On this page (11)
In short
You don't need a credit card for E-ZPass New York. You have three choices. Automatic replenishment from a bank account refills your balance when it gets low. Pay Per Trip, linked to a bank account, pays each day's tolls the same day with no prepaid balance. Cash works at a VanillaDirect retailer, using the barcode on your E-ZPass statement. MTA says the old $10 deposit is no longer required for accounts without a linked credit card. Whatever you choose, don't let the balance fall below $0. That can turn tolls into Toll Bills.
The three ways to pay, compared
Automatic replenishment
Link a credit card, debit card or bank account, and MTA says the account will "automatically replenish whenever the account balance gets too low" (MTA). MTA says the replenishment amount is based on your travel history. A driver who crosses bridges every shift will see larger refills than a weekend driver. This is the hands-off option. Keep the linked card or account current. If the card expires or you change banks, refills stop and the balance can run down without you noticing.
Pay Per Trip
The Port Authority explains: "The Pay Per Trip plan enables you to pay as you go. No money is held as a 'prepaid balance' like with the other E-ZPass plans. Instead, Pay Per Trip enables you to pay for your E-ZPass tolls the same day you use them." It is "only offered to E-ZPass New York account holders" (Port Authority). MTA says it is open to new and existing customers. For a driver with tight cash flow, this keeps your money in your bank until the toll happens.
Cash at VanillaDirect
MTA says E-ZPass uses the VanillaDirect retailer network for cash payments: you "provide the cashier with the VanillaDirect barcode found on your E-ZPass statement," and you should keep the receipt. Here are the steps.
Cash is the option that needs the most attention. Nothing refills automatically, so you must watch the balance.
Why the $0 line matters
MTA says that if your balance goes below $0, "your account will not be in compliance with the E-ZPass agreement. As a result, you may receive a Toll Bill." (MTA). A Toll Bill is charged at the Tolls by Mail rate. With MTA rates effective January 4, 2026, that is $12.03 instead of $7.46 for a car at the major MTA crossings. Unpaid, it gets a $5 late charge after 30 days and a $50 fee for each unpaid toll after 60 days.
MTA's advice is short: keep your E-ZPass account funded and enroll in Mobile Alerts. If you do get a Toll Bill while your account has money, MTA says you can pay it from the account with "Resolve Toll Bill (E-ZPass Customers)" on the Tolls by Mail website.
What a missed top-up costs: a one-week example
Say you cross the Queens-Midtown Tunnel 10 times in a week. With a funded E-ZPass NY account and a read tag, that's 10 × $7.46 = $74.60 (MTA rates effective January 4, 2026). If your cash balance hit $0 early in the week and the crossings turned into a Toll Bill, the same 10 crossings at the mail rate cost 10 × $12.03 = $120.30. That's $45.70 more, before any late fee. If the bill is then ignored past 60 days, MTA adds a $50 fee for each unpaid toll, so the fees alone can reach $500 on that one week of driving.
Whatever option you choose, the goal is the same: never let the account go below $0.
Keep the paper trail
Every option leaves records. Save them:
- Statements from e-zpassny.com or the Tolls NY app show each crossing, date, time and amount.
- VanillaDirect receipts prove a cash payment if it doesn't post.
- Bank statements show Pay Per Trip and auto-replenishment charges.
These records help in three places. They help with E-ZPass itself, if you need to dispute a charge within 180 days. They help with TLC, for example in a toll-related complaint or hearing. And they help at tax time. IRS Topic 510 says parking fees and tolls for business use are deductible separately, whether you use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses (IRS). This is general information, not tax advice.
Which option suits which driver
- You get paid weekly by an app and have a bank account: Pay Per Trip, so you don't have money sitting in a prepaid balance.
- You cross every shift and don't want to think about it: automatic replenishment from a bank account or debit card.
- You work for cash and have no bank account: cash at VanillaDirect. Set a weekly reminder to top up and check the balance.
- You lease a car with the owner's tag: the owner funds that account. Your money question is the replenishment account the owner may hold.
This is general information, not financial advice. Pick what fits how and when you get paid.
Paying a Tolls by Mail bill without a card
If you already have a bill, you don't need a card for that either. MTA says you can pay a toll bill "through the mail, on the phone, or in person" using "a check, credit or debit card, bank account, or cash." Call 800-333-8655 for details (MTA). Use only official channels. The Port Authority warns about texts from "NY Toll Services" and says to use EZPassNY.com, TollsByMailNY.com or the Tolls NY app.
Getting started
To open an account, you need your plate number and a funding method. You can start with as little as $25 (NY.gov). The step-by-step is in how to open an E-ZPass NY account. For a car you only borrow or rent briefly, MTA offers a temporary travel account using a plate and a card.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay E-ZPass with cash?
Yes. MTA says you can pay at a VanillaDirect retailer using the barcode on your E-ZPass statement, and to keep the receipt.
Is there still a $10 deposit if I don't use a credit card?
No. MTA says the $10 deposit is no longer required for accounts without a linked credit card.
What is Pay Per Trip?
An E-ZPass New York plan linked to a bank account where you pay for tolls the same day you use them, with no prepaid balance. The Port Authority says it is only offered to E-ZPass New York account holders.
What happens if my cash-funded balance runs out?
MTA says a balance below $0 puts the account out of compliance and can trigger a Toll Bill at the higher Tolls by Mail rate.
Can I pay a Tolls by Mail bill in cash?
Yes. MTA says Tolls by Mail bills can be paid by mail, phone or in person with a check, card, bank account or cash.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- MTA: How to pay tolls (updated Apr 23, 2025) mta.info
- Port Authority: E-ZPass plans and discounts (Pay Per Trip) panynj.gov
- MTA: How to avoid toll violation fees mta.info
- NY.gov: Get E-ZPass ny.gov
- IRS Topic 510: Business use of car irs.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.