What Is a Toll Bill and How Do You Pay It?
Navigate toll bills with confidence. Understand how to pay, manage, and resolve issues to avoid unexpected fees.
Toll bills are a common feature of modern transportation, allowing drivers to use specific roadways, bridges, or tunnels without stopping to pay cash. Understanding how these bills are generated, received, and paid is important for vehicle owners.
Understanding Toll Bills
A toll bill represents a charge for using a tolled facility without an electronic toll transponder, such as E-ZPass or FasTrak. These bills are generated through license plate recognition technology. As a vehicle passes through a tolling point, cameras capture an image of the license plate. This image identifies the registered vehicle owner through state motor vehicle departments.
This system, often called “Toll-by-Plate” or “Pay By Mail,” collects fees from drivers without an active electronic toll account or whose transponder was not detected. While convenient for occasional users, it often results in higher toll rates compared to transponder users due to administrative processing costs.
Receiving and Paying Toll Bills
Toll bills are sent to the registered vehicle owner via postal mail. They arrive within a few days to a few weeks after toll usage, though processing times vary by agency. Some toll authorities also offer email notifications if an online account is linked, or provide online portals to view and manage bills using a license plate or invoice number.
Various methods are available for paying toll bills. Most toll authorities offer online payment portals, allowing payment via credit/debit card or bank account. Payments can also be made over the phone, by mailing a check, or in person at designated customer service centers or retail locations.
Consequences of Unpaid Tolls
Failing to pay a toll bill by its due date leads to escalating financial and administrative consequences. Late fees and penalties are assessed, increasing the original toll amount. For example, a $5 late fee may be added, followed by a civil penalty of $40 or more for each unpaid toll outstanding for an extended period, such as 80 days. Some agencies may also add a processing fee to the initial bill.
Continued non-payment can result in the account being referred to collection agencies, negatively impacting an individual’s credit score. A vehicle registration hold may be placed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This hold prevents vehicle owners from renewing their registration until all outstanding tolls, fees, and penalties are paid. In some jurisdictions, habitual toll evasion can lead to criminal misdemeanor charges and fines.
Managing and Disputing Toll Bills
Setting up an online account with the relevant tolling authority allows drivers to monitor toll usage and ensure vehicle information, including license plate details, is current. Linking a license plate to an electronic transponder account ensures tolls are correctly attributed and charged at the lower transponder rate. Opting for electronic billing, where available, provides timely notifications and reduces the chance of a bill being lost in the mail.
If a toll bill appears incorrect, dispute it promptly. The process involves contacting the relevant toll authority, often within 30 to 90 days from the bill’s date. Drivers may need to provide details such as the date and time of the toll, location, vehicle information, and supporting evidence, like transponder statements or proof of vehicle sale. Common reasons for disputes include charges for a vehicle no longer owned, incorrect license plate reads, or transponder malfunctions. Many agencies provide online forms or dedicated customer service channels.