Top Tip 12: do I put my E tag (for tolls) on my windscreen?

A question we get asked a lot. We literally got an email about it just the other day.

What about some HOT RACING DRIVERS. Gay? Or just plain gorgeous?

It is sometimes listed among the stupefying list of contents in your Owners’ Manual. If you can’t find it, the best place is behind your review mirror. A lot of cars now have metal in the glass to reflect the UV light and provide some insulation,  particularly in the Euro models. It has the added effect of making some radio waves difficult to receive.

Have you ever noticed the dotty painted effect behind your rear-view mirror? It’s meant to block out the sun because the UV shield isn’t in that area. It was left so you can put Mobile aerials and toll tags there.

If you have been getting toll notices even though you have your tag mounted, this  could be your problem.

Why not give it a look next time you’re behind the wheel?

Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.

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4 responses to “Top Tip 12: do I put my E tag (for tolls) on my windscreen?”

  1. midaevalmaiden Avatar
    midaevalmaiden

    Interesting post AND comments.

    Reply
  2. Contactless Avatar
    Contactless

    Until now I’d not realised that some car glass contains metal to help shield against harmful UV radiation, and as an unintended consequence also there’s scope to block RFID signals.

    You may be interested in case concerning ‘contactless’ road tolls in the States and Canada; I think using the SunPass operating platform? Here the big issue would seem to be that drivers crossing between USA and Canada borders required two toll tags. (One tag for toll systems in Canada, and one for toll systems in the USA). However, as the RFID scanning technology was common to both countries if both tags were in the vehicle at the same time, then both accounts were debited! As far as I’m aware this glitch in the system has not yet been addressed, other than the advice to shield any tags that you don’t want read in a protective sleeve of some sort.

    I forget where this news story first emerged, although I have a feeling that it was within one of the PDF case studies at: http://www.rfidprotect.co.uk/resources.html

    Anyway, may be worth investigating if you’re interested in this sort of stuff.

    Interesting blog by the way – for my money the Audi TT has to be one of the top gay cars.

    Reply
    1. gaycarboys Avatar
      gaycarboys

      Funnily enough I carry my tag from car to car. It stick on with bluetac and gets wrapped in aluminium (yes that’s how we spell it) foil for when I get a car with tags. Some brands don’t have tag but just get the tolls put onto their accounts when the bill arrives. But what a pain living near a border. You’d be forever taking one off and wrapping it while someone else put the other one on. I just have to know these things or it drives me potty.

      Reply
      1. Contactless Avatar
        Contactless

        Yep, wrap any tags you don’t want read in foil is the way forward. From memory, this was the advice offered by the SunPass people in the case I mentioned.

        What a rubbish solution for such a hi-tech system! Aluminium foil – once again the foil hatters are proven right, eh?

        Reply

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