Toll Payments

All-Electronic Tolling

Many toll agencies have already converted to all-electronic tolls, meaning cash is not accepted. On roadways that are all-electronic, toll payments may be made by one of the following methods:

Toll Pass / Transponder

Toll transponders issued by state or regional tolling agencies are, typically, the preferred method for making toll payments.

When using a compatible toll pass, your tolls are automatically deducted from your prepaid account.

The compatibility of a toll pass will depend upon the state in which you travel and the roadway being used. Our Toll Pass section has a complete list of compatible roads for each state.

Toll pass networks are becoming more integrated, particularly across the eastern United States and the Southern Plains, but many states are also opting to use isolated networks and charge by license plate, as well.

License Plate / Mail

Many agencies offer what is called "Pay by Plate", "Toll by Plate", "Pay by Mail" or similar options. Using this method, drivers do not need cash or a compatible toll pass. Instead, this payment method involves taking a snapshot of your vehicle's license plate, then issuing a toll invoice.

Toll invoices are generally mailed once per month, and they are sent to the address on file with the state where the photographed vehicle is registered.

Toll invoices may include an administrative fee for issuing the invoice.

What Are Registered And Unregistered Plate Accounts?

Registering a licence plate simply means you have provided your vehicle information to the tolling agency responsible for handling licence-plate billing. Often, registering a license plate may result in reduced tolls, similar to using an agency-issued toll pass.

Unregistered license plate only means you have not provided your license plate to a tolling agency that issues toll invoices. If a roadway offers a "Pay-by-Plate", "Toll-by-Plate" or similar payment option, you do not need to register your license plate in order to receive a toll bill.

However, registering your licence plate ahead of time with the agency may save on toll charges, depending on the agency.

Cash, Credit and Debit

Cash or Coin

Cash payments speak for themselves. Paying with cash means using legal tender, whether notes or coins, in order to pay your toll.

For agencies that collect cash payments, tolls are often taken at unstaffed toll booths. In such cases, exact change is often required.

In case exact an payment is not available, many agencies will permit overpayment at an unstaffed toll booth; however, no change will be issued for payment above the required toll. Change can only be issued at staffed toll booths.

In such circumstances, the option to use a credit card or debit card is sometimes available.

Credit Card or Debit Card

Credit card payments or debit card payments may be used on some roadways; however, this option is not offered universally.

In states or on roadways the option to use a credit card or debit is permitted, the cards typicall must include a recognized financial network, such as Visa or Master Card.

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are being adopted as a form of payment in many jurisdictions as agencies make technological upgrades. However, this option, like bank cards, is neither widely adopted nor evenly applied.

Part of the issue is integration, as many competing apps are accepted by various agencies. However, no single agency currently accepts all apps for payment, and no toll payment app has yet been adopted universally.