Thruway Authority

What is Cashless Tolling

How Does it Work?

Cashless Tolling is a new innovative method of toll collection used on the entire Thruway. With Cashless Tolling, all vehicles simply drive under a tolling gantry and enjoy the benefits of reduced congestion, improved safety, and reduced air pollution.

If you have E-ZPass, it is business as usual.  Be sure to mount your E-ZPass tag on the windshield and keep your license plates and payment information up to date on your account. 

NOTE: E-ZPass customers who do not properly mount their E-ZPass tag (tag), which results in their tag not reading properly while traveling on the Thruway, will be charged the Tolls by Mail toll rate.  The Tolls by Mail rate is 30% higher than the E-ZPass NY toll rate. This is due to the time and cost associated with the process to identify vehicles that do not have the tag properly mounted or not detected in the vehicle.  All E-ZPass NY customers with special discount plans will also be charged the Tolls by Mail rate when their tag is not read. To ensure you receive the E-ZPass NY discounted toll rate, mount your tag properly  . For additional information see Thruway Tolls FAQs

If you do not have E-ZPass, an image of your license plate is captured and a Toll Bill is mailed to the registered owner’s address on file with DMV. 

Tolls by Mail customers will pay 30% above the NY E-ZPass toll rate, in addition to a $2 administrative surcharge per billing statement. Toll Bills are mailed approximately 30-40 days after your first date of travel. If you don’t want to wait for the Bill, you can search and pay   for tolls by license plate. Toll transactions will be available approximately one week from the date of travel.

 

Cashless Tolling Billing Segments

The Thruway’s toll rate structure did not change with the conversion to cashless tolling. There are, however, some slight changes to the way transactions will be displayed on E-ZPass statements and Tolls by Mail invoices. 

The Thruway ticketed system has been divided into 14 segments; 6 start/end segments (brown) and 8 fixed toll segments (green). In the illustration below, the brown and green highway gantries represent the tolling segments. These brown and green highway gantries are located between exits. The blue gantries are located on the entry/exit ramps of the Thruway. 

Each time a driver travels under a fixed toll gantry (green), the toll will display on an E-ZPass statement or toll bill invoice as a fixed toll transaction (e.g., Entry Plaza 35 and Exit Plaza 36). 

For each start/end segment (brown), the toll will be based on where you entered and exited. When a driver travels through multiple segments, multiple transactions will appear on their statement/invoice.

NY E-ZPass Statement Sample

Below is an example of a customer who traveled roundtrip from 34A to 37. The customer traveled under two fixed toll segments (green), one start segment (brown) and one exit ramp gantry (blue). Using the new gantry system, a greater number of transactions will appear on the statement and the cost of the toll remains the same for NY E-ZPass customers. The same transactions will display on the return trip.

Tolls by Mail Invoice Sample

Tolls by Mail Billing Process

• The first toll bill is sent approximately 30-40 days after travel and is due in 30 days
• Tolls by Mail customers will pay 30 percent above the NY E-ZPass toll rate, in addition to a $2 administrative surcharge per billing statement.
• If payment is not received by the due date, a second toll bill is sent with a $5 late fee
• An unpaid second toll bill escalates to a violation, which includes a $50 fee per violation notice
• If the violation is not paid within 15 days, it may be referred to a collection agency
• Failure to respond to three or more Notices of Violation within a five year period may result in suspension of a motorist’s vehicle registration by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles under 15 NYCRR 127.14  
• For questions regarding toll bills or violations, contact our customer service at 1-844-826-8400

If you don't have E-ZPass sign-up here to start saving time and money today.

Cashless Tolling