Buzz
Find out how to pay Illinois tolls, whether you have an IPass, EZ-Pass, or not.
Nothing beats the feeling of realizing you’ve driven through a toll, but you're not sure how to pay. Should you use cash? Will your credit card work? You frantically search for loose change while the radio blares, and it feels like a chaotic moment. In Illinois, it’s even more stressful when you find that no one is at the toll booth and no one seems to be paying anything! Don’t worry. You haven’t done anything wrong by driving through. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to pay and demystify the details of the Illinois Tollway and Chicago Skyway.
Important Things to Know
- All Illinois tollways are automated, so there’s no need to stop at toll booths.
- If you don’t have an IPass or E-ZPass, simply drive through the tollway, then visit the Illinois tollway website to pay based on your license plate.
- If you don't pay an unpaid toll online within 14 days, Illinois will send you an invoice in the mail.
- Except for the Chicago Skyway, no Illinois toll road accepts cash or credit cards.
Steps
Pay-By-Plate
Drive through the toll without stopping and don't worry. No need to stress over not having the right change or being unsure about what to do! Illinois tollways are fully automated, so just drive through at or slightly under the speed limit.
- Illinois features two types of toll systems: the traditional unmanned booths and the large, open-road archway tolls. You can drive through both without stopping.
- At this point, you aren’t paying anything—Illinois is simply capturing a photo of your license plate to bill you later.
- There used to be specific lanes for drivers without an IPass, but that’s no longer the case (except for the Chicago Skyway), so you can use any lane available.
- Look out for signs as you approach each toll.
Sign up for a pay-by-plate account and pay online within 14 days. Create a pay-by-plate account on the IPass website. After signing up, log in to your account and input your license plate number. Your unpaid tolls should appear, and you can pay them using a credit card, debit card, or bank account.
- It may take a few days for the tolls to show up online. It’s a bit frustrating, but just check back every couple of days.
Alternatively, pay the invoice when it arrives in the mail. If you don’t look up your plate online via the pay-by-plate website within 14 days, Illinois will send you an invoice for the toll charges, along with an additional fee. The invoice will contain a link for you to pay online.
- The invoice fee is $3 per toll. For example, if you pass through 15 tolls and forget to pay within 14 days, you'll owe an extra $45, so don’t delay!
Can I use my E-ZPass?
Yes, the E-ZPass and IPass are essentially the same. In Illinois, the transponders issued to residents are called IPasses, while other states typically refer to theirs as E-ZPass. Fortunately, Illinois has an agreement with E-ZPass states, so Illinois will charge your E-ZPass account in the same way other states do.
- E-ZPass and IPass work in the following states: Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- If you have a Florida E-PASS or a Kentucky/Indiana RiverLink transponder, they will work in Illinois as well.
- Your transponder will also be valid on the Chicago Skyway, even though it’s privately operated.
Can I pay with cash?
No, Illinois no longer accepts cash at tolls. In response to COVID-19, Illinois eliminated tollbooths where drivers would stop, interact with an attendant, and exchange money to limit the virus's spread. In the end, the state decided to remove tollbooths entirely. You can no longer pay tolls with cash, credit, or debit cards.
- No payments can be made on-site anymore. You must use an IPass, EZ-Pass, or pay through the online pay-by-plate system.
The Chicago Skyway still accepts cash and credit cards. The Chicago Skyway, a major route connecting Indiana to Chicago, is privately owned since its sale in 2016. Because of this, it has different rules. You can still use an IPass or E-ZPass, but cash and credit/debit cards are also accepted.
- The toll from Indiana to Chicago varies based on vehicle size and time of day (with higher rates during peak hours). For standard passenger vehicles, pickups, and SUVs, it’s consistently priced at $5.90.
Late Payments
If you neglect to pay, Illinois will impose fines and send your case to collections. Illinois is known for being very aggressive when it comes to collecting unpaid tolls and fines. They won't hesitate to add late fees, fines, and send your account to collections. This could end up impacting your credit score, so make sure you stay on top of your toll payments.
- The Illinois tollway is well-known for its persistence in collecting tolls, but if you pay your tolls, you'll be left alone.
- If you're an Illinois resident, you might be concerned about your license being suspended. Don't worry! Illinois changed the law in 2020, so they no longer suspend licenses for unpaid tolls.
IPass Signup
Sign up for an IPass if you plan to travel frequently in and out of Illinois. You don't need to be a resident of Illinois to sign up for an IPass. Having one can save you 50% on tolls, so it’s a good idea to sign up if you're going to visit Illinois often.
- If you live in a state with E-ZPass, it's better to go with that option. Illinois accepts both E-ZPass and IPass, and using E-ZPass may be easier to manage through your home state.
Set up your IPass account online and load it with $40. To start, create an account using your name, address, and license plate number. Then, pay $40 to activate your account, and wait for your transponder to be mailed to you. The $40 will serve as your balance, and tolls will be deducted from it automatically. You can reload your balance as needed.
- You can manually reload your account, or link it to a bank account or credit card for automatic payments.
- This process can also be completed at any Illinois Oasis (rest areas along toll roads).
Place the transponder on your vehicle near the rearview mirror. Once your transponder arrives, clean the area around your rearview mirror with glass cleaner and a soft cloth. Remove the plastic backing from the adhesive strips, and attach the transponder with the arrows pointing upward. It should be positioned at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the windshield’s metal roofline and 1 inch (2.5 cm) to the right or left of the mirror.
- The sensors on the Illinois toll roads will detect your transponder as you pass through each toll, so you won't need to worry about making payments manually!
