How to Pay Your Maryland E-ZPass Bill

How Maryland E-ZPass payments work

When you use an E-ZPass transponder on Maryland toll roads, the toll is deducted from a prepaid account you set up. You do not pay at a booth — the system reads your transponder as you drive through, and the charge posts to your account within a few days. Once your balance drops to a certain level, you need to add money before the account runs empty and tolls stop being deducted.

Maryland E-ZPass is run by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA). Your account is separate from any E-ZPass account you might have in another state, even though the transponder itself works on toll roads across the Northeast.

Key Takeaways

• You can add money to your Maryland E-ZPass account online at mdta.maryland.gov, by phone at 1-888-321-6714, or by mail with a check.
• The system automatically charges your payment method when your balance falls below a threshold you set, or you can add money manually whenever you choose.
• If your account runs empty, tolls will not be deducted and you will receive a violation notice in the mail instead.
• Late or missed payments result in violation fees added to your account, and repeated non-payment can lead to vehicle registration suspension.

Adding money to your account online

The fastest way to pay is through the MdTA website at mdta.maryland.gov. Log in with your account number and password, or create an account if you do not have one yet. You will need your transponder number, which is printed on the back of the device itself.

Once logged in, select "Add Funds" and choose your payment amount. You can pay with a debit card, credit card, or bank account (ACH transfer). Debit and credit card payments process immediately, while ACH transfers take one to two business days to appear in your account. There is no fee for any of these payment methods.

You can also set up automatic replenishment, which charges your payment method whenever your balance drops below a level you choose — for example, $10 or $25. This prevents your account from running empty unexpectedly.

Paying by phone or mail

Call the MdTA customer service line at 1-888-321-6714 to add funds by phone. Have your account number and a debit or credit card ready. Phone payments process the same day if you call before 5 p.m. Eastern time on a business day.

You can also mail a check to the Maryland Transportation Authority, P.O. Box 8755, Baltimore, MD 21284-8755. Write your account number on the check. Mail payments take seven to ten business days to post to your account, so this method is slower than online or phone payment.

What happens if your account runs empty

If you drive through a toll plaza and your account balance is zero or negative, the toll is not deducted. Instead, the MdTA records the transaction and sends you a violation notice in the mail within two weeks. The notice includes the toll amount plus a violation fee, which varies but is typically $25 to $50 per violation.

You must pay the violation amount within 30 days of the notice date. If you do not pay, additional penalties accrue and the MdTA can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. After repeated non-payment, your registration can be suspended entirely, which prevents you from legally driving the vehicle.

Disputing a charge or violation

If you believe a toll or violation was charged in error, contact the MdTA within 30 days of receiving the notice. You can call 1-888-321-6714 or submit a dispute through your online account. Explain what happened — for example, if your transponder malfunctioned or if you were not the driver — and provide any supporting information you have.

The MdTA will investigate and respond within 15 business days. If the dispute is upheld, the charge or violation is removed from your account. If it is not upheld, you will be told why and what your next steps are.

Linking multiple vehicles to one account

You can add multiple transponders to a single E-ZPass account and pay all tolls from one balance. This is useful if you have more than one vehicle or if you share a transponder with family members. Each transponder is registered to a specific vehicle, but they all draw from the same account balance.

To add a transponder, log into your account online and select "Add Transponder" or call customer service. You will need the transponder number and the vehicle's license plate. Each transponder costs money to purchase if you do not already have one — the MdTA sells them for a one-time fee, which is separate from your toll balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I move out of Maryland?

Yes. If your account has a positive balance and you no longer need E-ZPass, you can request a refund by calling 1-888-321-6714 or through your online account. The MdTA will refund the remaining balance to your original payment method within 30 days. You must return your transponder or pay a non-return fee.

What if I lose my transponder?

Contact the MdTA immediately at 1-888-321-6714 to report it lost. Your account will be flagged so tolls cannot be charged to a lost device. You can order a replacement transponder online or by phone. There is a replacement fee, and the new transponder will be mailed to you within five to seven business days.

Does E-ZPass work outside Maryland?

Yes, your Maryland E-ZPass transponder works on toll roads in other states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and others in the Northeast. However, your Maryland account balance is separate — tolls charged in other states are deducted from your Maryland account, but you cannot use an out-of-state E-ZPass account to pay Maryland tolls.

How do I know if my payment went through?

Log into your online account at mdta.maryland.gov to see your current balance and recent transaction history. Online and phone payments show up within hours. Mail payments take seven to ten business days. If you set up automatic replenishment, you will see a charge each time your balance drops below your chosen threshold.

What if I have a question about a specific toll charge?

Check your online account transaction history, which shows the date, time, location, and amount of each toll. If you do not recognize a charge, contact the MdTA at 1-888-321-6714 within 30 days with the date and location. They can look up the transponder reading and help you determine whether the charge was correct.