What Tolls by Mail is and how to pay online
Tolls by Mail is New York's system for collecting tolls from drivers who do not have an E-ZPass transponder. If you drove through a tolled bridge, tunnel, or road in New York without E-ZPass, the toll authority photographs your license plate and sends you an invoice by mail. You can pay that invoice online at www.tollsbymailny.com instead of waiting for the paper bill or paying by check.
The system covers tolled crossings operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), including the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel. Each crossing has its own toll amount, which varies by vehicle type and time of day on some bridges.
When you pay online, you enter your license plate number or invoice number and provide payment information. The site processes the payment immediately, and you receive a confirmation. Paying online does not require you to set up an account or register with the MTA — you can pay a single toll or multiple tolls in one session.
Key Takeaways
- You can pay tolls online at www.tollsbymailny.com using your license plate number or invoice number without creating an account.
- The site accepts credit cards, debit cards, and electronic check payments, and charges a processing fee that varies by payment method.
- Paying online stops late fees and violation notices from accumulating, even if you pay after the initial due date.
- If you drive the same tolled route regularly, opening an E-ZPass account costs less per crossing than paying by mail repeatedly.
Payment methods and fees on the Tolls by Mail website
The website accepts three payment methods: credit card, debit card, and electronic check. Each method carries a different processing fee that is added to your toll amount at checkout. Credit and debit card payments typically carry a higher fee than electronic check payments because the card networks charge the MTA a percentage of the transaction.
You will see the exact fee before you confirm payment, so you know the total amount you are paying. The fee is non-refundable even if you later dispute the toll itself. If you are paying multiple tolls in one session, the fee applies to the entire batch, not to each individual toll.
Electronic check payments usually have the lowest fee and take one to two business days to clear. Credit and debit card payments are processed immediately. If you use a prepaid card or gift card, the site treats it as a debit card and applies the same fee structure.
Finding your invoice number or license plate information
To pay online, you need either your invoice number or your license plate number. The invoice number appears on the paper bill you received in the mail — it is printed at the top or bottom of the notice and is usually a multi-digit code specific to that toll crossing and date.
If you have lost the paper invoice, you can still pay using your license plate number. Enter the state abbreviation and the plate number exactly as it appears on your vehicle. The system will pull up any outstanding tolls associated with that plate. This method works even if you have not received a bill yet, because the MTA's cameras record the crossing immediately.
If the system does not find any tolls under your plate number, it may mean the toll has already been paid, the invoice has not yet been generated (which can take up to two weeks after the crossing), or the plate number was misread by the camera. Contact the MTA's Tolls by Mail customer service line if you believe you crossed a tolled facility but see no invoice.
What happens after you pay online
Once your payment is processed, the website displays a confirmation number on screen. Write down or screenshot this number — it serves as your receipt. The MTA also sends a confirmation email to the address you provided during payment, though this can take a few minutes to arrive.
The payment is recorded in the MTA's system within one business day. If you receive a violation notice or late fee notice after paying online, contact customer service with your confirmation number and the date you paid. The MTA can verify the payment and cancel the additional charges.
Paying online does not prevent future tolls from being billed to you by mail if you continue to cross without E-ZPass. Each crossing generates a separate invoice. If you cross the same bridge or tunnel regularly, the cost per crossing is significantly lower with an E-ZPass account than with repeated Tolls by Mail payments.
Late fees and violation notices if you do not pay on time
The initial due date for a Tolls by Mail invoice is typically 30 days from the date the bill is mailed. If you do not pay by that date, the MTA adds a late fee to your balance. The late fee amount varies but is usually a percentage of the original toll or a flat amount, whichever is greater.
If you continue not to pay after the late fee is added, the MTA may issue a violation notice. This notice can result in additional penalties and may affect your vehicle registration renewal. Paying online stops these escalating charges, even if you pay after the original due date — the late fee and violation notice are cancelled once the payment clears.
If you have received a violation notice and want to dispute it, you can request a hearing through the MTA. However, paying the toll and late fee online is usually faster than going through the dispute process, especially if you know you crossed the facility.
Comparing Tolls by Mail to E-ZPass and other payment options
E-ZPass is a transponder-based system that charges a lower per-crossing toll than Tolls by Mail. An E-ZPass account requires an initial purchase of the transponder (usually $25 to $35) and a minimum balance or monthly payment plan. Once active, each crossing is deducted automatically from your account balance, and you do not receive paper bills.
The toll amount for the same crossing is typically 25 to 50 percent lower with E-ZPass than with Tolls by Mail, depending on the bridge or tunnel. If you cross a tolled facility more than a few times per year, the savings from E-ZPass outweigh the upfront cost. However, if you cross infrequently, paying by mail online may be cheaper overall.
Some tolled facilities also offer payment plans or discounts for frequent users who do not have E-ZPass. Check the MTA website or call customer service to see if any programs apply to your situation. Paying online through Tolls by Mail is the fastest option if you have already received an invoice and want to avoid late fees.
Troubleshooting common issues on the payment website
If the website does not recognize your license plate number, the toll may not yet be in the system. The MTA typically processes tolls within two weeks of the crossing. If it has been longer than two weeks and you still see no toll, the camera may have misread your plate. Contact customer service with the date and time you crossed and the name of the facility.
If your payment is rejected, check that your card has not expired and that you have entered the billing address exactly as it appears on your account. Some cards decline online payments for security reasons — contact your card issuer to authorize the transaction and try again. Electronic check payments may be rejected if your bank account information is incorrect.
If you see a toll you do not believe you incurred, do not ignore it. Contact the MTA to request a photo review of the crossing. The MTA can provide the image from the camera and may cancel the toll if the plate was misread or if the vehicle in the photo is not yours. This process takes longer than paying online but is worth pursuing if you are certain you did not cross the facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay someone else's toll through the website?
Yes. You can pay a toll using any license plate number, not just your own. Enter the plate number and the toll amount will appear. This is useful if you borrowed a vehicle or if a family member's car was photographed. You will need to provide your own payment information, and the confirmation will be sent to the email address you enter.
What if I pay online but still receive a paper bill in the mail?
Paper bills can take one to two weeks to process out of the system after you pay online. If you receive a bill after paying, do not pay it again. Contact customer service with your online confirmation number and the date you paid. The MTA can verify the payment and prevent duplicate billing.
Does paying online create an account I can use for future tolls?
No. Each payment through Tolls by Mail is a one-time transaction. You do not create a login or account. If you want to set up recurring payments or a balance account, you would need to open an E-ZPass account instead. Tolls by Mail is designed for occasional or one-time payments.
Is there a phone number to call if the website is not working?
Yes. The MTA's Tolls by Mail customer service line can take payments over the phone and help with technical issues on the website. The number is available on the paper invoice you received or on the MTA's main website. Phone payments may carry a different fee than online payments.
What if I cross a toll facility and never receive a bill?
This can happen if the camera misread your plate or if your vehicle was not clearly visible in the photo. If you know you crossed and want to pay, you can visit the website and enter your license plate number to see if a toll appears. If nothing shows up after two weeks, contact customer service to report the crossing and request manual processing.