TOLL BY PLATE
TOLL BY PLATE – also known as license-plate billing or image-based tolling – involves the capturing of a vehicle’s license plate image so the registered owner can be mailed an invoice for payment of tolls.
Overview
The Commission is in the process of converting its entire toll bridge network to cashless all-electronic toll collections. A first step in this process occured in January 2024 when TOLL BY PLATE billing was expanded to the Commission’s seven toll bridges that previously accepted only E-ZPass and cash toll payments. The plan is for these seven bridges to stop accepting cash payments entirely.
Toll by Plate Rates
The Commission charges higher rates for TOLL BY PLATE transactions and lower rates for E-ZPass.
Because of the additional costs for capturing a vehicle license plate image, obtaining the vehicle owner’s information, and issuing an invoice, TOLL BY PLATE toll rates are up to 100 percent more than comparable E-ZPass toll rates. The TOLL BY PLATE rate for a passenger vehicle (two axles and less than eight feet high) is $3. The comparable E-ZPass toll is $1.50.
Save Money, Get E-ZPass
Avoid higher TOLL BY PLATE rates by getting E-ZPass. Why pay more if you don’t have to? If you don’t have E-ZPass, sign up here to start saving time and money.
2024 TOLL BY PLATE Service Expansion
In January 2024, the Commission expanded TOLL BY PLATE service to its seven older toll bridges that previously accepted only E-ZPass or cash for payment.
At a yet-to-be-determined date in June 2024, the Commission will cease cash toll collections at its threse three low-volume toll bridges:
- New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202);
- Portland-Columbia (Routes 46, 611 & 94); and
- Milford-Montague (Route 206).
These locations will then only handle E-ZPass (cheaper) and TOLL BY PLATE (costlier) transactions.
By January 2025, the Commission plans to cease cash collections — and handle only E-ZPass and TOLL BY PLATE transactions — at it’s four remaining high-volume toll bridges:
- Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1);
- I-78;
- Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22); and
- Delaware Water Gap (I-80).
How to Pay
TOLL BY PLATE Billing Process
First Toll Bill
- Issued: $50 in tolls or 30 days after first transaction, whichever comes first
- Amount: Sum of tolls, no added fees
- Due: 30 days from date of bill issuance (timely payment prevents additional fees)
Second Toll Bill
- Failure to pay first bill results in second bill
- Amount: Sum of tolls with additional $5 toll bill fee
- Due: 30 days to pay from date of issuance (60 days from issuance date of the first Toll Bill)
Failure to Pay
- Failure to pay second bill elevates overdue tolls to violations
- Result: $5 late fee is reversed; each overdue toll transaction becomes a violation; $30 fee added to each overdue transaction
Violation Process for Unpaid TOLL BY PLATE Bill
First Violation Notice
- Issued: After failing to pay second Toll Bill.
- Amount: Each unpaid toll transaction plus a $30 fee for each unpaid transaction.
- Due: 30 days to pay from first violation notice’s issuance date (due by approximately 90 days from First Toll Bill’s issuance.
Second Violation Notice
- Issued: Failure to pay the first violation notice causes a second violation notice to be issued
- Amount: Same as the first violation notice — plus any subsequent toll charges with respective additional $30 per-transaction fee(s)*
- Due: 30 more days to pay (due by approximately 120 days from issuance of First Toll Bill)
*New TOLL BY PLATE transactions on a vehicle with active unpaid violations will have each new toll transaction immediately elevated to a violation assessed as the toll due plus a respective additional $30 fee
Collections
- Status: Failure to provide payment for the toll violations by the prescribed final deadline advances the violation(s) to a collection agency.
- Result: Toll violations can only be addressed by the assigned toll collection agency at this point.
- Note: Other penaltices could apply
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I just traveled across a Commission toll bridge without paying. Now what do I do?
- If you had a valid E-ZPass tag in the vehicle and your account is in good standing, you do not need to do anything. The toll will be automatically deducted from your E-ZPass account.
- If you did not have a valid E-ZPass tag in your vehicle, a Toll Bill will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner after 30 days or once $50 in tolls are recorded, whichever occurs first. A photo of the vehicle’s license plate was taken at the time of the transaction and the plate number is used to obtain the vehicle’s registered owner information.
Why did I receive a Toll Bill?
You received a toll bill because you traveled through a Toll-by-Plate location without an E-ZPass account. The Toll-by-Plate program allows non-E-ZPass-equipped drivers to travel through Toll-by-Plate locations without stopping to pay a cash toll.
I do not have an E-ZPass account. How will you know where to send my Toll Bill?
When you travel through a Toll-by-Plate location, a picture of your vehicle’s license plate is captured. We use the license plate to obtain the registered owner information from the state motor vehicle office and your Toll Bill is mailed to that address.
Can I open an E-ZPass account now and have a Toll Bill applied to it?
No. Any Toll Bills you have received must be paid before you can establish a new E-ZPass account. Once you have paid your Toll Bill(s) you can open an account. To maximize the convenience of your E-ZPass account, be sure to place your license plate on your account and set your account up for auto-pay to keep funds in your E-ZPass account. Your tolls will be deducted from your account automatically, payments to increase your account balance will be made automatically, and you should never receive another Toll Bill.
How can I avoid getting a Toll Bill?
You can avoid receiving Toll Bills entirely by opening an E-ZPass account. E-ZPass customers enjoy the convenience of having all tolls, including those from Toll-by-Plate locations, automatically deducted from their accounts. In addition, when you use an E-ZPass tag you pay a lower toll rate. The Commission’s E-ZPass service provider is the regional New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center. You can sign up for an account by visiting www.ezpassnj.com or by calling the NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-AUTO-TOLL (288-6865).
How can I save money on my Toll Bill?
By paying your Toll Bill promptly you will pay only the tolls and avoid the addition of any fees. Going forward, the best way to save money on your Toll Bill is to avoid receiving one in the first place. By opening an E-ZPass account and using your E-ZPass tag to pay tolls, you will not receive Toll Bills. Instead, your tolls will be automatically deducted from your account. As an added benefit you will pay a lower rate for your tolls than drivers who do not have an E-ZPass tag. To maximize the convenience of your account, be sure to set up auto-pay.
Can I pay less than the total amount due on a Toll Bill?
No. You must pay the entire amount by the prescribed deadline to avoid additional fees.
I lost the return envelope that came with my Toll Bill. What should I do?
Consider taking advantage of the convenience of paying your Toll Bill online by visiting www.ezpassnj.com or calling New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-AUTO-TOLL (288-6865). Alternatively, you can place your Toll Bill and your check or money order payment (DO NOT SEND CASH) into a standard letter size envelope and mail to the address below. Be sure to write your Toll Bill number on the check or money order.
New Jersey E-ZPass
PO Box 4971
Trenton, NJ 08650
What if I don’t pay my Toll Bill?
If your Toll Bill is not paid in full on or before the due date, a late fee (Toll Bill fee) will be added. Continued non-payment may result in the addition of per-transaction fees and could result in referral of your bill to a collection agency.
Can I use cash to pay my Toll Bill?
DO NOT SEND CASH THOUGH THE MAIL! Cash is accepted only ifyou choose to pay in person at a Customer Service Center. Cash payments are only accepted at NJ E-ZPass walk-in centers in Newark and Camden, N.J. and the Vincent A. Julia Building adjacent to the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s Delaware Memorial Bridge toll plaza in New Castle, Delaware.
How long do I have to pay my Toll Bill?
The Toll Bill will indicate the due date for payment. Generally, it’s 30 days from the date of issuance. Remember: prompt payment prevents additional fees and penalties from being applied. A second toll bill carries an additional $5 charge. Failure to pay a toll bill by the prescribed deadline results in a $30 fee being added to each individual overdue toll transaction. Avoid additional costs by paying the first Toll Bill promptly.
I have already paid my Toll Bill. Where can I go to view the status?
Go to the Commission’s E-ZPass customer service center website – www.ezpassnj.com. Select “Violations/Toll-by-Plate.” Enter the Toll Bill number and the vehicle license plate number and select “View Violation Notice/Toll Bill.”
I am visiting from another state and do not have E-ZPass. How can I pay my Toll-by-Plate transactions?
Toll Bills are sent to registered vehicle owners, either after 30 days of a transaction or after $50 in tolls are recorded – whichever comes first.
Customers who receive a Toll Bill can pay online, by mail, or by telephone. Payment can be made by credit or debit card, check or money order.
- To pay online, visit ezpassnj.com.
- To pay by phone, call the New Jersey E-ZPassCustomer Service Center at 888-288-6865.
- To pay by mail, send your check or money order along with the payment coupon or coupons to NJ E-ZPass, P.O. Box 4971, Trenton, NJ 08650. Do not send cash.
- To pay in person, visit a Customer Service Center
Why is E-ZPass better than TOLL BY PLATE?
The short answer is time, convenience, and money.
The Commission applies lower rates to E-ZPass transactions and higher rates to TOLL BY PLATE and cash transactions. The Commission’s TOLL-BY-PLATE/cash toll rate ($3) is 100 percent higher than the comparable E-ZPass toll rate ($1.50).
Other advantages include not stopping to pay a cash toll, not waiting in lines at a busy toll lane, and not responding to mailed toll bills (if E-ZPass charges are billed to a valid credit card).
Other toll agencies across the country also apply lower rates to E-ZPass customers. In certain instances, other discounts might apply.
E-ZPass is now offered by 35 toll agencies spread across 19 states. The E-ZPass network has expanded to the point where you can use an E-ZPass tag to pay a toll as far north as Maine, as far south as Florida, and as far west as Minnesota.
E-ZPass enjoys tremendous brand recognition and high levels of customer satisfaction. It is the world leader in tolling interoperability, with over 53 million E-ZPass devices in circulation.
How can I get E-ZPass to save time and money on paying tolls?
The Commission’s E-ZPass service provider is the regional New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center. This privately run entity serves seven toll agencies based in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Click here to open an “individual account” or a commercial “business account” through the regional NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center. https://www.ezpassnj.com/en/signup/signup.shtml
Do I need an E-ZPass from the Commission’s service provider if I already have an account through another toll agency?
No. If you have already enrolled in an E-ZPass account system and are in good standing, your tag will be valid at all Commission tolling points.
Won’t my money go to the State of New Jersey if I get an account with the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center?
No. All tolls and, if applicable, related fees for a Bridge Commission toll transaction go to the Bridge Commission. Moreover, the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center is not a state agency.
Where can I find the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s current toll rate information?
Click here for the Commission’s current toll rate schedule. https://www.drjtbc.org/currenttolls
Why are TOLL BY PLATE rates more expensive than E-ZPass?
Because of the additional costs for capturing a vehicle license plate image, obtaining the vehicle owner’s information, and issuing an invoice, TOLL BY PLATE toll rates are up to 100 percent more than comparable E-ZPass toll rates. The TOLL BY PLATE rate for a passenger vehicle (two axles and less than eight feet high) is $3. The comparable E-ZPass toll is $1.50.
Why did a recent toll transaction get recorded as a violation instead of a TOLL BY PLATE transaction?
There can be several reasons:
- A prior unpaid toll bill was escalated to violation status.
- Insufficient funds: It’s a violation when an E-ZPass account has a negative balance and you travel through a toll lane.
I received a notice from a collection agency regarding unpaid tolls. What can I do?
You must address any questions regarding such a notice directly with the collection agency.
I rented a vehicle and drove across a Commission toll bridge in the tolled direction. How can I pay my toll?
A vehicle renter should check with the rental agency about its policy on travel through tolled facilities.
I was in a rental vehicle. Where will my Toll Bill be sent?
Toll Bills are sent to a vehicle’s registered owner. In a case like this, the Toll Bill will be sent to the rental agency. Customers should check with the rental agency about their policy for travel on tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels.
How can I dispute a Toll Bill?
The back of a Toll Bill has a dispute section; follow the provided instructions. Please be sure to attach any supporting documentation when submitting the dispute. Or visit www.ezpassnj.com and select “Violations/Toll-by-Plate”. Enter the Toll Bill number and license plate number and select “View Violation Notice/Toll Bill”. Select the Toll Bill you’d like to dispute and choose the Dispute Type from the drop-down menu. Click on “Dispute Selected”. Fill out the information requested and be sure to attach any supporting documentation.
The vehicle in the Toll Bill isn’t mine. What should I do?
If you believe the vehicle was misidentified, please contact the NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-AUTO-TOLL (1-888-288-6865). If it’s a misidentification for a Bridge Commission tolling point, please call the Commission’s toll-free Customer Service line at 1-800-363-0049. The Commission’s E-ZPass department is staffed 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on business days, Monday to Friday. Recorded message may be left after hours and when staff is unavailable. Staff will attempt to respond the next business day. Please be sure to speak slowly, clearly, and leave your name and phone number with your message.
What if someone else was driving? What should I do?
If you were not in possession of the vehicle on the date(s) of travel, please see Section A1 or A2 in the enclosed dispute form and submit the required documentation. Or visit www.ezpassnj.com and select “Violations/Toll-by-Plate”. Enter the Toll Bill number and license plate number and select “View Violation Notice/Toll Bill”. Select the Toll Bill you’d like to dispute and choose the Dispute Type from the drop-down menu. Click on “Dispute Selected”. Fill out the information requested and be sure to attach any supporting documentation.
If I have E-ZPass, will I also receive a TOLL BY PLATE bill?
If your E-ZPass account is valid and your transponder is functional and properly mounted, you should not receive a TOLL BY PLATE bill. A Toll Bill is only sent to motor vehicle owners who do not have a valid E-ZPass transponder (toll tag) in their vehicles.
Well, I do have E-ZPass and I received a TOLL BY PLATE bill. Why did I receive a bill?
Some of the most common reasons you might have received a Toll Bill if you have an E-ZPass account are:
- Insufficient funds on your E-ZPass account at the time a toll transaction occurred.
- The credit/debit card on the E-ZPass account has expired or was declined.
- The license plate of the vehicle recorded in the transaction was not listed on your E-ZPass account and no transponder was detected during the transaction.
- Your E-ZPass transponder was mounted improperly.
