Indiana toll payment works through three main methods: paying at a toll booth with cash or card, using a prepaid account called an I-PASS, or paying an invoice after your license plate is photographed

Indiana's toll roads are the Indiana Toll Road (also called the ITR), which runs east-west across northern Indiana for about 157 miles, and the Ohio River Bridges Project tolls, which cover bridges connecting Indiana to Kentucky. Both use the same payment system. You do not have to choose a payment method in advance — you can use different methods on different trips, though prepaid accounts offer lower rates.

The toll road operates 24 hours a day, and tolls vary by distance traveled and vehicle type. A passenger car traveling the full length of the Indiana Toll Road costs less than a commercial truck on the same route. If you drive through a toll plaza without paying, the system photographs your license plate and mails you an invoice within two weeks, with a higher rate than if you had paid at the booth.

Key Takeaways

  • You can pay tolls at a booth with cash or card, set up a prepaid I-PASS account for lower rates, or receive an invoice by mail if your plate is photographed.
  • Prepaid I-PASS accounts charge less per mile than paying at the booth or receiving an invoice, and you can use the same account across multiple vehicles.
  • If you receive an invoice in the mail, you have 30 days to pay before late fees are added.
  • The Indiana Toll Road customer service line can answer questions about your account, toll rates, and payment options.

Paying at a toll booth with cash or card

When you approach a toll plaza, stay in a lane marked for your vehicle type — passenger cars, motorcycles, and RVs have separate lanes from commercial trucks. A sign above the lane tells you the toll amount. You can hand cash to an attendant, or if the booth has a card reader, you can insert or tap a debit or credit card. The attendant will give you a receipt if you pay cash.

Some toll plazas have all-electronic lanes with no attendant. These lanes photograph your license plate and send an invoice to the vehicle's registered owner. If you want to avoid the higher invoice rate, do not use these lanes unless you have an I-PASS account set up — the system will recognize your I-PASS and charge the prepaid rate instead.

Setting up and using an I-PASS prepaid account

An I-PASS is a prepaid toll account that you load money into in advance. You receive a small transponder (a device about the size of a deck of cards) that you mount on your windshield. When you drive through a toll plaza, the transponder communicates with the toll system and deducts the toll from your account balance. I-PASS rates are roughly 25 to 30 percent lower than paying at a booth or receiving an invoice.

To open an I-PASS account, visit the Indiana Toll Road website or call their customer service line. You will need a valid driver's license, a vehicle registration, and a payment method to fund the account (debit card, credit card, or bank account). The transponder is mailed to you, usually within five to seven business days. You can add money to your account online, by phone, or through automatic replenishment, which charges your payment method when your balance drops below a threshold you set.

One I-PASS account can cover multiple vehicles — you straightforward register each vehicle's license plate and request additional transponders. This is useful if you share a vehicle or drive different cars on different days. Each transponder is tied to the same account balance, so money you add covers all of them.

Receiving and paying toll invoices by mail

If your license plate is photographed at an all-electronic toll plaza and you do not have an I-PASS, you will receive an invoice in the mail within 10 to 14 days. The invoice shows the toll amount, the date and time you passed through, and the toll plaza location. The rate on an invoice is higher than the booth rate because the system charges an administrative fee for processing the photograph and mailing the bill.

You have 30 days from the invoice date to pay. You can pay online through the Indiana Toll Road website using a debit or credit card, by mail by sending a check to the address on the invoice, or by phone. If you do not pay within 30 days, late fees are added to your balance, and the toll road may report the debt to a collection agency or suspend your vehicle registration renewal.

If you receive invoices regularly because you drive the toll road often, opening an I-PASS account will save you money and eliminate the need to pay invoices. The prepaid rate is significantly lower than the invoice rate over time.

Understanding toll rates and vehicle classifications

Tolls on the Indiana Toll Road are charged by distance and vehicle class. A passenger vehicle (cars, motorcycles, and small SUVs) pays one rate, while commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, and vehicles towing trailers) pay a higher rate. The toll system classifies your vehicle based on its size and axle count when you pass through the toll plaza.

Tolls are lower for I-PASS users than for drivers who pay at a booth, and both are lower than the invoice rate. For example, a passenger car might pay $3.50 with I-PASS, $4.75 at a booth, and $6.00 on an invoice for the same trip — though exact amounts vary by distance. The Indiana Toll Road publishes a rate table on its website showing tolls for different distances and vehicle types.

What to do if you lose your transponder or need to update your account

If your I-PASS transponder is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact the Indiana Toll Road customer service line to report it. They will deactivate the old transponder so it cannot be used fraudulently and mail you a replacement, usually within five to seven business days. You will be charged a replacement fee, typically around $25, though this varies.

If you move to a new address, change your vehicle registration, or want to add or remove a vehicle from your account, you can update your information online through the I-PASS portal or by calling customer service. Changes to your registered vehicle or address take effect within one to two business days. If you sell a vehicle that is registered to your I-PASS account, remove it from the account before the sale to avoid receiving invoices for tolls charged after you no longer own the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my I-PASS from another state on Indiana tolls?

No. I-PASS is specific to Indiana and the Ohio River Bridges Project. If you have a transponder from Illinois, Ohio, or another state, it will not work on Indiana tolls. You must open a separate Indiana I-PASS account. However, if you travel frequently between states, some toll systems are beginning to recognize each other's transponders — check the Indiana Toll Road website for current reciprocal agreements.

What happens if I drive through a toll plaza and my I-PASS does not work?

If your transponder malfunctions or your account balance is zero, the toll system will photograph your license plate and send you an invoice at the higher rate. Contact customer service as soon as possible to report the issue. If you can show that your account was active and funded at the time, they may adjust the charge to the I-PASS rate, though this is not may provide.

Do I have to pay tolls on the Indiana Toll Road?

Yes. The Indiana Toll Road is a toll facility, and all vehicles must pay to use it. There is no free alternate route that bypasses the toll plazas. If you cannot pay at the time you pass through, you will receive an invoice by mail and must pay within 30 days.

How do I know which toll plaza I passed through if I receive an invoice?

The invoice lists the toll plaza name and location, the date and time you passed through, and your vehicle information. If you are unsure which plaza it was, the Indiana Toll Road website has a map showing all toll plaza locations along the toll road. You can also call customer service with the invoice number, and they can provide more details about the transaction.