ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions twice per week in a segment called “Ask Trooper Steve.”
Trooper Steve on Thursday was asked about unpaid tolls.
If you’ve ever tried to renew your vehicle registration and found out there’s a hold because of unpaid tolls, you’re not alone, especially if you’ve got a young driver in the family.
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Here’s a common situation: your son or daughter drives a car that’s registered in your name. They use it every day, but when it’s time to renew the tags, you discover there’s a block on renewal due to toll violations.
Frustrating? Absolutely. But is it legitimate? Yes, it is.
In Florida, toll agencies and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) work together to ensure drivers pay what they owe. When a toll account tied to a license plate falls behind, the tolling authority can request the state to place a registration hold on that vehicle, meaning you won’t be able to renew your tag until the balance is paid.
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Even though your child drives the car full-time, if the registration is in your name, the responsibility and the consequences fall on you as the registered owner.
The fix is pretty simple: the tolls have to be paid before the hold can be lifted. You can visit the toll agency’s website (for example, SunPass or E-PASS) to clear the balance and request a release. Once that’s processed, the tax office can remove the hold and you’ll be able to renew your registration normally.
If your child truly drives the car 100% of the time, this might be a good opportunity to transfer the vehicle title and registration into his name and have him set up his own toll transponder. That way, the tolls, the bills and the responsibility all stay where they belong.