Illinois toll payment methods and where your money goes

Illinois has two separate toll systems: the Illinois Tollway, which runs the major highways around Chicago and across the state, and local toll roads operated by individual counties and municipalities. Most drivers encounter the Tollway system. You can pay tolls in Illinois by cash at toll plazas, through an electronic tag account, or by mail if you miss a toll. The Illinois Tollway keeps toll revenue to maintain and operate its highways; it does not fund general state roads.

The method you choose affects how much you pay per toll and how quickly you can move through a toll plaza. Electronic payment is faster and usually costs less than cash. If you drive the Tollway regularly, setting up an account takes about 10 minutes online and saves money on every trip.

Key Takeaways

  • I-PASS is the electronic toll tag used on the Illinois Tollway and works on toll roads in 17 states, so one account covers most of your toll driving in the Midwest and East.
  • Cash payment at toll plazas costs more per toll than I-PASS and requires exact change or bills at most booths, though some plazas now accept cards.
  • If you miss a toll, the Tollway will mail you an invoice within 30 days; paying by the due date costs less than paying after a violation notice arrives.
  • You can open an I-PASS account online, by phone, or at a customer service center, and tag accounts work across multiple vehicles if you register them.
  • Local toll roads in Cook, DuPage, and Will counties operate separately from the Tollway and may require their own payment methods or tags.

I-PASS: the electronic toll tag system

I-PASS is the electronic toll collection system for the Illinois Tollway. You mount a small transponder on your windshield, and it communicates with toll readers as you pass through a toll plaza. The toll is deducted from your prepaid account. I-PASS rates are typically 30 to 50 percent lower than cash rates for the same toll, and you do not stop or slow down at toll plazas.

To open an I-PASS account, visit the Illinois Tollway website (illinoistollway.com), call 1-800-UC-IPASS (1-800-824-7277), or visit a customer service center. You will need a valid driver's license, a vehicle registration, and a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account). The transponder costs $0 to $40 depending on the account type, and you set a minimum balance that the Tollway draws from as you use tolls. Most accounts require a $25 to $40 initial balance.

I-PASS works on toll roads in 17 states, including Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. If you travel outside Illinois, your I-PASS tag will work at those toll plazas too, so you do not need separate accounts for different states.

Cash payment at toll plazas

If you do not have an I-PASS tag, you can pay cash at toll plazas on the Illinois Tollway. Most cash booths accept bills up to $20 and coins, though some plazas now accept credit and debit cards at certain lanes. Cash tolls cost more than I-PASS rates—sometimes nearly double—because the Tollway charges a premium for manual collection.

Cash payment is slower than electronic payment. You must stop at a toll booth, hand money to an attendant or insert it into a machine, and wait for change. During rush hours, cash lanes can have longer waits than I-PASS lanes. If you only drive tolls occasionally, cash may be your choice, but if you use the Tollway more than a few times per month, an I-PASS account will save you money and time.

Missed tolls and violation notices

If you drive through a toll plaza without paying—whether your I-PASS account is empty, you took a wrong exit, or you straightforward missed the booth—the Tollway will photograph your license plate and mail you an invoice. This invoice typically arrives within 30 days and shows the toll amount plus a $0.50 administrative fee. Pay the invoice by the due date (usually 30 days from the mailing date) to settle the toll at the original rate.

If you do not pay the invoice by the due date, the Tollway sends a violation notice. This notice includes a higher penalty—typically $25 to $50 on top of the original toll—and a new due date. Paying after a violation notice arrives costs significantly more than paying the first invoice. If you receive a violation notice, pay it promptly to avoid further penalties or collection action.

You can pay missed tolls online through the Illinois Tollway website, by phone, by mail, or in person at a customer service center. If you believe the toll was charged in error, you can dispute it through the Tollway's customer service.

Local toll roads in Illinois

In addition to the Illinois Tollway, several counties operate their own toll roads. Cook County operates the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) and the Chicago Skyway. DuPage County operates the Illinois Route 390 toll road. Will County operates the Veterans Memorial Tollway. These roads may accept I-PASS, but some have their own payment systems or require separate accounts.

The Chicago Skyway, for example, accepts I-PASS but also has its own electronic toll collection system. If you drive local toll roads regularly, check the specific road's website to see which payment methods are accepted. Some local toll roads offer discounts for frequent users or monthly passes that may cost less than paying per trip.

Setting up and managing your I-PASS account

After you open an I-PASS account online or by phone, you will receive a transponder in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Mount it on your windshield according to the instructions, and your account is active once the transponder is registered. You can add money to your account online, by phone, or at a customer service center. Most accounts are set to automatically replenish when the balance drops below a threshold you choose.

You can register multiple vehicles to one I-PASS account by providing their license plate numbers and vehicle registrations. This is useful if you drive different cars but want to use the same account. Each vehicle will have its own transponder, and tolls from all vehicles draw from the same account balance.

If your transponder is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact I-PASS customer service to request a replacement. There is usually a small fee for a replacement transponder, but your account balance transfers to the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use I-PASS on the Illinois Tollway?

No. You can pay cash at toll plazas, but cash tolls cost more than I-PASS rates. If you miss a toll, you will receive an invoice by mail. I-PASS is optional, but it is the cheapest and fastest way to pay tolls on the Tollway.

What happens if my I-PASS account runs out of money?

If your account balance reaches zero, tolls will not be deducted. Instead, the Tollway will photograph your license plate and mail you an invoice for the missed toll. To avoid this, set up automatic replenishment so your account refills when it drops below a certain amount.

Can I use my I-PASS tag in other states?

Yes. I-PASS works on toll roads in 17 states, including Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and others. You do not need a separate account for each state—one I-PASS account covers all of them.

How long does it take to receive an I-PASS transponder?

Transponders typically arrive within 7 to 10 business days after you open an account. Your account is active once you mount the transponder on your windshield and it is registered. Some customer service centers can issue transponders on the spot if you visit in person.

What if I think a toll was charged to my account by mistake?

Contact the Illinois Tollway customer service by phone, online, or in person at a customer service center. Explain the toll in question, and they will review it. If it was charged in error, they can refund it to your account or issue a credit.