What the Bay Area Tolling Authority does

The Bay Area Toll Authority (officially the Bay Area Toll Authority, or BATA) collects tolls on seven bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area and uses that money to maintain those bridges and fund regional transit. If you drive across any of these bridges regularly, you will pay a toll—either at the toll plaza or through an electronic account. The authority does not issue vehicle registration itself, but toll bills can affect your registration status if you do not pay them.

The seven tolled bridges are the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge, Dumbarton Bridge, Livermore Valley Toll Road, Benicia-Martinez Bridge, and Carquinez Bridge. Each bridge charges a different toll amount depending on the vehicle type and whether you use an electronic toll tag or pay cash at the booth.

Key Takeaways

  • The Bay Area Toll Authority operates seven bridges and collects tolls to maintain them and fund transit projects across the region.
  • You can pay tolls with FasTrak (an electronic account), a one-time toll invoice, or cash at the toll booth, though cash lanes are limited on some bridges.
  • Unpaid tolls can prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration, so it is important to address toll debt before your registration expires.
  • Toll amounts vary by bridge and vehicle type, and some vehicles (motorcycles, clean-air vehicles) may may have access to for discounts through FasTrak.
  • If you receive a toll violation notice, you have the right to contest it or request a payment plan rather than paying the full amount when ready.

How tolls are collected on Bay Area bridges

Most Bay Area bridges now use open-road tolling, which means you do not stop at a booth. Instead, cameras read your license plate and you receive a bill in the mail, or the toll is deducted from a FasTrak account if you have one. The Golden Gate Bridge and Benicia-Martinez Bridge still have toll booths where you can pay cash, though booth lanes are being phased out on some bridges.

If you cross a tolled bridge without a FasTrak account, you will receive a toll invoice by mail within 30 days. The invoice includes the toll amount plus a processing fee. If you pay within the timeframe shown on the invoice, you pay only the toll and fee. If you do not pay, the bill becomes a violation notice with additional penalties.

FasTrak is an electronic toll account that deducts tolls automatically as you cross a bridge. You can set it up online or by phone, and you load money into the account in advance. FasTrak users pay a lower toll rate than those who pay by invoice, and the account works across all seven Bay Area bridges. Some vehicles also may have access to for FasTrak discounts: motorcycles pay half price, and certain clean-air vehicles may may have access to for reduced rates.

Toll amounts and vehicle classifications

Toll rates depend on the bridge you cross and your vehicle type. Passenger cars, motorcycles, and light trucks are charged differently, and commercial vehicles pay higher rates. Rates also vary by time of day on some bridges—the Bay Bridge, for example, charges more during peak commute hours.

As of 2024, toll amounts across the seven bridges range from about $5 to $7 for a passenger car using FasTrak, and higher if you pay by invoice. The exact amount depends on which bridge you cross. You can find current toll rates on the Bay Area Toll Authority website by selecting the specific bridge.

If you drive a motorcycle, you pay roughly half the passenger car rate. If your vehicle qualifies as a clean-air vehicle (certain electric or hybrid models), you may be able to register for a discount through FasTrak. Check the authority's website to see if your vehicle type qualifies.

Setting up FasTrak and managing your account

You can open a FasTrak account online at the Bay Area Toll Authority website, by phone, or in person at a customer service center. You will need your vehicle's license plate number, a valid payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account), and a mailing address. The account is free to open, though you must load money into it to use it.

Once your account is active, tolls are deducted automatically each time you cross a tolled bridge. You can set up automatic replenishment so the account refills when the balance drops below a certain amount, or you can add money manually whenever you choose. You can also link multiple vehicles to one account if you drive more than one car.

If you move, change your vehicle's license plate, or want to update your payment method, you can do all of that through your online account or by calling customer service. Keeping your account information current is important because toll notices are sent to the address on file.

What happens if you do not pay tolls

If you do not pay a toll invoice within the timeframe shown on the notice, the bill becomes a violation notice. The violation notice includes the original toll amount plus a penalty fee. If you still do not pay after receiving the violation notice, the toll authority can report the debt to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

When unpaid tolls are reported to the DMV, they can prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration. The DMV will not process a registration renewal until the toll debt is resolved. This means you cannot legally drive the vehicle, and you risk being stopped by law enforcement for an expired registration.

If you receive a violation notice and cannot pay the full amount, you have options. You can request a payment plan, ask for a hearing to contest the violation, or request a reduction based on financial hardship. Contact the Bay Area Toll Authority directly to discuss your situation—they have processes in place for people who need time to pay.

Contesting a toll violation or requesting a payment plan

If you believe a toll violation notice is incorrect—for example, if you think you already paid, or if the vehicle listed is not yours—you can request a hearing. The notice itself will explain how to request a hearing and the important date for doing so. You will need to provide evidence that supports your case, such as a receipt showing you paid, proof that your vehicle was not on the bridge on that date, or documentation that someone else was driving your car.

If you cannot dispute the violation but cannot pay the full amount at once, you can request a payment plan. The toll authority will work with you to set up a schedule that fits your budget. You must contact them before the important date on the violation notice to request a plan—waiting until after the important date makes it harder to negotiate.

Some toll violations can also be reduced or waived if you can show financial hardship. This is not automatic, but the toll authority considers requests on a case-by-case basis. Be honest about your situation when you contact them; they have seen many circumstances and may be able to help.

How toll debt affects your vehicle registration

The California DMV maintains a list of vehicles with unpaid toll debt reported by the Bay Area Toll Authority. When you try to renew your registration online, by mail, or at a DMV office, the system checks this list. If your vehicle appears on it, the DMV will not process your renewal until the toll debt is paid or a payment plan is in place.

This does not happen when ready after you miss a toll payment. The toll authority typically sends multiple notices before reporting the debt to the DMV, usually after several months of non-payment. However, once it is reported, your registration renewal will be blocked.

If your registration has already expired because of unpaid tolls, you can still resolve it. Pay the toll debt or set up a payment plan with the toll authority, then contact the DMV to confirm the debt has been cleared. After that, you can renew your registration. The DMV will not charge you extra for the delay caused by the toll debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay tolls with cash on all Bay Area bridges?

Cash lanes still exist on the Golden Gate Bridge and Benicia-Martinez Bridge, but they are being phased out. Other bridges use open-road tolling only, so you must have a FasTrak account or be prepared to receive a toll invoice by mail. Check the specific bridge's website to confirm current payment options before you cross.

What if I cross a bridge by mistake and do not want to pay the toll?

You still owe the toll. Toll invoices are based on license plate readings, not on whether you intended to cross. If you crossed by accident, you can contact the toll authority to explain, but the toll itself is not waived. You can request a hearing if you believe there was an error with the charge itself.

Do I need a separate FasTrak account for each bridge?

No. One FasTrak account works on all seven Bay Area bridges. You can also use the same account if you drive multiple vehicles, as long as you register each license plate with the account.

What vehicles may have access to for FasTrak discounts?

Motorcycles pay about half the passenger car rate. Some electric and hybrid vehicles may have access to for reduced rates, but may be able to access depends on the specific vehicle model and year. Check the Bay Area Toll Authority website or call customer service to confirm whether your vehicle qualifies.

How long does it take to set up a FasTrak account?

Online registration is when ready—your account is usually active within minutes. You can start using it as soon as you load money into it. If you set up an account by phone or in person, set up may take a few business days.