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A Temporary Travel Account is a short-term toll account with no tag. You give a license plate and a credit or debit card, and tolls for that plate are paid from the card. MTA describes it as letting you "use a license plate and credit or debit card to set up a short-term account to pay tolls, which is ideal if you are renting or borrowing a car" (MTA). It is useful for a personal trip in someone else's car. It is not a substitute for the E-ZPass tag a TLC vehicle needs.
What it is
Limits we could not verify
MTA's page does not state how long the account lasts, which rate it is charged, or who is eligible. We did not find those terms on an official page we could open, so we don't state them. One clue on price: MTA's rate table says the Mid-Tier rate applies to "Crossing Charges Posted to NYCSC E-ZPass Accounts Based on License Plates." Whether that covers a Temporary Travel Account is not stated, so ask before you assume the E-ZPass rate. For a car at the six major MTA crossings the three rates are $7.46 E-ZPass, $9.79 Mid-Tier and $12.03 Tolls by Mail (effective January 4, 2026).
Why it matters to TLC drivers
- TLC rules talk about a tag. A driver "must not operate a Taxicab, For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery Vehicle for hire that is not equipped with an E-ZPass® tag" (§80-15(d)(1)). A plate-only account is not a tag. Owners must also put an MTA tag in each vehicle or let the driver use a personal tag (§58-27(b)).
- Rented TLC car? TLC rules require an MTA tag in the car or your own personal tag, so tolls run through one of those accounts. See tolls on a rented TLC vehicle.
- Personal car you borrow for a day? That is what this account is for.
Common mix-ups
- Not a regular E-ZPass account. A regular account has a tag and a funding method; see how to open an E-ZPass NY account.
- Not Pay Per Trip. Pay Per Trip still uses a tag and pays tolls from your bank account the same day; see paying for E-ZPass without a credit card.
- Not a replenishment account. That is money a TLC owner may hold from a lease driver for tolls on the owner's tag.
- Not Tolls by Mail. With no account at all, a Toll Bill goes to the registered owner at the mail rate.
Which tag to get for TLC work: which E-ZPass to get and E-ZPass for TLC drivers. All toll terms: tolls hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Temporary Travel Account?
MTA says it lets you use a license plate and a credit or debit card to set up a short-term account to pay tolls, which is ideal if you are renting or borrowing a car.
How long does it last and what rate does it pay?
MTA's page doesn't say. Check the terms when you set it up at E-ZPass New York or call 1-800-333-8655.
Can I use a Temporary Travel Account instead of an E-ZPass tag in my TLC car?
Don't rely on it. TLC rule 80-15(d)(1) says you must not drive a taxi, FHV or green cab for hire without an E-ZPass tag, and a temporary account works by plate, not by tag.
When does it make sense for a TLC driver?
For your own trips in a rented or borrowed personal car, not in a TLC vehicle you drive for hire.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- MTA: How to pay tolls (updated Apr 23, 2025) mta.info
- MTA: Tolls by vehicle type (rates effective Jan 4, 2026; Mid-Tier footnote) mta.info
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (updated June 6, 2025): §80-15(d) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §58-27 nyc.gov
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.