Z Pass" lanes through rentals of E-Z Pass toll tags.
Earlier this year, Hertz was the first car rental company to offer New York customers the added convenience of toll tag rentals, available at New York metro-area airport locations and throughout Manhattan, and the Company offers a tagless system in Houston, TX.
"Since the PlatePass program launch, Hertz has recorded thousands of toll transactions, and we are pleased to make this convenience accessible to customers throughout the Northeast corridor," said Charles L. Shafer, Senior Vice President, Hertz Quality Assurance and Administration. "Combined with other exclusive services such as Instant Return, Hertz #1 Club Gold®, and NeverLost®, PlatePass is another way we strive to make driving more enjoyable and stress-free for our customers."
The PlatePass system requires the rental of a small electronic device that can be picked up at the Hertz rental counter. The device enables high speed electronic toll collection wherever E-Z Pass is accepted* -- on major toll roads throughout the Northeast corridor, from Virginia to Maine, including the Chesapeake Expressway in Virginia, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, New Jersey's Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike; the New York State Thruway, all toll bridges and tunnels into Manhattan, the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Maine Turnpike and the Illinois Tollway.
Customers utilizing PlatePass are charged a usage fee of $2.50 per day that they use the system, up to a maximum of $10 per week. Customers are only charged the daily service fee for days that an E-Z Pass toll road is actually used. After the rental car is returned, the customer's credit card will be charged the accrued usage fees plus the actual amount of the tolls incurred during the rental period. Customers will receive an itemized listing of all tolls and charges by mail.
PlatePass technology is powered by American Traffic Solutions, Inc., a provider of electronic toll and traffic management solutions, including vehicle detection and imaging technology designed and built specifically for automated toll collection and law enforcement applications. The company has provided some of the largest and most successful traffic safety and enforcement programs in the world, including New York City, Philadelphia, Houston, Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Calgary. ATS's patent pending PlatePass solution provides a unique, convenient, consumer offering to the rental car customer. The technology and service is built based on real-world experience providing toll violation processing solutions to some of the largest toll authorities in the United States. www.atsol.com or www.PlatePass.com. For information, contact James D. Tuton at 480-443-7001, or call the PlatePass Service Center at 877-411-4300.
Hertz, the world's largest general use car rental brand, operates from approximately 7,600 locations in 145 countries worldwide. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 69 major airports in Europe as well as the only car rental company with corporate and licensee locations in cities and airports in Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and North America. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz #1 Club Gold, NeverLost customized, onboard navigation systems, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the company's Prestige, Fun and Green Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition. To make reservations or for more information, customers can call their travel agent, or call Hertz toll-free at 1-800-654-3131. Information and reservations are also available on the web at www.hertz.com.
*See http://www.ezpass.com/static/info/facilities.shtml for a complete list of participating toll roads.
** PlatePass is a registered trademark of American Traffic Solutions, Inc. Hertz #1 Club Gold and NeverLost are registered trademarks of Hertz System, Inc. SIRIUS is a registered trademark of SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Inc.
