How to pay tolls on New York roads and bridges

New York tolls can be paid three ways: with cash at a toll booth, through a prepaid account called E-ZPass, or automatically by mail if you don't have E-ZPass. Most drivers use E-ZPass because it costs less per crossing and moves faster through dedicated lanes. If you drive a rental car or borrow a vehicle, you can pay cash at booths on most crossings, though some newer facilities no longer accept cash and require E-ZPass or a mailed invoice.

The toll amount depends on the specific crossing, the time of day, and your vehicle type. Peak-hour tolls on some bridges and tunnels are higher than off-peak rates. Heavy vehicles pay more than passenger cars. New York's Thruway Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey each operate different facilities, so toll rates and payment rules vary slightly by location.

Key Takeaways

  • E-ZPass is a prepaid account that charges less per toll than cash and lets you use express lanes; it works across New York and multiple neighboring states.
  • Cash payment is still available at most toll booths, but some newer facilities (like the Tappan Zee Bridge) no longer accept cash and will bill you by mail instead.
  • If you don't pay a toll by any method, the toll authority will mail you an invoice with a late fee added; unpaid tolls can lead to vehicle registration holds.
  • E-ZPass accounts require a valid driver's license, vehicle registration, and a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account); setup takes about 10 minutes online.
  • Rental car companies and vehicle owners can set up separate E-ZPass accounts, and some rental companies automatically enroll cars in their own toll-payment programs.

E-ZPass: the faster and cheaper option

E-ZPass is a prepaid electronic toll account that deducts the toll cost automatically as you drive through a toll plaza. You place a small transponder (a device about the size of a matchbox) on your windshield, and it communicates with sensors at the toll booth. The toll is charged to your account within a few days, and you receive a monthly statement.

E-ZPass costs less than cash at most New York crossings. On the Thruway, for example, a car paying cash might pay $16.75 for a crossing, while an E-ZPass holder pays $13.75. On MTA bridges and tunnels, the discount is similar. You also get access to express lanes at some facilities, which move faster than cash lanes.

To open an E-ZPass account, visit the E-ZPass website or a customer service center. You will need a valid driver's license, vehicle registration, and a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account). The transponder is mailed to you within 7 to 10 business days. Once it arrives, you set up it online or by phone, and it is ready to use when ready. There is no monthly fee, but some accounts charge a small annual maintenance fee (typically $1 to $2) if your balance falls below a certain threshold.

Paying cash at toll booths

Cash lanes are still available at most New York toll facilities, though the number of cash booths has shrunk in recent years. You drive up to a booth, hand cash to an attendant, and receive a receipt. The toll amount varies by location and vehicle type, and peak-hour tolls are higher than off-peak rates.

However, not all facilities accept cash anymore. The Tappan Zee Bridge (now the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge), the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and some other newer or recently renovated crossings no longer have cash lanes. If you drive through a cashless toll plaza without E-ZPass, the toll authority will photograph your license plate and mail you an invoice within 30 days, along with a processing fee (usually $2.50 to $5.00).

Cash payment is useful if you drive a rental car occasionally or borrow a vehicle. Rental car companies often have their own toll-payment arrangements, so check your rental agreement before you drive. Some rental companies automatically enroll vehicles in their own programs and charge tolls to your credit card on file.

What happens if you don't pay a toll

If you drive through a toll plaza without paying and without E-ZPass, the toll authority will photograph your license plate. Within 30 days, you will receive a toll notice by mail at the address on your vehicle registration. The notice includes the original toll amount plus a processing fee.

If you ignore the notice or don't pay within the important date (usually 30 days from the notice date), the toll authority can add a late fee and may report the debt to a collection agency. Unpaid tolls can also trigger a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. In New York, the Department of Motor Vehicles will not renew your registration if you owe tolls to the Thruway Authority, the MTA, or the Port Authority.

If you receive a toll notice and believe it was sent in error, you can dispute it by contacting the toll authority directly. Keep your receipt if you paid cash, or provide your E-ZPass account number if the charge was made to your account by mistake.

E-ZPass for rental cars and borrowed vehicles

If you rent a car, check the rental agreement to see whether the company has enrolled the vehicle in a toll-payment program. Most major rental companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget) participate in E-ZPass or similar programs and will charge tolls to your credit card on file, plus a processing fee (usually $3 to $5 per toll crossing).

If the rental company does not have a toll program, you can pay cash at toll booths or request a temporary E-ZPass transponder. Some E-ZPass customer service centers offer short-term transponders for visitors, though availability varies. Alternatively, you can provide your own transponder if you own one, though you should notify your E-ZPass provider that you are using it in a rental vehicle.

If you borrow a friend's or family member's vehicle, ask the owner whether the car has an E-ZPass transponder. If it does, the toll will be charged to their account. If not, you can pay cash or ask the owner to set up a temporary payment arrangement with the toll authority.

Toll rates and peak-hour pricing

New York toll rates vary by facility and vehicle type. Passenger cars are the standard rate; motorcycles, trucks, and commercial vehicles pay different amounts. Some facilities use congestion pricing, which means tolls are higher during peak travel times (usually weekday mornings and evenings) and lower during off-peak hours.

The Thruway Authority sets rates for the New York State Thruway. The MTA sets rates for the East River crossings (the George Washington Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge toll lanes). The Port Authority sets rates for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Holland Tunnel. Each agency updates rates periodically, usually once per year.

You can find current toll rates on the websites of each authority. The E-ZPass website also lists rates for all participating facilities in New York and neighboring states. If you drive the same route regularly, you can estimate your monthly toll cost by multiplying the per-crossing rate by the number of trips.

E-ZPass accounts across state lines

E-ZPass works in 17 states and Washington, D.C., including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and others. If you have an E-ZPass account, you can use the same transponder on toll roads and bridges in any of these states. The toll is charged to your account at the E-ZPass rate for that state and facility.

This is useful if you travel between New York and neighboring states regularly. You do not need separate accounts or transponders. However, toll rates vary by state and facility, so a crossing in New Jersey may cost more or less than the same distance in New York. Check the E-ZPass website or the specific state's toll authority website for rates in the state you are traveling to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use E-ZPass in a rental car?

Most rental car companies have their own toll-payment programs and will charge tolls to your credit card on file, plus a processing fee. Check your rental agreement before you drive. If the company does not have a program, you can pay cash at toll booths or request a temporary E-ZPass transponder from a customer service center.

What if I lose my E-ZPass transponder?

Contact your E-ZPass customer service center when ready to report the loss. They will deactivate the old transponder and mail you a replacement, usually within 7 to 10 business days. You may be charged a replacement fee (typically $5 to $10). Until the new transponder arrives, you can pay tolls with cash or request a temporary transponder.

Do I have to use E-ZPass, or can I always pay cash?

Most toll facilities still have cash lanes, but some newer facilities (like the Tappan Zee Bridge and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge) no longer accept cash. If you drive through a cashless plaza without E-ZPass, you will receive a toll invoice by mail with a processing fee added. Check the toll authority's website to see which facilities accept cash before you drive.

What happens if my E-ZPass account runs out of money?

Your account will go into a negative balance, and you will receive a bill for the amount owed. Most accounts allow a small negative balance before the account is suspended. Set up automatic replenishment so your account is refunded when the balance drops below a certain amount, usually $10 to $20.

Can I dispute a toll charge on my E-ZPass account?

Yes. If you believe a charge was made in error, contact your E-ZPass customer service center with your account number and the date of the crossing. They will review the transaction and may issue a refund if the charge was incorrect. Keep records of your trips in case you need to dispute a charge later.