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In short: The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (the old Tappan Zee) carries the New York State Thruway across the Hudson between Westchester and Rockland. In 2026 a car-type vehicle (Thruway Class 2L) pays $7.25 with a New York E-ZPass and $12.69 with any other state's E-ZPass or by mail. TLC drivers meet it on long trips to Rockland and upstate. In a taxi, those are negotiated flat-fare trips, and the passenger pays all tolls to and from the destination.
Cuomo Bridge rates, Class 2L
The Thruway's Class 2L is "two-axle vehicles including: pick-up trucks, sedans, suv, mini vans and motorcycles" under 7 feet 6 inches (Thruway vehicle classes). That covers almost every TLC car.
Two things to notice:
- Out-of-state tags pay the mail price. The Thruway's chart puts "Non-NY E-ZPass/Tolls by Mail" in one column. A New Jersey tag pays $12.69, not $7.25. The same is true at MTA crossings in the city, where non-New York tags pay the Tolls by Mail rate.
- It goes up each January. $6.75 in 2025, $7.25 in 2026, and $7.75 scheduled for 2027.
The rate chart does not say which direction is charged, and we could not confirm it on an official page. Use the Thruway's toll calculator for your exact trip before you quote the tolls.
What the wrong tag costs. Each Cuomo Bridge toll with an out-of-state tag costs $5.44 more than with a New York tag in 2026 ($12.69 against $7.25). The passenger owes the actual amount charged, so a cheaper tag keeps your fare lower and easier to explain. A New York tag also gets the E-ZPass price at MTA crossings in the city.
Commuter and resident plans
From the Thruway discount plans page:
- Commuter plan (MCC): $4.35 per trip. Minimum 20 trips a month: "If fewer than 20 trips are taken per month, you will be charged $4.35 for each trip not taken."
- Resident plan (MCR): $5.80 per trip, for passenger vehicles with an eligible plate registered in Rockland or Westchester County.
- For both: the account must be in good standing, the tag properly mounted, and commercial vehicles are not eligible.
The Thruway does not say how it treats TLC vehicles. A car used for paid passenger trips may count as commercial, so ask E-ZPass New York before you enroll a TLC car. These plans are mostly useful for a driver who lives in Rockland or Westchester and crosses in a personal car.
Who pays on a TLC trip
In a taxi, §80-17(f)(1) requires you to "negotiate a flat rate trip charge with the Passenger before beginning the trip," in dollars ("double the meter" is not a flat rate), and keep the meter recording; the fine is $100. Westchester is different: it uses the double-meter rule, not a flat rate. See tolls on trips outside NYC.
On a long trip the "to and from" tolls add up: the Cuomo Bridge, other Thruway tolls, and the MTA or Port Authority crossing you use to leave and re-enter the city. Charge the E-ZPass amounts your tag actually pays.
Thruway Tolls by Mail: fees and timeline
The Thruway is cashless. Without a tag that is read, the plate is photographed and a Toll Bill goes to the registered owner. If that bill is not paid (Thruway cashless tolling):
You can dispute a Toll Bill if you sold the vehicle, it was stolen, you surrendered the plate, or the plate or vehicle isn't yours and you didn't rent or lease it. Send the coupon from the bill with your documents. If the Thruway's customer service can't fix a problem, its Office of the Toll Payer Advocate helps customers "who were unable to resolve toll issues relating to their Thruway travel." Step by step: dispute a toll bill.
Related crossings
North of the city line, the Thruway also charges at Yonkers and New Rochelle. Leaving the city: Henry Hudson Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, George Washington Bridge. Other crossings: Verrazzano-Narrows, Goethals, Bayonne. Borough guide: Brooklyn. Tolls hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Mario Cuomo Bridge toll in 2026?
For a Class 2L vehicle such as a sedan, SUV or minivan: $7.25 with a New York E-ZPass and $12.69 with a non-New York E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail, from January 1, 2026. The Thruway's chart shows the same E-ZPass price at peak and off-peak for this class.
Will the Cuomo Bridge toll go up in 2027?
The Thruway's chart lists $7.75 (New York E-ZPass) and $13.56 (non-New York E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail) for Class 2L from January 1, 2027.
Does a New Jersey E-ZPass get the lower Cuomo Bridge price?
No. The Thruway's chart puts non-New York E-ZPass in the same column as Tolls by Mail: $12.69 in 2026.
Who pays the Cuomo Bridge toll on a taxi trip to Rockland County?
The passenger. A taxi trip to Rockland is a negotiated flat fare plus the 50-cent MTA tax, and on trips beyond the city the passenger pays all necessary tolls to and from the destination.
What happens if I don't pay a Thruway toll bill?
The second bill adds a $5 late fee. If that is unpaid it becomes a violation with a $50 fee per violation notice, and an unpaid violation may go to a collection agency after 30 days. Failing to respond to three or more violation notices in five years may lead to registration suspension.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- NYS Thruway: Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge current and future toll rates (2025–2027, PDF) thruway.ny.gov
- NYS Thruway: E-ZPass discount plans thruway.ny.gov
- NYS Thruway: About cashless tolling thruway.ny.gov
- NYS Thruway: Vehicle classification thruway.ny.gov
- NYC TLC: Taxi Fare nyc.gov
- TLC Rules, Chapter 58 (§58-26(c), (f)) nyc.gov
- TLC Rules, Chapter 59 (§59A-23(b), §59D-17(c)) nyc.gov
- TLC Rules, Chapter 80 (§80-17(f)(1)) nyc.gov
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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.