What Expresslanes.com is and how to use it
Expresslanes.com is the official payment website for toll lanes in Southern California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). If you drive the 110 Express Lanes in Los Angeles or the 10 Express Lanes in Orange County, you use this site to set up an account, add payment methods, check your balance, and pay tolls you've incurred.
The site works because tolls on these lanes are collected electronically. Cameras read your license plate as you drive through, and the toll amount is charged to whatever payment method you've linked to your account. If you don't have an account or your payment method fails, you'll receive a violation notice in the mail—which costs more than the original toll and requires action within a specific window.
Setting up an account takes about 10 minutes and prevents that escalation. You'll need your vehicle's license plate number, a valid email address, and a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account).
Key Takeaways
- Expresslanes.com is where you create an account and link payment for tolls charged to your license plate on the 110 and 10 Express Lanes in Southern California.
- You can pay tolls when ready after driving or set up prepaid account balance, and both methods prevent violation notices from being mailed to your address.
- If you receive a violation notice, you have 21 days to respond or pay; ignoring it results in additional penalties and a hold on vehicle registration renewal.
- The site shows your toll history, account balance, and payment methods in one place, so you can monitor charges and update information as needed.
Creating and managing your account
Go to expresslanes.com and select "Create Account" or "Sign In" if you already have one. You'll enter your license plate number (the one that will be photographed on the express lanes), your email address, and a password. Metro will send a confirmation email; click the link to verify your address.
Once your account is active, add a payment method under "Payment Information." You can use a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card, or link a checking or savings account directly. The site uses encryption to protect this information, and you can update or remove payment methods at any time.
If you own multiple vehicles, you can add each license plate to the same account. This is useful if you and a family member both drive express lanes, or if you have more than one vehicle registered to you. Each plate is tracked separately, but you manage all tolls from one login.
How tolls are charged and what happens if you don't pay
When you drive through an express lane, a camera reads your license plate and records the date, time, and toll amount. Within a few days, that charge appears in your account on expresslanes.com. If you have a payment method on file, the toll is automatically charged to that method—usually within 5 to 10 business days.
If your payment method fails (expired card, insufficient funds, closed account), or if you have no account at all, Metro sends a violation notice to the address on your vehicle registration. This notice includes the original toll amount plus a penalty—typically $25 to $35 depending on whether it's your first violation. You have 21 days from the notice date to pay online, by mail, or by phone.
If you ignore the violation notice or miss the 21-day important date, Metro can file a second notice with additional penalties. Unpaid violations can also place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal, meaning you won't be able to renew your tags until the violation is resolved. This is why setting up an account before you drive the express lanes is the simplest path.
Prepaid accounts versus pay-as-you-go
Expresslanes.com offers two ways to manage tolls. With pay-as-you-go, you link a payment method and tolls are charged automatically as you incur them. Your account shows a running balance of what you owe, and charges post within days. This requires no action on your part beyond keeping your payment method current.
With a prepaid account, you deposit money into your express lanes account in advance. As you drive, tolls are deducted from that balance. When your balance drops below a threshold you set (usually $10 or $25), the site automatically recharges from your linked payment method. Prepaid accounts can be useful if you drive the express lanes frequently and want to see your spending in one place, or if you prefer to control when charges hit your card.
Both methods prevent violation notices. The difference is mainly in how you prefer to manage the money—automatically charged per trip, or deposited upfront and drawn down. You can switch between the two at any time through your account settings.
Checking your toll history and account balance
Log into expresslanes.com and go to "Account" or "Transaction History." You'll see every toll you've been charged, including the date, time, location (which express lane), and amount. This history is useful if you want to track your spending, dispute a charge, or straightforward understand where tolls appeared on your credit card statement.
Your current account balance also appears here. If you're on pay-as-you-go, this shows what you owe. If you're prepaid, it shows how much credit you have left. You can also see which payment method is active and when it was last charged.
If you notice a toll you don't recognize or believe was charged in error, contact Metro's customer service through the site. You'll need the date, time, and toll amount. Metro can review the camera image to confirm the charge or investigate if there was a system error.
Updating payment methods and contact information
Payment methods expire, accounts get closed, and email addresses change. Keep your expresslanes.com account current so tolls process smoothly and you receive important notices.
To update your payment method, log in and go to "Payment Information." Remove the old card or bank account and add the new one. If you're switching cards, do this before the old one expires—if a toll tries to charge an expired card, it fails and you'll receive a violation notice instead.
To update your email address, go to "Account Settings" or "Profile." This is where Metro sends toll confirmations, low-balance alerts (if prepaid), and violation notices if something goes wrong. If you've moved, update the address on your vehicle registration with the DMV as well, because violation notices are mailed to that address, not your email.
What to do if you receive a violation notice
A violation notice arrives in the mail if a toll was charged but not paid, or if you drove the express lanes without an account. The notice includes the original toll amount, the penalty, the toll date, and instructions for payment. You have 21 days from the notice date to respond.
You can pay online at expresslanes.com (you'll need the violation number from the notice), by phone at the number on the notice, or by mail. Paying online is fastest—the charge posts when ready and you receive a confirmation email. If you believe the charge was an error, you can request a review by providing details about why you think the toll was incorrect; include the violation number and any supporting information (such as proof you weren't driving that day).
Do not ignore a violation notice. If the 21-day window passes without payment or a response, Metro issues a second notice with higher penalties. After that, the violation can affect your vehicle registration renewal and may be referred to a collection agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dispute a toll charge if I think I was overcharged?
Yes. Log into your account, find the toll in your transaction history, and contact Metro's customer service with the date and time. Metro can review the camera image and toll calculation. If there was an error, they'll credit your account. If you believe the charge is correct but want to contest it, you can request a formal review, though this typically requires written documentation.
What happens if my payment method is declined?
Metro will attempt to charge your payment method within a few days of the toll. If it's declined, you won't receive an when ready notification—instead, a violation notice will be mailed to your vehicle registration address within 2 to 3 weeks. Update your payment method on expresslanes.com as soon as you know a card has expired or an account is closed to avoid this.
Do I need a separate account for each vehicle?
No. You can add multiple license plates to one expresslanes.com account and manage all tolls from a single login. Each plate is tracked separately, but they all draw from the same payment method and account balance.
Can I get a refund if I prepaid and don't use all the balance?
Prepaid balances do not expire, so you can use them whenever you drive the express lanes in the future. If you want to close your account and receive a refund of unused balance, contact Metro's customer service. Refunds are typically processed within 4 to 6 weeks.
What if I don't have a credit card—can I pay with a bank account?
Yes. Expresslanes.com accepts direct bank account payments (checking or savings). You'll need your routing number and account number. This works the same way as a debit card—tolls are charged automatically as you incur them.