Sometimes people find themselves in debt with overdue tolls, violation penalties and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) fees. If you have toll debt, the agencies operating the region’s toll bridges and express lanes offer two types of relief: a courtesy one-time waiver of violation penalties, as well as a payment plan to help eligible low-income drivers pay their toll debt over time.
Waivers
If you have penalties for open violations, you may request a waiver for some or all your accumulated penalties by calling the FasTrak® Customer Service Center at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655). Different toll agencies have different waiver policies, so please refer to the table below to determine which policy applies to you.
| Toll Facility | Waivers available for all drivers: | Waiver available for low-income drivers: |
|---|---|---|
| Bridges: Antioch, Benicia, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Golden Gate, Oakland-Bay, Richmond-San Rafael, San Mateo |
One-time waiver of penalties for ALL open violations Requires payment of all outstanding tolls and DMV fees |
Waiver of penalties for ALL open violations Requires payment of all outstanding tolls and DMV fees OR enrollment in the Bay Area Toll Payment Plan |
| Bay Area Express Lanes: I-580 I-680 Contra Costa I-680 Sunol I-880 SR-237 US-101 US-101/SR-85 |
One-time waiver of penalties for first violation Requires payment of all outstanding tolls and DMV fees prior to collections activity |
One-time waiver of penalties for ALL open violations Requires verification of income eligibility through the Bay Area Toll Payment Plan Website |
For waivers of bridge tolls, you must pay all outstanding balances after the waivers are applied to obtain the waiver (over the phone or by mail with a check or money order), or if you qualify for the low-income payment plan, enter into the payment plan and make the first payment.
Each vehicle is eligible for a one-time waiver for each tolling agency:
| Toll Agency | Toll locations |
|---|---|
| Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) | Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, San Francisco-Oakland, Richmond-San Rafael, and San Mateo Bridges |
| Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD) | Golden Gate Bridge |
| Alameda County Transportation Authority | I-580 and I-680 Sunol Express Lanes |
| Bay Area Infrascture Financing Authority | I-680 and Contra and I-880 Express Lanes |
| San Mateo County Joint Powers Authority | US 101 Express Lanes in San Mateo County |
| Valley Transportation Authority | US 101 Express Lanes in Santa Clara County, SR-85 and SR-237 Express Lanes |
Questions? Visit our Violation Penalty Waivers Frequently Asked Questions.
Bay Area Toll Payment Plan
You may be eligible to pay off your debt over time if your household income is 200% of the federal poverty level or less. See chart below for income limits.
| Household Size | Annual Household income up to |
|---|---|
| 1 | $30,120 |
| 2 | $40,880 |
| 3 | $51,640 |
| 4 | $62,400 |
| 5 | $73,160 |
| 6 | $83,920 |
| 7 | $94,680 |
| 8 | $105,440 |
Add $10,760 for each additional household member over eight.
Household includes yourself, your spouse (if applicable) and any dependents included on your tax return.
2024 guidelines. Subject to change annually.
The Bay Area Toll Payment Plan is open to all who have received toll violations on Bay Area bridges or express lanes and owe at least $100 in tolls, violation penalties and DMV fees after any waivers have been applied. Violations you incur after the payment plan is started cannot be added to the plan.
If you have multiple vehicles with outstanding violations, you can open a separate payment plan for each one. You can have only one active payment plan per vehicle at a time.
Your first payment amount must be $100 or 50% of tolls owed, whichever is lower. The maximum plan duration is 24 months.
You must apply here. Once you are approved, your plan must be activated within six months or you will need to reapply. You may choose to receive email or text reminders about when payments are due.
You can make payments in the following ways:
- Automatic payments: Place a valid credit or debit card on file to be automatically charged on each due date.
- In person: Cash, check, money order, credit card and debit cards payments can be made at the FasTrak Walk-In Customer Service Center located at 375 Beale St., San Francisco.
- Phone: Credit card payments can be made by calling 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655).
- By mail: Checks or money orders can be sent to Bay Area Toll Payment Plan, P.O. Box 26901, San Francisco, CA 94126. Payments should be made payable to Bay Area Toll Authority and refer to your Payment Plan Number. Do not send cash by mail.
Questions? Visit our Bay Area Toll Payment Plan Frequently Asked Questions.