California has three ways to pay tolls, and which one you use depends on the road and whether you have a transponder

Most California tolls are collected by FasTrak, a prepaid account system where you load money and a small device in your car deducts the toll automatically as you pass through. If you do not have FasTrak, you can pay by mail after you drive through using Pay-by-Plate, which photographs your license plate and sends you an invoice. A few older toll roads still accept cash at toll booths, but these are becoming rare. The fastest and cheapest option is FasTrak — you get a discount on every toll — but Pay-by-Plate works if you only cross tolls occasionally.

Which system you encounter depends on which road you are on. The Bay Area Toll Authority runs the seven bridges and some highways. The Orange County Transportation Authority runs the 73, 133, and 241 toll roads. Los Angeles County operates the 110 and 10 express lanes. Each has its own account system, though FasTrak works across all of them once you set it up.

Key Takeaways

  • FasTrak is a prepaid account with a small transponder mounted on your windshield that automatically deducts tolls as you pass through, and you receive a discount on every toll you pay this way.
  • Pay-by-Plate lets you drive through without a transponder, and the toll authority photographs your plate and mails you an invoice within two weeks.
  • FasTrak accounts are separate for each toll operator — Bay Area bridges, Orange County toll roads, and LA express lanes each have their own system, though you can open multiple accounts.
  • Cash payment is still available on a few older toll roads but is being phased out; check the specific road's website to confirm before you drive.
  • If you do not pay a toll by the important date on your invoice, late fees and penalties accumulate quickly, and the toll authority can place a hold on your vehicle registration.

Setting up a FasTrak account and getting your transponder

To open a FasTrak account, you visit the website for the specific toll operator — FasTrak.org for Bay Area bridges, or the Orange County or Los Angeles county toll authority sites for their roads. You provide your vehicle information, a valid payment method (debit or credit card), and your mailing address. The transponder arrives by mail in five to seven business days.

Once you receive the transponder, you mount it on the inside of your windshield, usually in the upper driver's side corner where the camera can read it. The device itself is free; you only pay for the tolls you use. You can add money to your account online, by phone, or through automatic replenishment, where the system charges your card when your balance drops below a certain amount. Most people set up automatic replenishment so they never have to think about it again.

FasTrak discounts vary by road and operator. Bay Area bridges typically charge $5 to $6 with FasTrak versus $6 to $7 without it. Orange County toll roads offer discounts of 30 to 50 percent depending on the time of day and congestion. The discount is automatic — you do not have to do anything to receive it.

How Pay-by-Plate works if you do not have FasTrak

If you drive through a toll plaza without a FasTrak transponder, a camera photographs your license plate. The toll operator then looks up your vehicle registration and mails you an invoice. This process takes one to two weeks, so you will not see a bill when ready.

When the invoice arrives, it shows the toll amount plus an administrative fee — typically $2 to $3 per crossing. You can pay online, by phone, or by mail using the instructions on the invoice. Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date. If you pay within that window, there are no additional charges beyond the toll and the administrative fee.

Pay-by-Plate is convenient for occasional travelers, but it costs more than FasTrak because of the administrative fee on every crossing. If you cross the same toll road more than a few times a year, opening a FasTrak account saves money.

What happens if you miss a toll payment important date

If you do not pay your invoice by the due date, the toll operator sends a second notice with a late fee added — usually $25 to $50 depending on the operator. If you still do not pay, a third notice arrives with additional penalties. After 60 days of non-payment, the toll operator can place a hold on your vehicle registration, which prevents you from renewing it.

If your registration is on hold, you cannot legally drive the vehicle. To clear the hold, you must pay the original toll, all late fees, and any collection costs. The total can easily exceed $200 for a single missed toll. If you receive a notice you cannot pay when ready, contact the toll operator's customer service line — many offer payment plans for people facing hardship.

Tolls on specific California roads and their payment methods

The Bay Area Toll Authority operates the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge, Dumbarton Bridge, Carquinez Bridge, Benicia-Martinez Bridge, and Antioch Bridge. All seven accept FasTrak or Pay-by-Plate. The Golden Gate Bridge also accepts cash at the toll plaza on the northbound side only.

The Orange County Transportation Authority runs the 73 Toll Road, 133 Toll Road, and 241 Toll Road. All three accept FasTrak or Pay-by-Plate. Cash is not accepted on any of these roads.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates the 110 Express Lanes and the 10 Express Lanes. These are congestion-priced lanes where tolls change throughout the day based on traffic. Both accept FasTrak or Pay-by-Plate. The 10 Express Lanes also accept cash at certain locations, though this is being phased out.

The Foothill Transportation Corridor (241 Toll Road extension) and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (73 Toll Road) are operated by the Orange County Transportation Authority and follow the same payment rules as the other Orange County toll roads.

Transponder issues and what to do if yours stops working

FasTrak transponders occasionally malfunction or lose their signal. If you notice tolls are not being deducted from your account when you pass through a toll plaza, check your account online first to confirm the balance is there. If the balance is intact but tolls are not being charged, the transponder may be blocked or damaged.

Contact your toll operator's customer service and report the problem. They can check whether the transponder is communicating with the toll plaza. If it is not, they will send you a replacement at no charge. In the meantime, you may receive Pay-by-Plate invoices for tolls that were not deducted. Keep records of your customer service contact and the replacement request — you can dispute those invoices once your new transponder arrives and is registered.

Transponders can also fail if they are exposed to extreme heat or if the windshield is tinted too darkly. If you replace your windshield, remove the transponder before the work begins and remount it afterward. If you sell your vehicle, contact your toll operator to transfer the transponder to your new vehicle or close the account.

Using tolls if you are visiting California or renting a car

If you are renting a car in California, ask the rental company whether the vehicle has a FasTrak transponder. If it does, the company will explain how tolls are charged — some include tolls in the rental agreement, while others charge your credit card on file after you return the car. If the vehicle does not have a transponder, you will receive Pay-by-Plate invoices mailed to the rental company's address, and they will forward them to you or charge your card.

If you are visiting and do not have a rental car, you do not need to worry about tolls unless you are driving your own vehicle. If you are driving your own car and do not have FasTrak, Pay-by-Plate will handle the tolls automatically. Just be aware that you will receive invoices with administrative fees, so budget accordingly if you plan to cross tolls multiple times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same FasTrak account on all California toll roads?

No. Each toll operator runs its own FasTrak system, so you need separate accounts for Bay Area bridges, Orange County toll roads, and LA express lanes. However, you can open multiple accounts and use the same transponder on all of them — the transponder communicates with each system independently.

What if I drive through a toll plaza by accident and do not want to pay?

You cannot avoid paying. If you do not have FasTrak, you will receive a Pay-by-Plate invoice. If you believe you were charged in error — for example, you exited before the toll point — contact the toll operator with details of the date, time, and location. They can review the camera footage and reverse the charge if warranted.

Do I get a FasTrak discount if I pay by credit card instead of setting up automatic replenishment?

Yes. The discount applies to every toll you pay with FasTrak, regardless of how you load money into your account. Automatic replenishment is just more convenient so you do not run out of balance.

How long does it take to get a refund if I close my FasTrak account?

Most toll operators refund any remaining balance within two to four weeks of account closure. The refund is issued to the payment method you used to fund the account. Check your toll operator's website for their specific timeline.

What happens if my license plate is obscured or unreadable when I drive through a toll plaza?

The toll operator will not be able to photograph your plate, so you will not receive a Pay-by-Plate invoice. However, the toll authority may eventually track you down through other means and send a notice. If you realize this happened, contact the toll operator proactively and pay the toll manually to avoid late fees and penalties.