Illinois Tollway Complete Guide: I-PASS, E-ZPass and Rates 2026
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Illinois Tollway & Bridges Complete Guide
System: All-electronic open road tolling - I-PASS / E-ZPass + Pay Online / Pay By Plate; no cash accepted on the Tollway system. Two small border bridges (Fort Madison, St. Francisville) are cash-only exceptions, separate from both the Tollway and the Skyway
Coverage: 294 miles across five tollways in 12 Chicagoland counties + Chicago Skyway (private) + 2 cash-only border toll bridges (Iowa and Indiana borders)
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Technology: I-PASS / E-ZPass RFID transponders, ANPR license plate cameras, open road tolling gantries on the Tollway; cash only at the two border bridges
Operators: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (Illinois Tollway), Chicago Skyway Concession LLC (private, separate system), BNSF Railway (Fort Madison Toll Bridge), State of Illinois (St. Francisville Bridge)
Do I Need I-PASS for Illinois? 2026 Update
I-PASS is not legally required on the Tollway system - you can pay via license plate billing - but without one you pay exactly double the I-PASS rate. Illinois eliminated all cash toll collection on the mainline Tollway in 2021 and operates 100% electronic open road tolling there. There are no toll booths and no cash lanes anywhere on the Illinois Tollway system itself - but two small, separate border bridges (covered later on this page) are cash-only and do NOT accept I-PASS at all.
Key Reality: Without I-PASS on the Tollway, you pay "Pay Online" rates - exactly double. For a typical daily Chicago-area commute, this means $20-$40 extra per week in unnecessary costs. Passenger vehicle I-PASS rates have not increased since 2012, making Illinois one of the lowest per-mile toll systems in the nation ($0.07-$0.20/mile).
2026 Update: The Illinois Tollway Board approved a 2026 budget with no passenger vehicle toll increase for the year - passenger rates remain frozen at 2012 levels through at least mid-2026. However, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed a major transit funding bill in late 2025 that authorizes the Tollway Board to raise passenger tolls by $0.45 (to approximately $1.20 at key plazas) and commercial vehicle rates by 30%, effective June 1, 2026. As of early May 2026, the Tollway Board had not yet formally implemented this increase - drivers should confirm current rates at illinoistollway before travel. Truck/trailer rates continued their annual increase on January 1, 2026 under the schedule originally approved in 2008.
Illinois Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)
Passenger Vehicle Rates - Key Plazas (Current as of Early 2026)
| Tollway / Plaza | I-PASS Rate (Passenger) | Pay Online Rate (No I-PASS) | Tollway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touhy Avenue | $0.95 | $1.90 | Tri-State (I-294/I-94) |
| I-90/O'Hare (to airport) | $0.75 | $1.50 | Jane Addams (I-90) |
| Belvidere / South Beloit | $0.95-$1.50 | $1.90-$3.00 | Jane Addams (I-90) |
| Waukegan (Tri-State north) | $1.40 | $2.80 | Tri-State (I-94/I-294) |
| Elgin (Jane Addams) | $0.75 | $1.50 | Jane Addams (I-90) |
| Typical ramp plaza | $0.40-$0.65 | $0.80-$1.30 | All tollways |
Important - Pending Rate Increase: The Illinois transit funding bill signed in late 2025 authorizes a $0.45 increase for passenger vehicles (bringing the typical $0.75 plaza toll to ~$1.20) and a 30% increase for commercial vehicles, effective June 1, 2026. As of publication, the Tollway Board had not yet formally voted to implement these increases. Drivers should verify current rates at the official Illinois Tollway website before travel. Starting 2029, automatic CPI-based adjustments of up to 4% every two years are also authorized.
Truck / Commercial Vehicle Rates (January 1, 2026)
Commercial vehicle rates increased annually on January 1, 2026 under the schedule approved by the Tollway Board in 2008. Rates vary by axle count and time of day (daytime 6 AM-10 PM vs. overnight 10 PM-6 AM). Key examples:
| Vehicle Tier | I-PASS Daytime (per mainline plaza) | I-PASS Overnight | Pay Online Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (2-axle commercial) | Check official 2026 PDF at illinoistollway | Reduced overnight rate | Higher than I-PASS |
| Tier 4 (5+ axle trucks) | Up to $12.20+ per plaza (South Beloit) | Reduced | Up to $16.30 (Pay Online) |
For full 2026 truck rate tables by plaza, download the official 2026 Truck/Trailer Rate PDF at illinoistollway.
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across Illinois toll roads, use the TollGuru Illinois toll calculator:
Illinois Tollway System Overview
| Tollway Name | Route | Corridor | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | I-94 / I-294 / I-80 | Indiana border south to Wisconsin border north via Chicago suburbs | ~80 miles |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | I-90 | Chicago/O'Hare northwest to Wisconsin (Rockford) | ~77 miles |
| Reagan Memorial Tollway | I-88 | Chicago west to Iowa border (DeKalb, Aurora, Moline) | ~104 miles |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | I-355 | North-south spine through DuPage and Will counties | ~31 miles |
| Illinois Route 390 | IL-390 | Elgin-O'Hare connector (new direct I-90 to O'Hare access) | ~7 miles |
| Chicago Skyway | I-90 (Chicago, separate private system) | Dan Ryan Expressway to Indiana Toll Road | 7.8 miles |
Border Toll Bridges (Not Part of the Tollway or Skyway System)
Separate from both the Illinois Tollway and the Chicago Skyway, Illinois has two small, historic, cash-only toll bridges at its state borders. Neither accepts I-PASS, E-ZPass, or any electronic payment.
Fort Madison Toll Bridge - Iowa Border: A double-decked swing-truss bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Niota, Illinois to Fort Madison, Iowa, carrying IL-9/IA-2 traffic on its upper deck and BNSF Railway rail traffic on its lower deck. Built in 1927, one of the last operating swing bridges for automobile traffic remaining over the Mississippi.
- Toll: $2.50 (as of December 1, 2025), for 2-axle passenger vehicles
- Direction: Both directions
- Payment: Cashless (only credit or debit cards) - no I-PASS, E-ZPass
- Closed to semi-truck traffic
- Maintained by BNSF Railway despite carrying public road traffic
St. Francisville Bridge (Old Wabash Cannonball Railroad) - Indiana Border: A one-lane wooden-plank bridge over the Wabash River near St. Francisville in Lawrence County, Illinois - a former railroad bridge converted for road use. Privately owned and operated historically; turned over to the State of Illinois for maintenance in 2009.
- Toll: $2.00, for 2-axle passenger vehicles
- Direction: Both directions
- Payment: Cash only, at a tollbooth in St. Francisville
- One-lane traffic - expect to wait if a vehicle is already crossing in the opposite direction
How to Pay Illinois Tolls
No cash is accepted anywhere on the Illinois Tollway system itself. The two border bridges above are the exception - cash only, no I-PASS.
1. I-PASS / E-ZPass (Recommended - 50% savings, Tollway only):
- I-PASS is Illinois's E-ZPass compatible transponder - works on all 20 E-ZPass network states
- Any E-ZPass transponder from another state also works in Illinois at I-PASS rates
- Minimum $40 prepaid balance required to open I-PASS account
- Open at getipass.com or at I-PASS Customer Service Centers
- Interoperable via Central US Hub: Illinois I-PASS accepted in Texas (TxTag network), Oklahoma, Kansas
- Motorcycles pay the same rate as passenger cars
2. Pay Online / Pay By Plate (Tollway only):
- Cameras photograph your plate; invoice mailed with a $3 fee per toll if paying via invoice
- Must pay online within 14 days of travel to avoid the $3/toll invoice fee
- Pay By Plate service can be set up within 14 days of first travel - no account needed but higher rates apply
- Rental cars: add your rental's plate to your I-PASS account to avoid separate invoices at Pay Online rates
- Most rental companies charge daily admin fees ($3-15/day) for their own toll program - confirm before departing
3. Chicago Skyway (separate private system):
- Operated under a 99-year private concession - separate from the Illinois Tollway Authority
- Does not offer I-PASS discounts; rates are higher than equivalent Illinois Tollway plazas
- Different payment rules and billing system than the rest of the Illinois Tollway
- E-ZPass is accepted; 7-day grace period before administrative fees apply
4. Fort Madison Toll Bridge and St. Francisville Bridge (card and cash only):
- Bring cash and card- neither bridge accepts I-PASS, E-ZPass
- No pay-later or invoice option exists at either bridge - you must pay at the time of crossing
Recent Changes (2026)
2026 Budget (approved December 2025):
- No passenger vehicle toll increase for 2026 budget year - rates remain at 2012 levels through mid-2026
- Annual commercial truck rate increase effective January 1, 2026 (ongoing per 2008 schedule)
- $1.79 billion total revenue projected; $1.26 billion capital program (largest in agency history)
- $374 million for systemwide roadway and bridge maintenance
- Key 2026 capital projects: Route 390 interchange improvements and direct O'Hare airport access; I-94/I-294/I-57 Tri-State interchange
Transit Funding Bill - Authorized Toll Increases (June 1, 2026):
- Illinois Governor signed legislation in November 2025 authorizing the Tollway Board to raise passenger tolls by $0.45 and commercial rates by 30%, effective June 1, 2026
- Expected to generate up to $1 billion annually in additional toll revenue
- Analysts estimate a typical commuter would pay approximately $329 more per year
- Starting 2029, automatic CPI-based adjustments of up to 4% every two years are authorized
- As of early May 2026, the Tollway Board had not yet formally voted on implementation - check illinoistollway for current status
Fort Madison Toll Bridge:
- Toll increased to $2.50 effective December 1, 2025 (up from a previous $2.00 rate)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does E-ZPass from another state work in Illinois?
On the Tollway system, yes - any E-ZPass transponder from any of the 20 E-ZPass member states works in Illinois at the I-PASS rate. You do not need to get a separate Illinois I-PASS if you already have E-ZPass from another state. However, E-ZPass does NOT work at the Fort Madison Toll Bridge or the St. Francisville Bridge - both are (cards and cash-only), respectively, regardless of what transponder you carry.
What happens if I drive through without paying?
On the Tollway: cameras photograph your plate and you have a 10-day grace period to pay online at the I-PASS rate. After 10 days, an invoice is mailed with a $3 fee per toll. After 14 days, additional fees apply. Unpaid tolls escalate to violations that can block vehicle registration renewal. At Fort Madison or St. Francisville, there is no camera billing system at all - you must have cards at the time of crossing.
Is the Chicago Skyway part of the Illinois Tollway?
No. The Chicago Skyway is a privately operated 7.8-mile bridge/roadway under a 99-year concession lease. It has its own separate rate schedule, billing system, and does not offer I-PASS discounts. It connects the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago to the Indiana Toll Road at the Indiana border.
Are Fort Madison and St. Francisville part of the Illinois Tollway?
No. Both are small, independently operated, card and cash-only toll bridges at Illinois's state borders - Fort Madison crosses the Mississippi into Iowa, and St. Francisville crosses the Wabash River near the Indiana border. Neither is affiliated with the Illinois Tollway Authority or the Chicago Skyway, and neither accepts I-PASS or E-ZPass.
Illinois vs. Neighboring States (2026)
| State | System | Tag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 294-mile all-electronic tollway system + 2 cash border bridges | I-PASS / E-ZPass | No cash on Tollway; lowest per-mile rate in Midwest; rate increase pending June 2026 |
| Indiana | 157-mile East-West Toll Road + bridges | E-ZPass + cash (transitioning to AET by 2027) | New law mandates all-electronic tolling by Dec 31, 2027 |
| Kansas | Kansas Turnpike; distance-based cashless | K-TAG (I-PASS/E-ZPass compatible via Central hub) | Interoperable with Illinois I-PASS |
| Wisconsin | No toll roads | N/A | Entirely toll-free; shares I-90/I-94 corridor with Illinois |
| Iowa | No toll roads except one cash bridge | N/A | Fort Madison Toll Bridge is the only tolled crossing (shared with Illinois) |
Useful Links & Resources
- US Toll Guide - All 37 toll states overview
- Illinois Toll Calculator - Calculate tolls for any Illinois Tollway route
- I-PASS / Illinois Tollway - Open account, manage transponder, pay invoices
- Illinois Tollway Official Toll Rates - 2026 rate PDF downloads for passenger and commercial vehicles
- Illinois Tollway Agency - Trip planner, plaza maps, construction updates
- Chicago Skyway - Official toll rates and payment information (separate private system)
- Indiana Toll Road - Connecting east from Chicago Skyway to Ohio
- I-PASS Customer Service: info@getipass.com | 2700 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515
