What 520 toll charges are and why they appear on your bill

A 520 toll charge is a fee assessed by a toll authority when you drive across a toll road, bridge, or tunnel without paying the toll upfront. The "520" refers to the State Route 520 floating bridge in Washington, though similar charges appear under different route numbers depending on which toll facility you used. When you pass through a toll point without paying cash or using a prepaid toll account, the toll authority photographs your license plate, identifies the vehicle owner, and bills them later.

The charge itself covers the cost of maintaining the road or bridge. The additional fee — sometimes called a "toll by mail" or "video toll" charge — covers the administrative cost of sending you an invoice. This second fee varies by toll authority but typically ranges from $2 to $5 per transaction on top of the base toll amount.

You receive a bill in the mail weeks or sometimes months after you drove the route. The delay happens because toll authorities must process the photo, match it to vehicle registration records, and prepare the invoice. If you do not pay within the timeframe stated on the bill, late fees and collection notices can follow.

Key Takeaways

  • A 520 toll charge appears when you cross a toll facility without paying in advance, and the toll authority bills you by mail based on your license plate photo.
  • The bill includes both the base toll amount and a separate administrative fee for processing the video toll invoice.
  • Toll authorities in Washington and other states offer prepaid accounts that eliminate the administrative fee and often provide a discount on the base toll.
  • If you believe the charge is wrong — wrong vehicle, wrong date, or you already paid — you can dispute it directly with the toll authority within a set timeframe.
  • Unpaid toll charges can affect your vehicle registration renewal and may be reported to collection agencies if they remain unpaid for several months.

How the billing process works from photo to your mailbox

When your vehicle passes through a toll point, an automated camera captures your license plate. The toll authority then queries the state Department of Licensing database to find the registered owner's address. A bill is generated and mailed to that address, usually within 30 to 60 days of the crossing.

The bill shows the date and time you crossed, the toll amount, the administrative fee, and the total due. It also includes a payment important date — typically 30 days from the date the bill was issued — and instructions for paying by mail, phone, or online. Some toll authorities accept payment through their website without requiring you to set up an account.

If you pay within the important date, the matter closes. If you do not pay by the important date, a second notice arrives with a late fee added. The late fee amount varies by authority but is usually $10 to $25. After another 30 to 60 days without payment, the account may be referred to a collection agency or flagged in the state vehicle registration system.

Setting up a prepaid toll account to avoid future charges

Most toll authorities offer prepaid accounts — often called "Good to Go!" in Washington or similar names in other states — that let you cross toll facilities without receiving a bill afterward. You load money into the account in advance, and the toll is deducted automatically when you pass through. The base toll is usually lower for account holders than for drivers who pay by mail.

To set up an account, you visit the toll authority's website, provide your vehicle information and payment method (credit card or bank account), and choose how much to deposit. Minimum deposits vary but are often $10 to $25. Once the account is active, you can use it when ready on all toll facilities operated by that authority.

The main advantage is cost: the administrative fee disappears, and the per-crossing toll is typically 20 to 30 percent lower than the video toll rate. A secondary advantage is convenience — you do not have to watch for bills or worry about missing a payment important date. If your account balance drops below a set threshold, the system automatically charges your payment method to refill it.

Disputing a 520 toll charge if you believe it is incorrect

If you receive a bill for a crossing you did not make, paid in a different way, or believe is otherwise wrong, you can dispute it. The bill itself should include a phone number and mailing address for disputes, or you can find the dispute process on the toll authority's website. Most authorities require you to file a dispute within 30 to 90 days of the bill date.

When you dispute, explain why you believe the charge is wrong. Common reasons include: the vehicle in the photo is not yours, you crossed at a different time than stated, you already paid the toll in cash or with a prepaid account, or the toll amount is incorrect. Provide any evidence you have — a receipt, a photo of your vehicle, a statement from your prepaid account, or a credit card statement showing a toll payment elsewhere.

The toll authority will investigate and respond within 30 to 60 days. If they agree the charge was wrong, they will cancel it and may refund any late fees you paid. If they disagree, they will explain why and tell you how to appeal further. Some authorities allow a second appeal to an independent hearing officer or administrative judge.

What happens if you do not pay a toll charge

Ignoring a toll bill has real consequences. After 60 to 90 days without payment, the toll authority typically refers the debt to a collection agency. The collection agency will contact you by phone and mail, and the unpaid toll will appear on your credit report. This can lower your credit score and make it harder to borrow money or rent housing.

More when ready, an unpaid toll charge can prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration. When you attempt to renew your registration online or at the Department of Licensing, the system flags your vehicle if there is an outstanding toll debt. You will be told you cannot renew until the toll is paid. Some states also allow toll authorities to place a hold on your driver's license or suspend it entirely.

In rare cases, toll authorities pursue small claims court judgments against drivers with large unpaid balances or repeated violations. A judgment can lead to wage garnishment or bank account levies. The total cost of ignoring a single toll charge — original toll, administrative fee, late fees, collection agency fees, and potential court costs — can easily exceed $200 to $300.

Toll charges across different states and facilities

Washington's State Route 520 bridge is one of the most common sources of toll charges for residents in that region, but similar charges appear on toll roads and bridges nationwide. California's Bay Area Toll Authority, Florida's turnpike system, and New York's E-ZPass network all use the same photo-and-bill model. The base toll amount, administrative fee, and late fee structures vary by state and facility.

Some toll authorities are more aggressive about collection than others. Washington's Good to Go! system, for example, integrates with the state Department of Licensing to flag unpaid tolls during registration renewal. Other states rely more heavily on collection agencies. If you travel across multiple toll facilities in different states, you may receive bills from different authorities, each with its own payment important date and dispute process.

If you travel frequently on toll roads, setting up prepaid accounts in each state or region you use can simplify things. Many toll authorities now participate in reciprocal programs that let you use a single account across multiple facilities — though this varies by state and is not universal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the administrative fee waived if I pay late?

No. The administrative fee is part of the original bill and does not change if you pay late. Late fees are added on top of the original amount, but the administrative fee itself is not waived. Your best option to avoid the administrative fee in the future is to set up a prepaid account.

What if I was not driving the car when it crossed the toll?

You can dispute the charge and explain that someone else was driving. Provide the toll authority with the name and contact information of the driver if possible. If the driver was a rental car company, provide the rental agreement. The toll authority may pursue the actual driver instead, though this depends on their policy and your state's law.

Do toll charges affect my credit score?

Only if the debt is referred to a collection agency and the collection agency reports it to the credit bureaus. A single unpaid toll charge usually does not reach that point if you pay within 60 to 90 days. However, multiple unpaid tolls or a toll debt that sits unpaid for six months or longer will likely be reported and will lower your score.

Can I pay a toll charge with a payment plan?

Most toll authorities do not offer payment plans for individual toll charges. However, if you have accumulated a large balance across multiple tolls, some authorities will negotiate a settlement or allow you to pay in installments. Contact the toll authority's customer service line to ask about options if you cannot pay the full amount at once.

What is the difference between a toll charge and a toll violation?

A toll charge is the standard bill you receive for crossing a toll facility without prepaying. A toll violation is a separate penalty issued when you cross a toll point without paying and do not respond to the initial bill — it is essentially a fine for non-payment. Violations carry higher fees and can result in license suspension in some states.