What Pay by Plate Is and How It Works
Pay by Plate is the Illinois Tollway's system for collecting tolls from vehicles that do not have an I-PASS transponder. Instead of stopping at a booth or using a mounted device, the tollway photographs your license plate as you pass through a toll plaza, then sends you an invoice by mail.
When you drive through a toll plaza without a transponder, high-speed cameras capture your plate number and vehicle information. The tollway matches this to your vehicle registration through the Illinois Secretary of State's database. Within two to three weeks, you receive a bill in the mail at the address on your registration. The invoice includes the toll amount, a processing fee, and payment instructions.
This system applies to all vehicles — cars, trucks, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles — that pass through Illinois Tollway plazas without an active I-PASS account. You do not need to do anything to trigger the system; it happens automatically when your plate is read.
Key Takeaways
- Pay by Plate bills arrive by mail two to three weeks after you pass through a toll plaza, and include both the toll amount and a processing fee.
- You can pay online through the Illinois Tollway website, by phone, by mail, or in person at a payment location.
- Unpaid bills accrue late fees and can eventually result in vehicle registration holds or collection action.
- If you drive the tollway regularly, opening an I-PASS account costs less per toll than paying by plate repeatedly.
- Disputes over toll charges or plate misreads can be filed through the tollway's customer service within a set timeframe.
How to Pay a Pay by Plate Bill
When your bill arrives, you have several payment methods. The fastest is online through the Illinois Tollway website at illinoistollway.com. You will need the invoice number from your bill and a credit or debit card. Payment by this method typically posts within one business day.
You can also pay by phone by calling the Illinois Tollway customer service line at 1-800-UC-IPASS (1-800-824-7277). Have your invoice number and payment method ready. Phone payments also process within one business day.
If you prefer to mail a check, include your invoice number with the payment and send it to the address printed on your bill. Mail payments take longer — typically one to two weeks to reach the tollway and post to your account. You can also pay in person at an I-PASS customer service center, though these are limited to a few locations in the Chicago area.
Pay the full amount by the due date shown on your bill. If you miss the due date, late fees are added to your balance, and the debt can eventually trigger a hold on your vehicle registration renewal.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
Unpaid Pay by Plate bills do not disappear. The Illinois Tollway reports unpaid tolls to collection agencies, and the debt can follow you for years. More when ready, unpaid tolls can result in a hold placed on your vehicle registration renewal through the Illinois Secretary of State.
If you receive a registration hold notice, you cannot renew your license plates until the toll debt is resolved. This applies even if you no longer own the vehicle that incurred the toll — the hold is tied to your name and registration history, not just one vehicle.
The tollway may also pursue collection action, which can include wage garnishment or bank account levies in cases of significant unpaid debt. Settling the debt as soon as possible stops additional fees from accruing and prevents these escalations.
Disputing a Pay by Plate Charge
If you believe a charge is wrong — because you had an I-PASS transponder that should have been read, your plate was misread, or you did not drive that route — you can dispute it. Contact the Illinois Tollway customer service line at 1-800-UC-IPASS and explain the issue. Have your invoice number and any supporting information ready, such as proof of an active I-PASS account or evidence you were not in Illinois on that date.
The tollway has a window for disputes, typically 30 to 60 days from the bill date, though this can vary. If you miss that window, disputing becomes much harder. If your dispute is valid, the charge may be removed or adjusted. If the tollway determines the charge is correct, you will be asked to pay.
Plate misreads do happen, especially in poor weather or when plates are obscured. The tollway reviews photos as part of the dispute process, so having details about the conditions that day can help your case.
When to Get an I-PASS Instead
If you use the Illinois Tollway more than a few times per year, an I-PASS transponder saves money. The transponder costs $25 to $40 depending on the type, and tolls charged to an I-PASS account are typically 25 to 50 percent lower than Pay by Plate rates. You also avoid the processing fees added to each Pay by Plate bill.
You can open an I-PASS account online at illinoistollway.com or at a customer service center. The transponder is mailed to you and activates once you load funds into your account. Regular users recoup the transponder cost within a few months through toll savings.
I-PASS also eliminates the wait for bills and the risk of forgetting to pay. Tolls are deducted from your prepaid account balance automatically as you drive, and you receive a monthly statement showing all transactions.
Pay by Plate for Out-of-State Vehicles
If you live outside Illinois and drive the tollway, you will still receive a Pay by Plate bill. The tollway uses your license plate to look up your registration address through the Secretary of State's database in your home state. The bill is mailed to that address.
Out-of-state drivers can pay using any of the methods available to Illinois residents — online, by phone, or by mail. The processing fee applies the same way. If you drive the Illinois Tollway regularly, opening an I-PASS account is still the most economical option, and you can do so even if you live out of state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to pay a Pay by Plate bill?
The due date is printed on your bill, typically 30 days from the bill date. If you pay after that date, late fees are added. If the bill goes unpaid for several months, the tollway may report it to a collection agency or place a hold on your vehicle registration.
Can I get a refund if I overpay?
Yes. If you accidentally pay more than the amount due, contact the Illinois Tollway customer service line at 1-800-UC-IPASS to request a refund. Refunds are typically processed within two to four weeks and returned to your original payment method.
What if my license plate was misread?
Contact customer service with your invoice number and explain the error. The tollway will review the photo from the toll plaza. If the plate was indeed misread, the charge can be removed. Disputes must be filed within the timeframe shown on your bill, usually 30 to 60 days.
Do I have to pay if I had an I-PASS but it did not read?
No. If you had an active I-PASS transponder that failed to read, you should not be charged the Pay by Plate rate. Contact customer service with your I-PASS account number and the date of the toll. The tollway can verify your account was active and adjust the charge to the I-PASS rate or remove it entirely.
Can I set up automatic payments for Pay by Plate bills?
The Illinois Tollway does not offer automatic payment for Pay by Plate bills. You must pay each bill manually through their website, by phone, by mail, or in person. Setting up an I-PASS account with autopay is the closest option if you want recurring charges handled automatically.