What the Illinois Toll Highway Authority Is

The Illinois Toll Highway Authority (ITHA) is a state agency that owns and operates toll roads across Illinois. It maintains seven toll highways: the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-90), the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Illinois Tollway (I-90 north of Chicago), the Skyway (I-90/94 in Chicago), and portions of I-80 and I-294. If you drive these roads regularly or occasionally, you will encounter ITHA tolls.

The Authority does not handle vehicle registration itself — that remains the Secretary of State's job. But ITHA tolls are tied to your vehicle registration because the Authority uses your license plate to track toll payments. Understanding how ITHA tolls work, how to pay them, and what happens if you miss a payment matters whether you register a vehicle in Illinois or drive through the state from elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • The Illinois Toll Highway Authority operates seven toll highways across the state and uses your license plate to bill you for tolls you pass through.
  • You can pay tolls using I-PASS (a prepaid account), a toll-by-plate system (automatic billing to your address), or cash at toll booths where they still exist.
  • If you do not pay tolls within a set time, ITHA sends violation notices and can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal until the debt is resolved.
  • Illinois residents can open an I-PASS account online or by mail; out-of-state drivers are billed automatically through toll-by-plate if they do not have I-PASS.
  • Unpaid tolls accrue penalties and interest, and ITHA can report the debt to credit agencies or pursue collection through the courts.

How Tolls Are Charged and Collected

When you drive through a toll plaza on an ITHA highway, the Authority records your license plate. If you have an I-PASS account — a prepaid transponder system — the toll is deducted from your account balance when ready. If you do not have I-PASS, ITHA uses toll-by-plate technology to photograph your plate and mail you an invoice to the address on file with your vehicle registration.

I-PASS is the faster and cheaper option. Tolls cost less when you use I-PASS than when you pay by plate or cash. For example, a toll that costs $1.50 with I-PASS might cost $2.00 or more if you pay by plate. You can open an I-PASS account online at illinoistollway.com, by phone at 1-800-UC-IPASS, or by mail. The transponder itself is free, but you must maintain a minimum balance (usually $10 to $40, depending on the account type).

If you live outside Illinois and drive ITHA roads occasionally, you will be billed automatically through toll-by-plate. You do not need to do anything — ITHA will send you an invoice. However, if you drive these roads frequently, opening an I-PASS account saves money even if you live out of state.

What Happens If You Do Not Pay Tolls

Unpaid tolls trigger a series of escalating notices and penalties. After you miss a toll payment, ITHA sends a violation notice to the address on your vehicle registration. This notice includes the original toll amount plus a violation fee (typically $25 to $50 per violation, though this varies). You have a set window — usually 30 days — to pay the violation notice.

If you do not respond to the violation notice, ITHA can place a registration hold on your vehicle. This means you cannot renew your registration with the Secretary of State until the toll debt is cleared. The hold stays in place even if your registration expires. You will not be able to legally drive the vehicle, and you cannot transfer the title to someone else.

Beyond the registration hold, unpaid tolls can result in additional penalties, interest charges, and collection action. ITHA may report the debt to credit agencies, which damages your credit score. In some cases, the Authority pursues collection through the courts, which can result in wage garnishment or bank account levies.

Resolving Unpaid Tolls and Registration Holds

To clear a registration hold, you must pay the full toll debt plus all violation fees and penalties to ITHA directly. You cannot pay this through the Secretary of State — ITHA must receive payment first, and then the hold is lifted. You can pay online at illinoistollway.com, by phone at 1-800-UC-IPASS, or by mail. Once ITHA processes your payment, the registration hold is removed, usually within one to three business days.

If you believe a toll charge is incorrect — for example, if you were charged twice for the same passage or if the toll was assessed to the wrong vehicle — you can dispute it. Contact ITHA's customer service with your violation notice number and details of the dispute. ITHA will investigate and may reverse the charge if the error is confirmed. Disputes should be filed within a reasonable time after you receive the notice; waiting months makes resolution harder.

If you cannot pay the full amount when ready, contact ITHA to ask about payment plans. The Authority sometimes works with drivers to set up installment arrangements, though this is not may provide. Having a plan in place is better than ignoring the debt, because it stops additional penalties from accruing and prevents the registration hold from being placed.

I-PASS Accounts and Prepaid Options

An I-PASS account is a prepaid transponder linked to your vehicle. You load money into the account, and each toll is deducted automatically. I-PASS offers several account types: a standard account for regular commuters, a part-time account for occasional users, and a heavy-vehicle account for trucks. Each has different minimum balances and fee structures.

To open an I-PASS account, you need your vehicle's license plate number, a valid Illinois driver's license or ID, and a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account). You can set up automatic replenishment so the account refills when the balance drops below a certain amount. This prevents you from running out of funds and being switched to toll-by-plate billing.

If you move out of state or sell your vehicle, you can close your I-PASS account and request a refund of any remaining balance. The refund is mailed to the address on file, usually within two to four weeks. If you have an outstanding toll debt on the account, ITHA will deduct it from the refund before sending the remainder to you.

How Toll Debt Affects Vehicle Registration

The Secretary of State's office and ITHA share information about unpaid tolls. When you attempt to renew your vehicle registration, the Secretary of State checks whether there is an outstanding toll debt. If there is, the registration renewal is blocked until the debt is paid. This hold applies even if your registration has already expired — you cannot legally drive the vehicle, and you cannot renew it online, by mail, or in person.

The hold also prevents you from transferring the vehicle's title to another person. If you try to sell the car, the buyer's title transfer will be rejected because of the outstanding toll debt. This means you must resolve the debt before you can complete a sale. Buyers often discover this during the title transfer process, which can derail a transaction.

If you have moved and did not update your address with the Secretary of State, toll violation notices may go to your old address. This means you might not see the notices, and the debt can grow without your knowledge. Always update your address with both the Secretary of State and ITHA if you move, so notices reach you and you have time to respond.

Out-of-State Drivers and Toll Obligations

If you live outside Illinois and drive ITHA toll roads, you are still responsible for paying tolls. ITHA uses toll-by-plate to bill you at the address on your vehicle registration in your home state. The invoice will arrive by mail, and you must pay it within the time frame specified on the notice.

If you do not pay, ITHA can pursue collection in your home state. Some states have reciprocal agreements with Illinois that allow ITHA to place holds on out-of-state vehicle registrations or report the debt to your state's motor vehicle agency. This can prevent you from renewing your registration in your home state, even though the debt is to an Illinois agency. The specifics depend on your state's laws and agreements with ITHA.

Out-of-state drivers who use ITHA roads frequently should consider opening an I-PASS account. ITHA allows non-residents to open accounts, and the savings on tolls often outweigh the cost of the transponder and account setup. This also gives you more control over when and how you pay, rather than waiting for invoices in the mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dispute a toll charge if I think I was billed incorrectly?

Yes. Contact ITHA customer service with your violation notice number and explain the error. ITHA will investigate and may reverse the charge if it was incorrect — for example, if you were charged twice for the same passage or if the toll was applied to the wrong vehicle. File disputes as soon as you receive the notice; waiting makes resolution slower.

What is the difference between I-PASS and toll-by-plate?

I-PASS is a prepaid transponder account you control; tolls cost less and are deducted when ready. Toll-by-plate is automatic billing to your address; tolls cost more and you receive an invoice by mail. I-PASS requires you to maintain a balance and set up an account, but saves money if you use ITHA roads regularly.

If I have a registration hold for unpaid tolls, can I still drive my car?

No. A registration hold means your registration is not valid, so driving the vehicle is illegal. You must pay the toll debt to ITHA before the hold is lifted. Once ITHA processes your payment, the hold is usually removed within one to three business days, and you can renew your registration.

What happens if I move out of state and do not pay my ITHA tolls?

ITHA can pursue collection in your home state. Some states have agreements that allow ITHA to report the debt to your state's motor vehicle agency, which can block your registration renewal. You remain responsible for the debt regardless of where you live, and ignoring it can damage your credit and result in legal action.

Can I set up a payment plan if I cannot pay my toll debt all at once?

Contact ITHA customer service to ask about payment arrangements. The Authority sometimes works with drivers to set up installment plans, though this is not may provide. Having a plan in place stops additional penalties from accruing and prevents or delays a registration hold.