What E-ZPass Pay by Plate is
E-ZPass Pay by Plate is a system that lets you use toll roads without a transponder device in your car. Instead, a camera reads your license plate as you pass through a toll plaza, and you receive an invoice by mail weeks later. You do not need to sign up in advance, stop at a booth, or have anything mounted on your windshield.
Pay by Plate is available on most E-ZPass toll roads in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including the New Jersey Turnpike, Pennsylvania Turnpike, and many bridges and tunnels in New York. The toll amount is the same whether you use a transponder or Pay by Plate, but Pay by Plate typically includes a small processing fee added to your bill.
The system is automatic: you drive through, the camera captures your plate, and the toll authority matches it to your vehicle registration. No action is required from you at the toll plaza. The bill arrives at the address on file with your state's vehicle registration.
Key Takeaways
- Pay by Plate charges you the same toll rate as a transponder, plus a processing fee that varies by toll authority but typically ranges from $0.50 to $1.50 per transaction.
- You will receive an invoice by mail within two to four weeks after passing through a toll plaza; payment is due by the date printed on the bill.
- The toll authority uses your license plate number and state vehicle registration to identify you, so your registration address must be current.
- If you use toll roads frequently, a transponder account is usually cheaper over time because it eliminates the per-transaction processing fee.
- Unpaid bills can result in late fees, suspension of vehicle registration, or referral to a collection agency depending on the toll authority.
How the Camera and Billing Process Works
When you drive through a toll plaza without a transponder, a high-speed camera photographs your license plate. The image is sent to the toll authority's processing center, where optical character recognition software reads the plate number and state. That information is matched against your state's vehicle registration database to find the registered owner's name and mailing address.
The toll authority then generates an invoice and mails it to you. The time between passing through the toll and receiving the bill is typically two to four weeks, depending on mail delivery and the volume of transactions the toll authority is processing. Some toll authorities now offer email notification as an alternative to paper bills if you register your vehicle information with them.
The invoice shows the toll amount, the processing fee, the date and time you passed through, the specific toll plaza location, and the due date for payment. Payment methods vary by toll authority but usually include online payment, mail-in check, and phone payment.
Processing Fees and Total Cost
The toll itself is the same whether you use a transponder or Pay by Plate. However, Pay by Plate includes an administrative processing fee because the toll authority must photograph, process, and mail an invoice to you. This fee is not a penalty — it is a standard charge built into the Pay by Plate system.
Processing fees vary by toll authority. The New Jersey Turnpike charges $0.75 per Pay by Plate transaction. The Pennsylvania Turnpike charges $1.50. New York toll authorities charge between $0.50 and $1.00 depending on the specific bridge or tunnel. These fees are added to your bill each time you use a toll road without a transponder.
If you cross the same toll plaza multiple times per month, the processing fees add up quickly. For example, a commuter who crosses a $2.75 toll twice daily on the New Jersey Turnpike would pay an extra $30 per month in processing fees alone. In that situation, an E-ZPass transponder account becomes significantly cheaper.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
If you do not pay your bill by the due date, the toll authority will send you a past-due notice. Most toll authorities allow a grace period of 10 to 30 days before taking further action. If payment is still not received, the account may be referred to a collection agency, and your credit report could be affected.
Some toll authorities have the power to suspend your vehicle registration or prevent you from renewing it until the toll debt is paid. This varies by state and toll authority. New Jersey, for example, can place a hold on registration renewal. Pennsylvania can refer unpaid tolls to the state attorney general's office for collection.
Late fees are also common. These are separate from the original toll and processing fee and are added to your bill if payment is not received by the due date. Late fees typically range from $10 to $25 per violation, depending on the toll authority.
How to Avoid Pay by Plate Charges
The most direct way to avoid Pay by Plate processing fees is to open an E-ZPass transponder account. A transponder is a small electronic device that mounts on your windshield and communicates with toll plaza readers. Transponder accounts have no per-transaction processing fees, and many toll authorities offer discounts on the toll amount itself for transponder users.
E-ZPass accounts can be opened online through your state's toll authority website or by phone. Most require a credit card or bank account for automatic payment. The transponder device itself is usually free or costs $25 to $35 as a one-time purchase, depending on the toll authority. Once activated, the transponder works across all E-ZPass toll roads in the region.
If you only cross tolls occasionally, Pay by Plate may be acceptable despite the processing fee. But if you cross the same toll more than a few times per month, the transponder will pay for itself within weeks.
Updating Your Registration Address
The Pay by Plate system relies on your vehicle registration address to send you bills. If you have moved and not updated your registration with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles, the toll authority will not be able to find you, and your bill may go to your old address.
Update your registration address with your state's DMV before or when ready after moving. This ensures that toll bills reach you on time and prevents missed payments. You can usually update your address online through your state's DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office.
If you receive a bill at an old address and it goes unpaid, the toll authority may still pursue collection action against you. Keeping your registration current is the simplest way to avoid this problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dispute a Pay by Plate charge if I think the camera misread my plate?
Yes. Contact the toll authority's customer service number on your bill and explain the issue. Provide your vehicle information and the date and time of the toll. The toll authority can review the photograph and correct the charge if there was an error. However, if the plate was read correctly, you remain responsible for payment.
What if I rented a car and received a Pay by Plate bill for someone else's vehicle?
Contact the toll authority and explain that you rented the vehicle. Provide your rental agreement as proof. The toll authority will typically contact the rental company, which is responsible for paying tolls on its fleet vehicles. Do not ignore the bill, as it may still be pursued against the registered owner.
Do I have to pay a Pay by Plate bill if I did not receive the invoice?
Yes. The toll authority is not required to confirm that you received the bill before pursuing collection. If your registration address is incorrect or mail was lost, you are still responsible. This is why keeping your registration current and checking your mail regularly is important.
Can I set up automatic payments for Pay by Plate bills?
Some toll authorities allow you to register your vehicle and set up automatic payment for Pay by Plate invoices through their website. This prevents missed payments and late fees. Check your specific toll authority's website to see if this option is available in your region.
Is Pay by Plate the same as a toll violation or a fine?
No. Pay by Plate is a standard billing method, not a violation. You are charged the regular toll amount plus a processing fee. If you do not pay, it becomes a debt collection issue, not a traffic violation, though some toll authorities can suspend registration as a collection tool.