Business travelers and foreign tourists often find themselves confused on American roads. They aren’t sure how to pay for toll roads efficiently and how that system even works. In this article, we will cover the subject. We will explain the system and clear all the question marks for you. Time to buckle up, and hit the road!
Are the American toll roads necessary for traveling?
No. These are optional roads. Drivers always have some alternatives to choose from. These routes, however, won’t guarantee the comfort toll roads provide. You see, they are well-maintained and usually less crowded. They are also quite straightforward, which means you can travel faster without the risk that you will lose yourself in the middle of nowhere. Therefore, a small toll road payment is a way to secure a journey for people who are not familiar with local road nets.
How to pay tolls in the US?
The usual way is to use mainline toll booths or transponders. It is a system based on barriers, where you pay fixed time-based toll rates whenever you pass a certain checkpoint. In order to pay toll this way, you can use a credit card or cash. Be advised, though: some booths don’t accept cash.
Normally, tourists taking a toll road pay with tickets or a prepaid card. It is a comfortable way for people who seek a temporary solution during their stay on the US mainland. E-ZPass is a widely recognized system that allows drivers to use such cards. A device at the top of a toll plaza reads the data and processes it in order to verify options available for particular vehicles. Naturally, there are other means of using express lanes in this fashion. A toll tag is a battery-charged device you can put on your windshield. It emits a radio signal that corresponds with a toll booth automatically. It’s very comfortable for drivers who consider taking the toll roads more than just during a weekend.
There is also a “pay as you go” option. It doesn’t require a card or any contraption at all. People using toll roads pay their fees according to their vehicle plates. The toll plaza takes a picture of your license plates. An invoice is sent to the car owner afterwards. This method seems to be very convenient, but for occasional travels – rental cars are a very popular way of transportation for tourists – the Pay By Plate system might not be an option to go for.
How to pay for toll roads with a phone?
If you are asking yourself “how do I pay for a toll with a smartphone?”, here’s the answer: get a toll road app. Today, at least a few options give you access to online payments and mobile control of a toll account. This is useful on the road, don’t you agree? With a comprehensive app, the whole system becomes easier to handle throughout the whole country. Apps are available on both iOS and Android devices, so be sure to take a look at this solution before you begin your American journey.
In which states drivers must pay tolls?
The above is a simplified guide on how to pay for toll roads in the United States. Unfortunately, only 38 of these states have toll roads and not all of them cover every method mentioned earlier. The number of toll routes is inconsistent as well. New York has 30 of them. Indiana has only 1, the Indiana Toll Road. But no matter the number and the state the roads lead through, all motorists are obligated to pay tolls in America. If you are interested in learning more about it and investigating some more details, please feel free to visit https://www.uproad.com/blog/how-to-pay-for-toll-roads.
