US Toll Guide: Tolls, Toll Roads and Toll Payment Methods for Each State
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United States Toll Roads Complete Guide
System: Electronic toll collection + Cash options (varies by state)
Coverage: 36 states with toll facilities, 15 states toll-free
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Technology: E-ZPass, SunPass, TxTag, FasTrak, License plate recognition
Operators: 90+ toll agencies, 12 interoperable groups, 20+ toll brands
Do I Need a Toll Pass for US Roads? 2025 Update
No, you don't need a toll pass to drive on US toll roads - but you'll save significant money and time with one. The US operates mixed systems with both electronic transponder and cash/credit card payment options.
Key Reality: Transponder users save 20-50% on tolls compared to cash rates. E-ZPass covers 17 states, while regional passes like SunPass, TxTag, and FasTrak offer significant local savings.
2025 Update: With 36 states now operating toll facilities and increasing electronic-only lanes, having the right transponder is more important than ever. The fragmented system means different passes work in different regions.
US Toll Systems: How They Work
The United States operates three main types of tolling systems:
Three Types of US Toll Systems
| System Type | How It Works | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Barrier/Open System | Fixed toll paid at each toll plaza | Golden Gate Bridge, Most bridges |
| Ticket/Closed System | Toll based on entry/exit points | NY State Thruway, NJ Turnpike, Kansas Turnpike |
| Distance-Based System | Toll calculated by distance traveled | Express lanes, Some modern facilities |
Electronic Toll Collection (ETC): When you cross an electronic toll plaza without a valid transponder, cameras register your license plate and send a bill via Video Toll or Pay-By-Mail systems, often with additional processing fees.
How to Pay US Tolls
You can use the following toll payment methods across the United States:
1. Electronic Transponders (Recommended):
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/ez-pass-toll-tag">E-ZPass</a> - Works in 17 eastern states
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/sunpass-florida">SunPass</a> - Florida, Georgia, North Carolina
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/txtag-texas">TxTag</a> - Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/fastrak-toll-tag">FasTrak</a> - California only
2. Traditional Payment Methods:
- Cash (where available - many facilities going cashless)
- Credit/Debit cards (limited availability)
- License plate recognition (Video Toll/Pay-By-Mail)
- Prepaid cards (facility-specific)
Calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across US toll roads using the TollGuru US Toll Calculator:
Major US Toll Pass Systems
The US toll system is fragmented with over 90 tolling agencies, 12 interoperable groups, and 20+ toll brands. Here are the major systems:
E-ZPass Network
The <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/ez-pass-toll-tag">E-ZPass system</a> is accepted across 17 East Coast states and some parts of <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/florida-toll-roads-bridges-express-lanes-expressways-sunpass">Florida</a>. Most comprehensive coverage in the US.
SunPass
<a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/sunpass-florida">SunPass</a> is valid across <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/florida-toll-roads-bridges-express-lanes-expressways-sunpass">Florida</a>, <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/georgia-toll-roads-express-lanes-peach-pass">Georgia</a>, and <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/north-carolina-toll-roads-turnpike-nc-quick-pass">North Carolina</a>.
FasTrak
<a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/fastrak-toll-tag">FasTrak</a> only works on <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/california-toll-roads-bridges-express-lanes-fastrak">California</a> toll roads, bridges, and tunnels.
TxTag
<a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/txtag-texas">TxTag</a> works throughout <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/texas-toll-roads-bridges-express-lanes-tx-tag">Texas</a>, <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/kansas-turnpike-toll-roads-bridges-k-tag">Kansas</a>, and <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/oklahoma-turnpike-toll-roads">Oklahoma</a>.
States with Toll Roads (36 States + Territories)
The following 36 US states and territories currently have toll roads, bridges, tunnels, or express lanes:
States WITHOUT Toll Roads (15 States + DC)
The following 15 US states and the District of Columbia do not have any toll roads:
Notable US Toll Facts
Toll Road Leaders:
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/florida-toll-roads-bridges-express-lanes-expressways-sunpass">Florida</a> - Most toll roads in the US
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/oklahoma-turnpike-toll-roads">Oklahoma</a> - Second most toll facilities
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/new-york-toll-roads-thruway-bridges-tunnels-turnpikes-ez-pass-ny">New York</a> - Major toll network
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/pennsylvania-turnpike-toll-roads">Pennsylvania</a> - Home to world's most expensive toll road
Special Cases:
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/california-toll-roads-bridges-express-lanes-fastrak">California</a> - Several toll roads including SR-91 Express Lanes
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/tennessee-toll-roads">Tennessee</a> - Currently no toll roads
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/utah-toll-roads">Utah</a> - Only one toll road (Adams Avenue Parkway)
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/missouri-toll-roads-bridges">Missouri</a> - No toll roads, but one toll bridge
Complete US Toll Pass Directory
The US has over 20+ different toll pass systems. Here's the complete directory:
For the complete list of all US toll passes and their coverage areas, visit <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/toll-tags-states-usa">US Toll Tags by State</a>.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay US tolls with a credit card?
Yes, but not on most toll facilities. You can recharge your toll transponder using a credit card, and you can also pay missed tolls later using a credit or debit card via Pay-By-Mail systems.
Is there a toll pass that works in all US states?
No, toll passes are not fully interoperable across all states. E-ZPass has the widest coverage (17 states), but you may need different passes for different regions (FasTrak for California, TxTag for Texas, etc.).
What happens if I don't pay a toll?
Unpaid tolls typically result in violation notices sent to the vehicle owner with additional fees. These can escalate to collections if not paid promptly.
Can I avoid toll roads completely when driving across the US?
Yes, it's possible to drive across the US while avoiding most toll roads, but it will significantly increase travel time and may require detours through less efficient routes.
Trip Planning & Tools
Calculate routes, tolls and fuel costs for your travel by car, truck, taxi, bus, caravans (with or without a trailer) and EV in the US and other <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki#North_America">North American countries</a> using TollGuru Trip Calculator. It shows the cheapest, fastest and other optimal routes to your destination along with toll plaza locations, payment methods and more.
Rideshare, OEM, TMS, fleet companies and other transport businesses can leverage toll intelligence by integrating with the <a href="https://tollguru.com/faq/developers/">TollGuru Toll API</a> for pre-trip calculation and post-trip reconciliation.
Additional Resources
More Information:
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/us-toll-faq">US Toll FAQs</a> - Comprehensive FAQ for all US toll questions
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/tolls-between-us-cities">Tolls Between US Cities</a> - Cost estimates for major city pairs
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/toll-tags-states-usa">Complete US Toll Pass Directory</a> - All toll passes by state
Related Topics:
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/new-york-toll-roads-thruway-bridges-tunnels-turnpikes-ez-pass-ny">New York Tolls</a> - Comprehensive NY toll information
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/new-jersey-toll-road-ez-pass-bridge-tunnel-turnpike">New Jersey Tolls</a> - Complete NJ toll guide
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/canada-toll">Canada Tolls</a> - Cross-border travel information
- <a href="https://tollguru.com/toll-wiki/mexico-toll">Mexico Tolls</a> - North American toll coverage
