What's with barcode stickers on cars?

October 12, 2004 4:34 PM

From time to time I will see a vehicle with a Barcode sticker on the rear driver side window. I live in SC and have seen them in FL/GA as well. These cars do not seem to be rental cars. What is this Barcode sticker used for?
posted by chiababe to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total)

Here in PA, the bridges from NJ to PA in the Philadelphia area offer a discount if you buy a monthly pass. You affix a barcode to your window on the driver's side, and a scanner reads the barcode as you pass through the toll.

It's a sort of lower-tech, old school EZ-Pass.
posted by pjhagop at 4:46 PM on October 12, 2004

I know people who were issued them by their employer. Some kind of parking pass/permit thing...
posted by crank at 5:09 PM on October 12, 2004

Also, it could well be a rental car. Most rental cars don't have anything on them that says "this is a rental car" after all.
posted by kindall at 5:39 PM on October 12, 2004

My car has one. It lets me drive through the gate of my apartment complex.
posted by llamateur at 5:56 PM on October 12, 2004

In Florida, we've had laser-read barcodes for yearly or monthly toll payment for longer than we've had Ez-Pass (RFID) style toll payment. At least since 1990.
posted by tomierna at 6:08 PM on October 12, 2004

Rental cars usually have them, particularly in areas where obvious rental car markings may as well say 'carjack me' or 'steal me.'
posted by spilon at 8:37 PM on October 12, 2004

Mine for the toll to get onto the beach. Much quicker than finding change.
posted by justgary at 9:27 PM on October 12, 2004