What Tolls by Mail is and how the online payment system works
Tolls by Mail is New York's system for collecting tolls from drivers who do not have an E-ZPass transponder. When you use a tolled bridge, tunnel, or road in New York without E-ZPass, a camera reads your license plate. The toll authority then sends you an invoice by mail, or you can pay online through www.tollsbymailny.com before a bill arrives.
The online payment portal lets you search for unpaid tolls by license plate number, view the specific crossings and dates, and pay by credit card, debit card, or bank account. You do not need to wait for a paper invoice — you can log in anytime to see what you owe and settle it when ready.
The system covers tolls on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Triborough Bridge, Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Henry Hudson Bridge, and several tunnels and highways across the New York City area. If you cross these facilities regularly without E-ZPass, you will accumulate tolls that appear in the Tolls by Mail system.
Key Takeaways
- You can search for unpaid tolls on www.tollsbymailny.com using your license plate number without creating an account.
- Payment by credit card, debit card, or bank account is processed when ready, and you receive a confirmation number for your records.
- Unpaid tolls accrue late fees and penalties that increase over time, so paying online before a bill arrives can save you money.
- The website shows the date, time, and location of each toll crossing, so you can verify the charges are correct before paying.
- If you cross tolled facilities regularly, switching to E-ZPass may cost less per crossing than paying through Tolls by Mail.
How to search for tolls and view what you owe
Go to www.tollsbymailny.com and select the option to search for tolls. You will need your vehicle's license plate number — the one registered to your vehicle at the time you crossed the tolled facility. Enter the plate and the system will display all unpaid tolls associated with that plate.
Each toll entry shows the date, time, and specific bridge or tunnel where the crossing occurred. This detail matters because it lets you catch errors — if you see a crossing you did not make, or a date that does not match your travel, you can dispute it before paying. The system also displays the base toll amount and any late fees or penalties that have been added.
You do not need to create an account or log in to search. The search is free and takes less than a minute. If you find tolls you owe, you can proceed to payment on the same visit, or you can leave and return later.
Payment methods and how charges are processed
The website accepts three payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit and debit cards; and electronic bank transfer (ACH) from a U.S. checking or savings account. When you choose your payment method and enter the information, the charge is processed when ready.
Credit and debit card payments typically post within one to two business days. Bank account payments may take slightly longer, usually three to five business days, depending on your bank. Once the payment is confirmed, you receive a confirmation number on screen and by email — save this number in case you need to reference the transaction later.
The website does not store your payment information between visits. Each time you pay, you enter your card or bank details fresh. This reduces the risk of unauthorized charges, but it also means you cannot set up automatic recurring payments through the site itself.
Late fees, penalties, and why paying early matters
If you do not pay a toll within a set timeframe, New York adds late fees and penalties to the original toll amount. The exact fee structure depends on how long the toll remains unpaid, but the total can easily double or triple the original crossing charge. A $17 toll can become $30 or more after penalties accumulate.
Paying through the website before you receive a paper bill means you avoid these escalating fees entirely. Once a formal bill is issued and you ignore it, the penalties increase further and the debt can be referred to a collection agency. At that point, the cost to resolve the toll is much higher, and the mark may affect your credit.
If you receive a paper bill in the mail, the due date is printed on it. Paying online by that date stops additional penalties. If you miss the due date, you can still pay online, but you will owe the accumulated fees as well as the original toll.
Disputing a toll charge if you believe it is wrong
If the system shows a toll crossing you did not make, or if you believe the charge is incorrect, you can dispute it. The website has a dispute or appeal option, usually accessible from the toll details page. You will need to provide information about why you believe the charge is wrong — for example, your vehicle was not in New York on that date, or you have proof you paid with E-ZPass.
When you file a dispute, include any supporting evidence: a photo of your vehicle registration if the plate was misread, a credit card statement showing you were out of state, or a receipt from an E-ZPass transaction. The toll authority reviews disputes and responds within a set timeframe, typically two to four weeks.
Do not ignore a toll charge while waiting for a dispute to be resolved. If the dispute is denied, penalties will have accumulated. It is safer to pay the toll and request a refund if the dispute is upheld, rather than let fees pile up.
When to consider E-ZPass instead of paying tolls by mail
If you cross New York tolled facilities more than a few times per year, E-ZPass is usually cheaper than Tolls by Mail. E-ZPass transponders cost $25 to $35 upfront, but the per-crossing toll is lower — often 25 to 50 percent less than the cash rate. The transponder also works across multiple states, so if you travel to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or other E-ZPass states, you get the same discount.
E-ZPass charges are deducted automatically from a prepaid account, so you do not have to remember to pay bills or worry about late fees. The transponder is mounted on your windshield and is read by sensors at each toll plaza, so there is no camera-based billing and no paper invoices.
You can set up E-ZPass through the same New York toll authority website, or through a regional E-ZPass customer service center. The process takes about 10 minutes online, and the transponder arrives by mail within one to two weeks. If you cross tolls frequently, the savings pay for the transponder cost within a few months.
What to do if you cannot find your tolls on the website
If you crossed a tolled facility but do not see the charge on www.tollsbymailny.com, the toll may not have been processed yet. Camera-based tolls can take up to two weeks to appear in the system, especially if the crossing occurred on a weekend or holiday. Check back after a few days.
If more than two weeks have passed and the toll still does not appear, contact the New York toll authority customer service line. You will need your license plate number and the approximate date and location of the crossing. Customer service can confirm whether the toll was recorded and help you understand why it may not be showing online.
If you paid a toll through Tolls by Mail and your confirmation number shows the payment went through, but you later receive a bill for the same crossing, contact customer service with your confirmation number. Duplicate charges do happen, and the toll authority can issue a refund or credit once they verify the payment was received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create an account to pay tolls on the website?
No. You can search for tolls and pay without logging in or creating an account. straightforward enter your license plate number, review the tolls owed, and proceed to payment. The website will email a confirmation, but you do not need a saved account.
What happens if I pay a toll but the charge appears again later?
Duplicate charges are rare but do occur. If you have a confirmation number from your payment, contact the toll authority customer service with that number and the date of your payment. They can verify the payment was received and issue a refund or credit to your account if the charge was posted twice.
Can I pay someone else's tolls through this website?
Yes. You can search for tolls using any license plate number, not just your own. This means you can pay tolls for a rental car, a borrowed vehicle, or a family member's car. You will need the license plate number and a payment method, but the website does not require you to prove ownership.
Is there a fee for paying tolls online?
No. The website does not charge a processing fee for credit card, debit card, or bank account payments. You pay only the toll amount and any applicable late fees or penalties. Some payment methods may have fees from your own bank, but the toll authority itself does not add a surcharge.
How long does it take for my payment to show as received?
You receive a confirmation number when ready after payment is submitted. The charge typically posts to your account within one to two business days for card payments, or three to five business days for bank transfers. Once posted, the toll is marked as paid and no further bills will be sent for that crossing.