What iPass Pay by Plate is and how it charges you

iPass Pay by Plate is a system that lets you drive on Illinois toll roads without a transponder or toll tag. Instead, a camera reads your license plate as you pass through a toll plaza, and the Illinois Tollway sends you an invoice by mail. You pay the toll amount plus a processing fee, usually within 30 days of receiving the bill.

The system covers the Illinois Tollway system, which includes the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80), and the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355). If you drive these roads regularly without a transponder, you will receive Pay by Plate invoices.

The processing fee varies depending on the toll amount and the number of tolls on a single invoice. A single toll might cost $1.50 to $3.00 plus a $0.75 to $1.50 processing fee. If you have multiple tolls on one bill, the processing fee is usually charged once per invoice, not per toll.

Key Takeaways

  • iPass Pay by Plate invoices arrive by mail 7 to 14 days after you drive through a toll plaza, and you typically have 30 days to pay.
  • You can pay online at illinoistollway.com, by phone at 1-800-UC-IPASS, or by mail using the payment stub included with your invoice.
  • If you miss a payment important date, late fees and penalties begin to accumulate, and the Tollway can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal.
  • Getting an iPass transponder costs $0 to $40 depending on the account type, and it eliminates the processing fee and reduces the toll rate itself.
  • If you believe an invoice is wrong—wrong toll amount, duplicate charge, or wrong vehicle—you can dispute it by contacting the Tollway within 30 days of the invoice date.

How to pay an iPass Pay by Plate invoice

When you receive an invoice in the mail, you have three ways to pay. The fastest is online at illinoistollway.com. Go to the Pay by Plate section, enter your invoice number (printed on the bill), and pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Payment usually posts within one business day.

You can also call 1-800-UC-IPASS (1-800-824-4277) and pay over the phone with a credit or debit card. A representative will ask for your invoice number and payment method. This route takes a few minutes but gives you a confirmation number when ready.

The third option is to mail a check or money order with the payment stub from your invoice. Write your invoice number on the back of the check. Mail it to the address printed on the invoice. Payment by mail typically takes 7 to 10 business days to post, so send it early if your important date is approaching.

What happens if you do not pay on time

If you do not pay within 30 days of the invoice date, the Tollway adds a late fee. The amount depends on how overdue the bill is. After 60 days, the Tollway may report the debt to a collection agency, which can damage your credit score. After 90 days, the Tollway can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal—meaning you cannot renew your license plates until the debt is paid.

If you receive a notice that your registration is on hold, you must pay the outstanding toll amount, all late fees, and any collection costs before the hold is lifted. The total can be significantly more than the original invoice. Contact the Tollway when ready if you receive a registration hold notice to find out the exact amount owed and your payment options.

If you believe you cannot pay the full amount by the important date, contact the Tollway before the due date. In some cases, they may offer a payment plan, though this is not may provide. Waiting until after the important date makes negotiation much harder.

Disputing an invoice you believe is incorrect

If you think an invoice is wrong—the toll amount is too high, you were charged twice for the same crossing, or the vehicle listed is not yours—you can dispute it. You have 30 days from the invoice date to file a dispute. Contact the Tollway at 1-800-UC-IPASS or submit a dispute form on illinoistollway.com.

When you dispute, be specific. If you were charged twice, provide both invoice numbers. If the vehicle is wrong, explain what vehicle you were actually driving. If the toll amount seems high, note the date, time, and location of the toll. The Tollway will investigate and send you a response by mail, usually within 30 to 45 days.

While your dispute is being reviewed, you should still pay the invoice by the important date to avoid late fees and registration holds. If the dispute is upheld in your favor, the Tollway will refund the overcharge. If you pay and then receive a refund, it may take 4 to 6 weeks to appear in your account.

Getting an iPass transponder to avoid Pay by Plate

If you drive Illinois toll roads frequently, getting an iPass transponder (also called a toll tag) is usually cheaper than paying by plate repeatedly. A transponder is a small device you mount on your windshield. It communicates with toll plazas as you drive through, and tolls are deducted from a prepaid account.

An iPass account costs $0 to $40 to open, depending on the account type. A standard account requires a $25 deposit, which is credited toward tolls. A pre-paid account requires you to load money upfront. Once your account is active, tolls are lower than Pay by Plate rates—typically 20 to 30 percent cheaper—and there is no processing fee.

You can open an iPass account online at illinoistollway.com, by phone at 1-800-UC-IPASS, or at a toll plaza customer service center. You will need a valid driver's license, a vehicle registration, and a payment method. The transponder arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days.

Understanding the difference between iPass and Pay by Plate rates

The Illinois Tollway charges different rates depending on how you pay. A single toll crossing might cost $1.50 with an iPass transponder but $2.50 with Pay by Plate (the toll amount plus processing fee). Over time, the savings add up. If you cross a toll plaza 20 times a month, you could save $20 or more per month by switching to iPass.

Pay by Plate is designed for occasional drivers or people passing through Illinois. If you live in Illinois and commute on toll roads, iPass is almost always the better financial choice. The transponder pays for itself within a few months for regular users.

What to do if you lose your Pay by Plate invoice

If you throw away your invoice before paying it, you can still find the bill online. Go to illinoistollway.com, select Pay by Plate, and enter your license plate number and the date range when you think you drove through a toll plaza. The system will show all unpaid invoices associated with that plate.

You can pay directly from the online lookup without needing the physical invoice. If you cannot remember the date, try a broad range—the system will show all Pay by Plate charges from the past year or more. If you still cannot locate it and your registration is on hold, call 1-800-UC-IPASS and a representative can look it up for you using your driver's license number.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to pay a Pay by Plate invoice?

You typically have 30 days from the invoice date to pay without penalty. The due date is printed on the invoice. If you pay after 30 days, late fees begin to accumulate. After 90 days unpaid, the Tollway can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal.

Can I pay a Pay by Plate invoice with cash?

No. The Tollway accepts credit cards, debit cards, electronic checks, and mailed checks or money orders. You cannot pay in cash online or by phone. If you want to pay in cash, you would need to visit an Illinois Secretary of State facility or a Tollway customer service center in person, though this is not a standard payment method.

What if I was charged for a toll I did not drive through?

Contact the Tollway at 1-800-UC-IPASS within 30 days of the invoice date and explain which toll you believe is incorrect. Provide the date, time, and location if you can. The Tollway will investigate using camera footage and toll records. If the charge is found to be an error, it will be removed and you will receive a refund.

Does Pay by Plate affect my credit score?

A single unpaid Pay by Plate invoice does not when ready affect your credit. However, if the bill goes unpaid for 60 days or more, the Tollway may send it to a collection agency. A collection account can significantly damage your credit score and appear on your credit report for seven years.

Can I set up automatic payments for Pay by Plate invoices?

The Tollway does not offer automatic payment for Pay by Plate invoices. You must pay each invoice manually by the due date. If you want automatic toll payments, you would need to open an iPass account instead, which allows you to set up automatic account replenishment.