How to Pay Your New York Toll Bill Online Through Tolls by Mail
What Tolls by Mail is and who needs to use it
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 and did not have E-ZPass, a camera photographed your license plate. New York sends you a bill for the toll plus a video toll fee. You can pay that bill online at www.tollsbymailny.com, by mail, or by phone.
The bill arrives at the address registered with your vehicle's title. If you rented the car, the rental company receives the bill first and may pass the charge to you. If you borrowed someone else's vehicle, the registered owner gets the bill. You have about 30 days from the bill date to pay before late fees start.
Key Takeaways
- You can pay a Tolls by Mail bill online at www.tollsbymailny.com using your bill number, license plate, or vehicle registration number.
- Payment methods online include credit card, debit card, and electronic check, but not cash or money order through the website.
- Online payment usually processes the same day or next business day, and you receive a confirmation number immediately after paying.
- If you do not have your bill number, you can look up your account using your license plate number and state.
- Late payments add a $10 penalty fee after 30 days, and unpaid tolls can affect your vehicle registration renewal.
How to pay online at www.tollsbymailny.com
Go to www.tollsbymailny.com and click the "Pay Your Bill" button on the home page. You will see three ways to look up your account: by bill number, by license plate and state, or by vehicle registration number. Choose whichever you have handy.
Enter the information and click search. The website will show your outstanding toll charges, the video toll fee (usually $2.50 per toll), and the total amount due. Review the charges to make sure they match what you remember. Then select your payment method: credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Enter the payment details and confirm. You will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email — save both.
The payment typically posts to your account within one business day. If you pay by electronic check, allow an extra day. You can check the status of your payment by returning to the website and looking up your account again.
What happens if you miss the payment deadline
If you do not pay within 30 days of the bill date, New York adds a $10 penalty fee to your bill. The total amount owed grows. After 60 days, the debt may be referred to a collection agency, and collection attempts will appear on your credit report.
Unpaid tolls also prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration. When you try to renew your registration online or at the DMV, the system will flag your account and block the renewal until the toll debt is paid. This means you cannot legally drive the vehicle.
If you received a bill you believe is wrong — for example, you had E-ZPass but the camera did not read it — you can dispute the charge through the website or by calling the Tolls by Mail customer service line. You will need to explain why you think the charge is incorrect and provide any supporting information, such as proof of E-ZPass enrollment.
Payment methods and what each one costs
The website accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, and electronic checks. There is no fee for paying by electronic check. Credit and debit card payments may carry a processing fee — the website will show you the exact fee before you confirm the payment, so you know the total cost.
If you prefer not to pay online, you can mail a check or money order to the address on your bill. Mail payments take longer to process — typically 7 to 10 business days — so send them early if your deadline is approaching. You can also pay by phone by calling the Tolls by Mail customer service number on your bill.
If you do not have your bill
You do not need the physical bill to pay online. Go to www.tollsbymailny.com and select "Pay Your Bill." Choose the option to search by license plate number and state. Enter your plate and state, and the website will pull up any outstanding tolls on that vehicle. This works even if you never received the bill in the mail or if the bill was sent to an old address.
If the website does not find an account under your license plate, it is possible the bill has not been processed yet (this can take several weeks after you drove through the toll), or the bill was sent to a different name or address. Call Tolls by Mail customer service to confirm whether a bill exists for your vehicle.
How to set up automatic payments or get a transponder instead
The Tolls by Mail website does not offer automatic recurring payments. Each bill must be paid separately. However, if you drive through New York tolls regularly, getting an E-ZPass transponder will save you money and time. E-ZPass charges a lower toll rate than Tolls by Mail and does not include the video toll fee. You can order an E-ZPass online at www.e-zpassny.com or pick one up at a service area.
Once you have E-ZPass, mount the transponder on your windshield. The toll plazas will read it automatically, and charges will be deducted from your E-ZPass account. You will no longer receive Tolls by Mail bills for those crossings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Tolls by Mail bill with a prepaid card?
Yes, if the prepaid card is a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card. The website treats it like any other card. Make sure the card has enough balance to cover the toll amount plus any processing fee before you submit the payment.
What if I paid online but my bill still shows as unpaid?
Online payments usually post within one business day. If you paid by electronic check, allow two business days. If more than two days have passed and your account still shows unpaid, call Tolls by Mail customer service with your confirmation number. They can verify whether the payment was received and when it will post.
Do I have to pay if I was not driving the car?
The bill goes to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who was driving. If you rented the car, the rental company receives the bill first and may charge you according to your rental agreement. If you borrowed someone else's car, the owner is responsible for the bill, though they may ask you to reimburse them.
Can I dispute a toll charge online?
You can start a dispute through the website by selecting the option to contest a charge, or you can call customer service. You will need to explain why you believe the charge is incorrect — for example, if you had E-ZPass but the camera did not read it. Provide any proof you have, such as E-ZPass account statements showing you were enrolled at the time.
What if I move and my bill goes to the wrong address?
Update your address with the New York DMV so future bills go to the correct location. For a bill that already went to an old address, you can still pay online by looking up your account using your license plate number. If you are concerned a bill was sent to an old address and you missed the deadline, call Tolls by Mail to explain and ask about options.