What Illinois Pay by Plate is and how it charges you

Illinois Pay by Plate is a toll payment system that photographs your vehicle's license plate as you drive through a toll plaza and sends you an invoice by mail. You do not need a transponder, toll tag, or account set up in advance — the system straightforward reads your plate, matches it to your vehicle registration, and bills you later. This is how the Illinois Tollway collects tolls on Interstate 90, Interstate 94, Interstate 88, and the Illinois Route 390 (the Veterans Memorial Tollway).

The bill arrives at the address on file with the Illinois Secretary of State's vehicle registration. If you own the car, you will receive the invoice. If you lease or financed the vehicle, the registered owner receives it — which may be the dealership or finance company, and they may forward it to you or handle payment themselves. Pay by Plate is the default method; you are charged this way unless you set up a I-PASS account or another prepaid toll method beforehand.

Key Takeaways

  • Illinois Pay by Plate bills you by mail after the tollway photographs your license plate, with invoices arriving weeks after you drive through.
  • You are charged the posted toll rate for that road and vehicle type, plus a $0.75 administrative fee per transaction if you do not have a prepaid account.
  • The bill goes to whoever the Illinois Secretary of State has listed as the vehicle's registered owner, not necessarily the driver.
  • You can pay the invoice by mail, phone, or online at the Illinois Tollway website, and payment is due within 14 days to avoid late fees.
  • Setting up an I-PASS account before you drive eliminates the administrative fee and lets you pay tolls at a discounted rate.

How much you pay and what fees explore

The toll amount depends on which road you use and what type of vehicle you drive. A passenger car on I-90 costs less than a truck or RV on the same stretch. The Illinois Tollway publishes toll rates by route and vehicle class on its website, and rates change periodically — check before a long trip if you want to know the exact amount.

On top of the base toll, Pay by Plate adds a $0.75 administrative fee per transaction. This fee covers the cost of photographing your plate, matching it to your registration, and mailing the invoice. If you drive through multiple toll plazas on one trip, you pay the fee once per plaza. If you set up an I-PASS account instead, you eliminate this fee and usually pay a lower toll rate as well — typically 25 to 50 percent less than the posted rate, depending on the road.

When the bill arrives and how to pay it

The invoice arrives by mail 2 to 4 weeks after you drive through the toll plaza. The envelope shows the toll amount, the $0.75 fee, the date and time you passed through, and the toll plaza location. Payment is due within 14 days of the invoice date. If you pay late, the Illinois Tollway adds a late fee — the amount varies but typically starts at $5 to $10 per unpaid invoice.

You can pay by mail by sending a check or money order to the address on the invoice. You can also pay online at illinoistollway.com using a credit card or bank account, or by phone at the number printed on the bill. The website and phone line accept payment 24 hours a day. If you pay online or by phone, the payment posts within 1 to 2 business days.

If you receive multiple invoices and fall behind on payment, the Illinois Tollway may place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal or report the debt to a collection agency. Paying as soon as the invoice arrives avoids these consequences.

Setting up I-PASS to avoid Pay by Plate charges

An I-PASS account is a prepaid toll account linked to a small electronic tag you mount on your windshield. When you drive through a toll plaza with an I-PASS tag, the system reads the tag instead of your license plate, deducts the toll from your account balance, and sends no invoice. You load money into the account online or by mail, and the balance decreases with each toll you pay.

I-PASS costs $25 to open, and you must prepay at least $25 into the account before you can use it — so the minimum starting cost is $50. Once active, you pay the discounted I-PASS toll rate (usually 25 to 50 percent lower than Pay by Plate) and avoid the $0.75 administrative fee entirely. If your balance drops below $10, the system automatically replenishes it from a credit card you provide, so you never run out of toll credit.

You can order an I-PASS tag online at illinoistollway.com, by phone, or at a tollway customer service center. The tag arrives by mail in 5 to 7 business days. If you travel the Illinois tollways regularly, I-PASS saves money quickly — the discount pays for the $25 account fee after roughly 30 to 50 tolls, depending on the road.

What happens if you do not pay a Pay by Plate invoice

If you ignore a Pay by Plate invoice, the Illinois Tollway sends a second notice 30 days later. If you still do not pay, the debt may be referred to a collection agency, and the amount owed grows as collection fees are added. The tollway can also place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal — you will not be able to renew your license plates until the toll debt is paid.

In some cases, unpaid tolls can affect your credit report if the debt is sold to a third-party collector. The best course is to pay the original invoice within 14 days. If you cannot pay in full, contact the Illinois Tollway customer service line to ask about payment plans or hardship options — they may be willing to work with you rather than escalate the debt.

Disputing a Pay by Plate charge

If you believe you were charged incorrectly — for example, if the photograph misread your plate, or if you were charged twice for the same toll — you can dispute the invoice. Contact the Illinois Tollway customer service line with your invoice number and explain the error. They will review the photograph and transaction record and either cancel the charge or explain why it is correct.

Disputes are usually resolved within 2 to 4 weeks. Keep your original invoice and any supporting documents (such as a receipt showing you paid elsewhere, or proof you were not in the state on the date in question). If the tollway denies your dispute, you can request a formal review, though this process is slower and requires written documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use Pay by Plate, or can I choose a different payment method?

Pay by Plate is the default if you do not set up an account beforehand. You can avoid it by opening an I-PASS account before you drive the tollways. There is no other payment method — you either use I-PASS or you receive a Pay by Plate invoice by mail.

What if I lease my car or it is registered to someone else?

The invoice goes to the registered owner on file with the Illinois Secretary of State. If that is a dealership, finance company, or another person, they receive the bill first. Many will forward it to you or add it to your monthly payment. Check your lease or financing agreement to see who is responsible for tolls.

Can I get a refund if I overpaid my toll bill?

If you paid more than you owed, contact the Illinois Tollway with your payment confirmation. They will issue a refund to your original payment method, though it may take 2 to 4 weeks to process. Keep your receipt so you can reference the transaction.

Will Pay by Plate affect my credit score?

A single unpaid invoice will not when ready hurt your credit. However, if the debt goes to a collection agency and remains unpaid for several months, it may be reported to credit bureaus and lower your score. Paying within 14 days prevents this entirely.

How do I know if my I-PASS tag is working correctly?

When you pass through a toll plaza with an active I-PASS tag, a green light appears on the toll gantry. If you see a red light or no light, the tag may not be reading. Check that the tag is mounted correctly on your windshield and that your account has a positive balance. If problems continue, contact I-PASS customer service.