🇺🇸 USA Daily Life

EZ Pass and Toll Roads in the USA — How It Works, Where to Set Up, Costs (2026)

EZ Pass is an electronic toll collection system operating in 19 states on the East Coast and Midwest, providing a comprehensive guide on setup, compatible states, alternatives, violation fees, and handling rental cars.

By: Redakcja Informacja.com Published: 2026-05-19 Last updated: 2026-07-04

EZ Pass is the most popular electronic toll system in the USA — it operates in 19 states. Instead of stopping at toll booths, you have a tag in your car that is automatically scanned during your passage, and the fee is deducted from your account. It’s cheaper, faster, and reduces traffic.

What It Is and How It Works

A small transponder (radio chip) that you attach to your windshield
Scanners at toll gates/cameras on the roads
Fee is automatically deducted from your account (bank account or card)
Pre-paid account: you load $25-50, and the system deducts

States Accepting EZ Pass

EZ Pass operates interstate in these 19 states (2026):

Northeast: NY, NJ, CT, MA, NH, ME, RI, PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, OH
Midwest: IN, IL, KY
South: NC, FL (limited)
Other: MN

It does NOT work in:

California — uses FasTrak
Texas — TxTag / TollTag / EZ TAG (separate system)
Florida — mainly SunPass (EZ Pass only partially)
Georgia — Peach Pass
Colorado — ExpressToll
Washington State — Good To Go!

How to Set Up EZ Pass — Which State

You can set up EZ Pass in any of the 19 states. It does NOT have to be your state of residence!

Cheapest Options:

NJ EZ Pass: $0 deposit, $1/month maintenance fee = $12/year
NY EZ Pass: $0 deposit, no monthly fee — popular
PA EZ Pass: $0 deposit, $5/year
DE EZ Pass: $0 deposit, no fee

Paid Options (avoid if possible):

MA EZ Pass: $0 deposit, $0.50/month = $6/year
MD EZ Pass: $0 deposit, $1.50/month = $18/year

Recommendation for NYC area: NY EZ Pass (from NY DOT) or NJ E-ZPass (from NJ Turnpike Authority).

How to Set Up — Step by Step

Step 1: Choose a State

Usually your state of residence, but you can choose NJ/NY for the best terms.

Step 2: Online Application

ezpassny.com — New York
ezpassnj.com — New Jersey
ezpasspa.com — Pennsylvania

Step 3: Enter Your Information

First name, last name, address
Phone, email
Car: VIN, license plate, make, model
Credit/debit card number (for automatic replenishment)

Step 4: Initial Deposit

Typically $25-50 (goes into your account, not lost)
Plus $0-25 deposit for the tag (refundable upon return of the tag)

Step 5: Tag Arrives by Mail

1-2 weeks
Installation instructions
Sticky strip for mounting on the windshield (rear-view mirror area)

Step 6: Activation

Some states: activates automatically
Others: call or go online to activate

How Payment Works

Pre-paid Balance

You deposit $25-50 initially
The system deducts for each passage ($1-15 depending on the road)
When the balance is below $10 → automatic replenishment from the card

Pay-as-you-go (post-paid)

Some states offer monthly billing
Bill sent by mail/email

Savings vs Cash

EZ Pass typically provides 10-50% discounts compared to cash tolls. Examples:

Verrazano Bridge (NYC): $11.19 EZ Pass vs $19.00 cash → 41% discount
George Washington Bridge: $13.75 EZ Pass vs $17.00 cash → 19%
NJ Turnpike (entire): $13-18 EZ Pass vs $20-26 cash → 25-35%
Lincoln Tunnel: $13.75 vs $17.00 → 19%
NJ Garden State Parkway: $1.40 EZ Pass vs $2.05 cash → 32%

Resident vs Non-Resident Discount

Verrazano Resident Discount

Residents of Staten Island: $6.94 instead of $11.19 (NY EZ Pass).

Bayonne Bridge Resident

Residents of Bayonne: $1.50 instead of $13.75.

Cross-Bay Bridge (Queens)

Residents of Rockaway / Broad Channel: discount.

To qualify: you must live in a specific zip code + register the car at that address + apply for a "resident plan".

Violations — What Happens If You Pass Without a Working Tag

Causes of Violations

Tag discharged (battery after years)
Tag in the wrong place (not readable)
Unfunded account
Expired credit card
Tag not registered for that car

What You Receive by Mail

"Notice of Violation" with fee + administrative fee $30-50
Photo of the license plate
30 days to pay

What to Do

Pay immediately — fees increase after the deadline
Call EZ Pass customer service if it’s an error
You can apply for "first violation forgiveness"
DO NOT IGNORE — delinquency → DMV suspension → inability to register the car

Other States (Outside EZ Pass)

California — FasTrak

Bay Area + Southern California
Tag is attached to the car
bayareafastrak.org

Florida — SunPass

All tolls in Florida
EZ Pass works on some roads (interoperability)
sunpass.com

Texas — TxTag / TollTag / EZ TAG

3 systems in Texas, but interoperable
txtag.org

Georgia — Peach Pass

Atlanta + surrounding areas
Interoperable with FL SunPass

Multi-state Interoperability (2026)

EZ Pass + SunPass + FasTrak + Peach Pass are becoming increasingly compatible thanks to E-ZPass Group Interoperability. Check before traveling if your tag works in the destination state.

A National E-Toll Network is being established — a federal initiative for interoperability. The plan: by 2030, one tag everywhere.

What About Rental Cars

Rental Car with Tag

Hertz, Avis, Enterprise offer "EZ Toll" or "PlatePass":

$5-12/day fee + tolls
Tag in the rental car, works automatically
Convenient but expensive

No Tag in Rental

Cash lanes (if they exist) — increasingly rare
Open road tolling — camera scans the plate, rental gets billed + adds a fee to you
"PlatePass" — Hertz adds +$5/day + tolls + admin fee

Your EZ Pass in Rental

You can take your tag to a rental car — but be careful:

You must register the rental plate in your EZ Pass account for the duration of the rental
Otherwise, the system will not link the tag to the car → violation

Multiple Cars — One Tag or Multiple Tags?

One Tag, Two Cars

Register BOTH license plates in one account
Transfer the tag between cars
Action: if a car WITHOUT a tag passes, BUT its plate is in your account → fee is automatically deducted

Two Tags (better)

One tag per car, both on one account
No need to transfer
Any household member can drive whenever they want
Maintenance fee may be per tag (NJ: $1/month × 2 = $2/month)

Common Mistakes

Unfunded account → violation
Expired credit card → you must update the replacement in EZ Pass
Not updating plate when changing cars
Tag in the wrong place (too low, on inverter, etc.) → not readable
Choosing a state with the highest fees (MD instead of NY)
Not reporting a lost tag — someone else may use it
Not utilizing resident discount if you qualify
Ignoring violation notices → suspension

Tips for New Immigrants

EZ Pass does NOT require an SSN in most states — you can set it up with a passport + ITIN
A Polish address is not enough — you must have a US address
Credit card required — debit is okay, but credit is better
Anonymous tag available in some states (you buy a tag with a pre-paid balance, without an account) — more expensive, but no background check

Official Links

Related: [[how-to-buy-a-car-in-usa-new-used-financing]] · [[car-insurance-in-usa-how-it-works-types-costs]] · [[traffic-ticket-in-usa-traffic-court-points]]