Pay Illinois tolls through I-PASS or the Illinois Tollway website

You can pay Illinois tolls online in two ways: set up an I-PASS account for automatic toll payment, or pay individual toll charges through the Illinois Tollway's online payment portal. I-PASS is a prepaid account that deducts tolls automatically as you drive; the payment portal lets you pay tolls you've already incurred, usually after receiving a bill or toll notice in the mail.

The Illinois Tollway operates the toll roads in the Chicago area, including the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-90), the Reagan Tollway (I-88), the Stevenson Expressway (I-55), and the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355). If you drove on any of these roads without an I-PASS transponder, the tollway photographs your license plate and sends you a bill. You can pay that bill online without creating an account, though having an account makes it easier to manage multiple vehicles or check your balance.

Key Takeaways

  • I-PASS is a prepaid account that automatically deducts tolls as you drive; you load money into it online and it works on all Illinois tollways and many out-of-state toll roads.
  • If you received a toll bill or notice in the mail, you can pay it directly on the Illinois Tollway website without setting up an account.
  • Setting up an I-PASS account online takes about 10 minutes and requires a valid driver's license, vehicle registration, and a payment method.
  • The Illinois Tollway charges a one-time transponder fee (currently $25 for a standard transponder) when you open an I-PASS account, which is refundable if you close the account.
  • You can add money to your I-PASS account online anytime, and the account will alert you when your balance drops below a set amount.

Setting up an I-PASS account online

Go to the Illinois Tollway website (illinoistollway.com) and select "I-PASS" from the main menu. Click "Open an Account" and choose whether you want a standard transponder (mounts on your windshield) or a portable transponder (fits in your glove box). You'll need your driver's license number, vehicle registration information, and a valid email address.

Enter your vehicle details, including the license plate number, vehicle identification number (VIN), and vehicle type. The system will ask for a payment method — you can use a debit card, credit card, or bank account. Choose how much money to load into your account initially; most people start with $25 to $100. You'll also pay the one-time transponder fee at this step.

After you complete the online form, the Illinois Tollway will mail your transponder to the address on file. Standard delivery takes 7 to 10 business days. Once you receive it, mount it on your windshield (or keep it in your vehicle if you chose portable) and set up it through your online account. You can drive on tolled roads when ready after set up, even if you haven't received the physical transponder yet — the system can link your account to your license plate temporarily.

Paying a toll bill you received in the mail

If you drove through a toll plaza without an I-PASS transponder, the tollway's camera system captured your license plate. You'll receive a bill in the mail within 30 days. The bill shows the toll amount, the date and location of the toll, and a reference number.

To pay online, go to illinoistollway.com and select "Pay a Toll Bill." Enter your license plate number and the reference number from your bill, or search by the date you drove. The system will display the toll amount and any applicable fees. You can pay with a debit card or credit card. You do not need to create an account to pay a single bill, though creating one lets you see all your toll history in one place.

If you don't pay within a certain timeframe (usually 30 days from the bill date), the tollway may add a late fee. If you receive multiple bills for the same vehicle, consider opening an I-PASS account instead — it's cheaper than paying individual tolls over time, because I-PASS users get a discount on each toll.

Adding money to your I-PASS account

Log into your I-PASS account on the Illinois Tollway website using your email address and password. Click "Add Funds" or "Replenish Account." Choose how much money to add — you can add as little as $10 or as much as $500 in a single transaction. Select your payment method (debit card, credit card, or bank account) and confirm the transaction.

The money appears in your account when ready, though it may take one business day to process if you pay by bank transfer. You can set up automatic replenishment so that your account adds a set amount (for example, $50) whenever your balance drops below a threshold you choose (for example, $10). This prevents your account from running empty while you're driving.

Managing multiple vehicles on one I-PASS account

If you own more than one vehicle, you can add all of them to a single I-PASS account. Log into your account, go to "Manage Vehicles," and select "Add Vehicle." Enter the license plate number, VIN, and vehicle type for the second car. You'll receive a second transponder in the mail and can set up it through your account once it arrives.

All vehicles on the same account draw from the same prepaid balance. This makes it straightforward to track tolls for your household and manage one payment method instead of several. If you sell a vehicle or no longer need it on your account, you can remove it online and the transponder becomes inactive.

What to do if you lost your transponder or it's not working

If your I-PASS transponder is damaged, lost, or not reading properly, log into your account and request a replacement. The Illinois Tollway will mail you a new transponder at no charge. In the meantime, your account is still linked to your license plate, so tolls will still be deducted from your balance when you drive through a toll plaza — the camera system will recognize your plate.

If your transponder stops working while you're driving, you can still pass through toll plazas. The tollway will photograph your license plate and charge your I-PASS account. If you're concerned about a specific toll not being charged correctly, contact the Illinois Tollway customer service line at 1-800-UC-IPASS (1-800-824-7277) or use the "Contact Us" form on their website.

I-PASS discounts and how they work

I-PASS users pay a lower toll rate than drivers who pay at the booth or receive a bill by mail. The discount varies by road and toll plaza, but I-PASS users typically pay 30 to 50 percent less per toll. For example, a toll that costs $3.50 at the booth might cost $2.00 with I-PASS.

The discount is applied automatically whenever your transponder reads at a toll plaza. You don't need to do anything to receive it — as long as your account has a positive balance and your transponder is active, the lower rate applies. This is one reason why opening an I-PASS account makes sense even if you only drive tolled roads occasionally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay tolls with a credit card at the toll booth instead of online?

Some Illinois toll plazas accept credit and debit cards at the booth, but not all. The tollway recommends I-PASS or cash for the most reliable payment method. Paying online after receiving a bill is your best option if you don't want to set up an I-PASS account.

What happens if my I-PASS account balance runs out while I'm driving?

If your balance reaches zero, the tollway will photograph your license plate and send you a bill for the toll. You can pay that bill online. To avoid this, set up automatic replenishment so your account adds funds when the balance drops below a certain amount.

Do I need an I-PASS account to drive on Illinois tolled roads?

No. You can drive without I-PASS and pay the toll by mail after receiving a bill. However, I-PASS users pay a significantly lower rate per toll, so the account pays for itself quickly if you drive tolled roads more than a few times per year.

Can I use my I-PASS transponder on toll roads outside Illinois?

Yes. I-PASS works on toll roads in Indiana, Ohio, and several other states that participate in the interoperable toll network. Your transponder will work the same way — tolls are deducted from your I-PASS balance automatically.

How long does it take to receive my I-PASS transponder after I order it online?

Standard delivery takes 7 to 10 business days. You can drive on tolled roads when ready after you set up your account online, even before the physical transponder arrives — the system will recognize your license plate temporarily.