On this page (12)
- In short
- MTA Mid-Tier: three triggers
- Port Authority Mid-Tier: a newer rule
- What Mid-Tier costs you per crossing
- Mid-Tier or Tolls by Mail: which one did you get?
- Resident plans need a mounted tag
- Leased vehicles: the glovebox problem
- Step by step: stop paying Mid-Tier
- When Mid-Tier is not your fault
- Related
- FAQ
- Sources
In short
You pay the Mid-Tier rate when you have an E-ZPass account but the gantry doesn't read a properly mounted tag. The toll is then matched to your account by your license plate. It costs more than E-ZPass and less than Tolls by Mail. At MTA crossings a car pays $9.79 instead of $7.46. At Port Authority crossings it pays $19.55 instead of $14.79 or $16.79. To stop it, mount the tag on the windshield where the instructions say and keep the plate linked to the account.
Two agencies use the word "Mid-Tier," and their rules are not quite the same. This page explains both, shows what each costs per crossing, and covers the problem that hits TLC drivers most: a tag that rides loose in a leased car.
MTA Mid-Tier: three triggers
MTA's rate table says Mid-Tier applies to E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center (NYCSC) customers in three cases (MTA, footnote 3):
- When they are "Not Using Their Properly Mounted NYCSC E-Z Pass Tag".
- When crossing charges are posted to an NYCSC account by license plate.
- For NYCSC third-party account providers.
So at MTA crossings, Mid-Tier is not only about mounting. Any toll matched by plate instead of tag can cost the Mid-Tier rate. That includes a tag left at home, a dead tag, or a tag in another car.
Port Authority Mid-Tier: a newer rule
The Port Authority Board approved Mid-Tier on December 12, 2024. It took effect July 6, 2025 for every vehicle class with a NY or NJ E-ZPass account. The Port Authority says the new tier is "affecting 9% of transactions." It says customers "whose E-ZPass Tags are not properly mounted and not positioned for accurate readings" pay Mid-Tier. The rate is higher to cover "the incremental cost to process the toll transaction (license plate picture and account verification)" (Port Authority).
It applies at the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln and Holland tunnels, and the Goethals, Bayonne and Outerbridge crossings. Port Authority tolls are charged only entering New York.
What Mid-Tier costs you per crossing
The extra adds up. A driver who crosses the RFK Bridge 40 times a month at Mid-Tier pays 40 × $2.33 = $93.20 more than with a read tag. At the Lincoln Tunnel off-peak, 20 crossings into New York cost 20 × $4.76 = $95.20 more.
Mid-Tier or Tolls by Mail: which one did you get?
The two look alike, because both start with a photo of your plate. The difference is what happens next.
- Mid-Tier is charged to your E-ZPass account. It shows up on your statement as a higher amount. MTA describes it as a crossing charge "posted to" your NYCSC account based on your license plate, not a bill sent to you.
- Tolls by Mail is a bill mailed to the registered owner. It happens when the plate is not on an active account in good standing, for example a new plate never linked, or a balance below $0. It costs the full mail rate, and late fees follow if you don't pay. See Tolls by Mail for TLC vehicles.
So a Mid-Tier row tells you the plate link is working but the tag read is not. A mailed bill tells you the plate link is broken. Fix the tag first for Mid-Tier, and the account and plates first for mailed bills.
Resident plans need a mounted tag
MTA's resident plans (Staten Island at the Verrazzano, Rockaway and Broad Channel at Cross Bay and Marine Parkway) say: "All resident plan participants must mount their Tag in order to receive the best toll rate." Without a mounted tag, Mid-Tier applies (MTA). The Port Authority's Staten Island Bridges Plan has its own Mid-Tier rate of $9.78 instead of $8.40 (Port Authority).
There is a catch for TLC vehicles. MTA also says "vehicles used for commercial purposes are not eligible for residency plans." Its page doesn't say whether a TLC-plated car counts as commercial. The Port Authority plan is for "non-commercial plates." Ask E-ZPass (800-333-8655) before you count on a resident rate in a TLC car.
Leased vehicles: the glovebox problem
TLC owner rules say the owner's MTA tag must be "attached as required by MTA B&T" (58-27(b)(1)(i); 59A-24(b)(1)(i)). In a shared or leased car, a tag can easily end up in a cup holder, a glovebox or a door pocket, for example when a driver switches to a personal tag. A tag that isn't in its mounting position may not be read. The crossing is then matched by plate, and MTA and the Port Authority both bill that at Mid-Tier.
This matters for the passenger's fare too. TLC rules say the passenger pays "the actual amount (often a discounted toll) charged to the EZ-Pass." They also say charging more than the actual E-ZPass toll is an overcharge under Rule 80-17 (58-26(e)(3), (f)(3); 59A-23(a)(3), (b)(3)). The rules don't mention Mid-Tier. Don't put yourself in the position of arguing about it. Mount the tag.
If you use two tags (yours and the owner's), keep only one in the read area. The other should be stored the way the tag instructions say, so it's clear which account pays.
Step by step: stop paying Mid-Tier
When Mid-Tier is not your fault
If your tag was mounted and working and you still see Mid-Tier rows, ask the E-ZPass service center (800-333-8655) to review them. If they can't fix it, the agency's Toll Payer Advocate can investigate. The Port Authority advocate lists "researching overcharged tolls" among the issues it handles. Keep a photo of the mounted tag with the date.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mid-Tier toll?
A rate between the E-ZPass rate and the Tolls by Mail rate. MTA and the Port Authority charge it when you have an E-ZPass account but the toll can't be read from a properly mounted tag and is charged by license plate instead.
How much more is Mid-Tier at MTA bridges?
For cars, with MTA rates effective January 4, 2026: $9.79 instead of $7.46 at the major crossings, $5.42 instead of $3.42 at the Henry Hudson, and $4.42 instead of $2.80 at Cross Bay and Marine Parkway.
How much is Mid-Tier at the GWB, Lincoln and Holland?
$19.55 for a car, compared with $14.79 off-peak or $16.79 peak with E-ZPass, and $23.30 by mail. The Port Authority started Mid-Tier on July 6, 2025 and says it affects 9% of transactions.
Do resident discounts need a mounted tag?
Yes. MTA says all resident plan participants must mount their tag to get the best toll rate. If it isn't properly mounted, the Mid-Tier rate applies.
Can I charge the passenger the Mid-Tier amount?
TLC rules say the passenger pays the actual amount charged to the E-ZPass and that charging more than the E-ZPass toll is an overcharge. The rules don't mention Mid-Tier. The safe way is to keep the tag mounted so the question doesn't come up.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- MTA: Tolls by vehicle type (rates effective Jan 4, 2026) mta.info
- Port Authority: Bridge and tunnel tolls (July 2026 table) panynj.gov
- Port Authority: E-ZPass plans and discounts panynj.gov
- MTA: Resident discount programs mta.info
- TLC Rule Book Chapter 58 (58-26(e)-(f), 58-27(b)) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book Chapter 59 (59A-23, 59A-24(b)) 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.