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Ontario Toll Roads Complete Guide

System: Electronic toll collection (transponder + license plate recognition)
Coverage: Greater Toronto Area (GTA) - Highway 407 ETR and Highway 407
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Technology: Open road tolling, automatic license plate recognition
Operators: 407 ETR Concession Company (private), Government of Ontario (public)

Do I Need a Transponder for Ontario Toll Roads? 2025 Update

No, you don't need a transponder to drive on Ontario toll roads - but you'll save money with one. Ontario's toll system uses automatic license plate recognition for vehicles without transponders, though transponders eliminate additional fees and provide convenience.

Key Reality: A transponder pays for itself after just three round trips per year by eliminating camera charges and account fees. Heavy vehicles over 5,000 kg are legally required to have transponders.

2025 Update: Major changes include expanded toll zones (4 to 12 zones), new vehicle classifications, and rate increases averaging $8 monthly for regular users. The provincially-owned section (Pickering to Clarington) became toll-free on June 1, 2025.

Ontario Toll Roads: Current Rates & Coverage

Ontario operates Canada's most extensive electronic toll highway system, primarily serving the Greater Toronto Area with two distinct sections under different ownership and pricing structures.

Highway 407 System Overview (2025)

Section	Length	Operator	Toll Status
Highway 407 ETR	108 km (Burlington to Pickering)	407 ETR (Private)	Tolled - 2025 rates
Highway 407 East	43 km (Pickering to Clarington)	Government of Ontario	Toll-free since June 1, 2025
Highway 412	10 km (Highway 401 to 407)	Government of Ontario	Toll-free since June 1, 2025
Highway 418	16 km (Highway 401 to 407)	Government of Ontario	Toll-free since June 1, 2025

Highway 407 ETR Toll Rates by Vehicle Class (2025)

Vehicle Class	Peak Rate Range	Off-Peak Range	Vehicle Examples
Motorcycle	$0.25-0.58/km	$0.18-0.35/km	Two/three-wheeled vehicles
Light Vehicle	$0.32-0.85/km	$0.23-0.51/km	Cars, SUVs, vans, small trucks
Medium Vehicle	$0.46-1.23/km	$0.33-0.74/km	Large pickups, SUVs, vehicles towing
Heavy Single Unit	$0.75-2.01/km	$0.54-1.21/km	Buses, trucks over 5,000 kg
Heavy Multiple Unit	$1.13-3.04/km	$0.82-1.83/km	Trucks with trailers over 5,000 kg

New 12-Zone System (2025)

Highway 407 ETR expanded from 4 to 12 zones to optimize traffic flow and pricing:

• Zone 1: QEW to Dundas
• Zone 2: Dundas to Neyagawa
• Zone 3: Neyagawa to Highway 403
• Zone 4: Highway 403 to Highway 401
• Zone 5: Highway 401 to Highway 410
• Zone 6: Highway 410 to Highway 427
• Zone 7: Highway 427 to Highway 400 (Most expensive section)
• Zone 8: Highway 400 to Yonge
• Zone 9: Yonge to Highway 404
• Zone 10: Highway 404 to McCowan
• Zone 11: McCowan to York Durham Line
• Zone 12: York Durham Line to Brock

How to Pay Ontario Toll Roads

You can use the following payment methods on Ontario toll roads:

1. Transponder System:

• 407 ETR transponder: Works on all Ontario toll roads
• Annual lease: $29.50 plus tax (2025 rates)
• Additional transponders: $11.95 plus tax per unit
• Mandatory for heavy vehicles over 5,000 kg

2. License Plate Recognition:

• Automatic billing to registered vehicle owner
• Bills sent within 45 days of travel
• Additional camera charges apply
• Account fees for non-transponder users

3. Payment Methods:

• Online banking using 407 account number
• Credit/debit cards
• Bank teller payments
• Telephone banking

To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types on Ontario toll roads, use TollGuru Ontario toll calculator

Ontario Toll Calculator

Recent Changes (2025)

Major Policy Changes:

• Provincially-owned Highway 407 East became toll-free June 1, 2025
• Highway 412 and 418 connectors now toll-free
• Doug Ford government fulfilled election promise to eliminate provincial tolls
• 407 ETR (private section) remains tolled with increased rates

407 ETR Rate & Structure Changes:

• Expansion from 4 to 12 toll zones for granular pricing
• New vehicle classifications: motorcycles and medium vehicles
• Rate increases ranging from 3-14 cents per kilometer
• First fee increase in 5 years: camera charges, account fees, transponder lease

System Improvements:

• New Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS)
• Enhanced CCTV network and control center
• 30 new state-of-the-art snowplows
• New stormwater management infrastructure

Regional Toll Road Information

Greater Toronto Area (GTA) - Canada's Only Major Toll Network:

• Highway 407 ETR - 108 km privately-operated toll highway
• Highway 407 East - 43 km toll-free since June 2025
• Highway 412 - North-south connector, toll-free since June 2025
• Highway 418 - Eastern connector, toll-free since June 2025
• Toronto Toll Roads - Complete GTA toll information

Border Crossings (Toll Facilities):

• Detroit-Windsor Tunnel - Underground crossing with tolls
• Ambassador Bridge - Major Windsor-Detroit crossing
• Gordie Howe International Bridge - Opening fall 2025
• Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge - Northern Ontario crossing

Toll-Free Highways:

• All other 400-series highways remain toll-free
• Highway 401 - Primary east-west route (toll-free alternative)
• Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) - Toll-free highway
• Highway 404, 400, 403, 410, 427 - All toll-free

Planning Your Journey

Cost Considerations:

• Daily GTA commuting: $15-40 CAD for typical 407 ETR routes
• Peak hour travel: 7-9:30 AM and 3-6:59 PM weekdays cost most
• Cross-GTA travel: $25-60 CAD for full 108 km journey
• Average monthly increase: $8 CAD for regular transponder users

Peak vs Off-Peak Pricing:

• Peak periods: 6:00 AM - 9:59 AM and 3:00 PM - 6:59 PM weekdays
• Midday: 11:00 AM - 6:59 PM (moderate rates)
• Overnight: 7:00 PM - 5:59 AM (lowest rates)
• Weekends and holidays: Generally off-peak rates

Toll-Free Alternatives:

• Highway 401 - Parallel route (significantly slower but toll-free)
• Highway 407 East - Toll-free from Pickering to Clarington
• Local roads - Available but add substantial travel time
• Public transit - GO Transit serves similar GTA corridor

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I avoid Ontario tolls completely?

Yes, Highway 401 provides a toll-free alternative to Highway 407 ETR, though it's significantly slower and more congested. The eastern section (Highway 407 East) is now toll-free since June 2025.

What happens if I don't pay Ontario tolls?

Unpaid tolls can result in license plate denial, preventing vehicle registration renewal. Ontario has unique authority to refuse plate renewals for unpaid 407 ETR tolls.

Do motorcycles pay tolls on Ontario highways?

Yes, but motorcycles now have their own classification with lower rates than cars. 2025 rates range from $0.18-0.58 per kilometer depending on time and zone.

Why are Highway 407 tolls so expensive?

The private 407 ETR section operates under a 99-year lease with unlimited toll-setting authority. The original plan to eliminate tolls after construction costs were recovered was abandoned after privatization.

What's the difference between Highway 407 and 407 ETR?

Highway 407 ETR is the privately-operated western section (Burlington to Pickering) with variable tolls. Highway 407 East was the government-owned eastern section, now toll-free since June 2025.

Ontario vs. Regional Toll Systems

Province/State	System Type	Typical Cost	Coverage
Ontario	Electronic toll highway	$0.23-0.85/km	GTA corridor
Quebec	Bridge tolls	$3.25-4.00/crossing	Montreal bridges
Nova Scotia	Bridge tolls	$1.00-4.50/crossing	Halifax bridges
New York	E-ZPass + Cash	$0.06-0.15/mile	Thruway system

Useful Links & Resources

Internal Navigation:

• Highway 407 ETR - Detailed private section information
• Highway 407 East - Eastern extension (toll-free since 2025)
• Toronto Toll Roads - Complete GTA toll information
• Ontario Transponder - Transponder setup and management
• Pay Toll Ontario - Payment methods and procedures
• Ontario Truck Tolls - Commercial vehicle information

Border Crossing Facilities:

• Detroit-Windsor Tunnel - Underground US-Canada crossing
• Ambassador Bridge - Major Windsor-Detroit bridge
• Gordie Howe International Bridge - Opening fall 2025
• Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge - Northern crossing

Official Operators:

• 407 ETR Customer Service: 1-800-407-0407 - Private section operations
• Highway 407 Information: 1-800-ONT-ROAD - Government-owned sections
• Ministry of Transportation Ontario: General highway information
• Service Ontario: License plate renewal and vehicle registration

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