How to Pay a Missed Toll in Texas (2026 Guide): TXTag, NTTA, HCTRA & TxDOT Payment Options

Missed a toll in Texas? You are not alone, and the fix is simpler than you think. Pay your missed toll quickly through the correct agency and you will avoid a pile of extra fees. This guide walks you through every agency, every payment option, and every deadline you need to know.

Quick Answer: Who Do You Call?

The agency you contact depends on which road you drove. Here is a fast reference to get you started.

Now, let us get into the details for each one.

Understanding the Texas Toll System

Texas has one of the largest toll road networks in the country. Understanding how the system is organized will save you time and money when resolving a missed toll.

Texas tolling is split across three levels of government:

• State-managed facilities run by TxDOT
• Regional Mobility Authorities (RMAs) authorized under Chapter 370 of the Texas Transportation Code
• County Toll Road Authorities like HCTRA and FBCTRA

Each level operates independently. A driver traveling from Dallas to Brownsville may pass through three or more separate billing systems on a single trip.

The Big 2024 Change You Need to Know

On November 9, 2024, HCTRA took over the processing of toll transactions on TxDOT-managed roads in the Austin and Houston regions. This means TxTag roads in those areas are now billed through HCTRA’s EZ TAG system. If you drove on a state road in Austin or Houston recently, HCTRA is your contact.

How a Missed Toll Gets Billed to You

When you pass through a toll gantry without a transponder, the cameras capture your license plate. The system then cross-references your plate with the Texas DMV to find your registered address. Here is exactly how the process unfolds.

The Notification Timeline

1. Image capture: The gantry records your plate and checks for a linked account. The system waits 7 to 10 days to see if your plate is tied to an existing account.
2. Invoice by mail. If no account is found, an invoice goes out via US mail. The toll rate at this stage is typically 50 to 100 percent higher than the transponder rate, plus an admin fee of around $1.00 to $1.15.
3. Your payment window. Most agencies give you 25 to 30 days from the invoice date to pay before late fees are added.

Important: The registered vehicle owner is legally responsible for the toll, regardless of who was actually driving.

How to Pay a Missed Toll: Agency by Agency

Each agency has its own process. This section covers every major authority in Texas, so you can find the exact steps for your situation.

NTTA: Dallas and Fort Worth Toll Roads

The North Texas Tollway Authority manages the largest toll network in the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Their billing system for drivers without a TollTag is called ZipCash. ZipCash rates are double the TollTag rate to cover mailing and processing costs.

How to pay your NTTA ZipCash bill:

Bonus tip: TollTag rates are exactly half the ZipCash rate. If you drive NTTA roads regularly, opening a TollTag account means you pay 50% less on every future trip compared to ZipCash billing.

NTTA Late Fee Schedule

Do not wait too long. Here is what happens if you ignore a ZipCash notice.

HCTRA: Houston Area Roads and Statewide TxTag Roads

HCTRA manages Houston toll roads and now processes all TxTag transactions statewide. Their missed toll system is called EZ Invoice. One of the best features of HCTRA is their pre-invoice search tool.

You can pay before you even receive a paper invoice. Just go to hctra.org, enter your license plate number and state, and pay anything outstanding. This is the fastest way to avoid extra fees entirely.

Fee note: HCTRA applies a $10 administrative fee to EZ Invoices sent to non-tag customers, on top of the toll amount. Paying proactively through the pre-invoice search tool before an invoice is generated can help you avoid this charge.

Ways to pay through HCTRA:

• Pay online at hctra.org
• Use the HCTRA mobile app
• Call 281.875.3279
• Visit the dedicated Austin service center at 12719 Burnet Road for Central Texas drivers on state-managed roads

CTRMA: Austin Area Toll Roads

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority covers key roads in the Austin region, including 183A, MoPac Express, and 290 Toll. Their pay-by-mail system is separate from HCTRA, so Austin drivers may receive two different invoices for the same trip.

Pay CTRMA bills at paymobilitybill.com or call 833.762.8655 for toll billing support. Note that 512.996.9778 is CTRMA’s general administrative office and does not handle toll payments.

CTRMA fee escalation timeline:

No bank account? No problem. CTRMA allows cash payments in person at any ACE Cash Express location nationwide.

FBCTRA: Fort Bend County Roads

Fort Bend County operates differently from every other Texas authority. Their roads, including the Fort Bend Parkway and Westpark Tollway Fort Bend segment, do not offer a standard pay-by-mail option for drivers without a tag. Driving these roads without a valid transponder is treated as an immediate violation.

What to do if you accidentally drive on an FBCTRA road:

1. Call the Violation Payment Center at 855.999.2024 immediately
2. Explain your situation before a formal violation notice is issued
3. Penalties on a Toll Violation Notice are much higher than a standard invoice

Visitors can use the EZ TAG Express mobile app as a digital transponder. It registers your plate and handles billing at non-tag rates without needing a physical sticker.

BCTRA: Brazoria County Expressway (SH 288)

BCTRA manages the Brazoria County Expressway managed lanes. Most customer service inquiries run through HCTRA since the two systems are closely integrated. Call 979.864.1265 or visit bctra-tx.com for help.

A note of caution: BCTRA uses the law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott for seriously overdue accounts. If you receive a letter from that firm, your account has moved into legal collections. Act immediately.

NETRMA: Tyler Area Loop 49

The North East Texas RMA manages Loop 49 in Tyler. They have outsourced all billing and transaction processing to NTTA. This means a missed toll in Tyler will arrive as a ZipCash invoice from NTTA, not from a local NETRMA bill. You pay it exactly the same way as any other NTTA invoice.

Out of State Drivers: What You Need to Know

Texas processes missed tolls for out-of-state drivers through the same pay-by-mail system. The invoice goes to the address on file with your home state’s DMV.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Invoices typically arrive 3 to 6 weeks after the trip
• If your home state DMV has an outdated address, the invoice may not reach you
• You can proactively search your plate on each agency’s website after your visit

Out-of-state transponders that work on Texas toll roads include:

These work through the Central US Interoperability (CUSIOP) Hub, which connects Texas agencies with partners in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Florida.

One critical warning: Your out-of-state transponder must be in good standing. If your account balance is negative, your tag ID gets added to a block list. Even if the tag is physically present, the gantry will record the transaction as a missed toll and bill you at the higher pay-by-mail rate.

Rental Car Tolls: Avoid the Hidden Charges

Renting a car in Texas and missing a toll can cost you far more than you expect. Most rental companies use third-party firms like PlatePass or Highway Toll Administration (HTA) to handle toll billing.

How the Rental Company Billing Works

• The rental car is registered for plate-based billing
• PlatePass or HTA pays the toll at the highest undiscounted rate
• They then charge your credit card, sometimes with a daily fee of $4.95 to $15.99 for every day of the rental, even if you only used one toll road

Three Ways to Avoid Rental Toll Surcharges

1. Use your own transponder. Add the rental vehicle’s license plate to your existing TxTag or TollTag account. Mount your personal transponder correctly and it will register just like in your own car.
2. Pay directly through the agency. HCTRA lets you search for your rental car’s plate 7 to 10 days after your trip and pay the toll directly before the agency sends it to the rental company.
3. Use the Uproad app. Register the rental plate in the Uproad app and tolls are billed through your phone account, bypassing the rental company entirely.

Toll Scams: How to Spot Them

Texas toll agencies have seen a surge in fake text message scams. Here is what you need to know.

Fraudulent actors send SMS messages claiming you have an outstanding TxTag balance. They include a link to a fake website designed to steal your payment information.

The official rule from TxTag, HCTRA, and NTTA:

These agencies do not send text messages or emails for past due balances. All official notices arrive by US mail.

If you receive a toll-related text message:

• Do not click any links
• Do not enter any payment details
• Call the agency directly using the numbers listed in this guide
• Report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov

How to Dispute a Toll Charge

Mistakes happen. A camera may misread a plate, or you may have already paid and have proof. Each agency has a dispute process and most resolve within 7 to 14 business days.

Valid Grounds for a Dispute

• Vehicle sold before the toll date. You need a dated Bill of Sale or a TxDMV Transfer Notification
• Stolen vehicle or plates: A police report filed before the toll event is required
• License plate misread OCR software occasionally confuses similar-looking characters. If the plate in the invoice photo does not match your vehicle, the dispute is usually resolved quickly
• Transponder malfunction. If your account was active and funded, but the tag failed to read, the agency will often waive admin fees and adjust to the lower tag rate

How to File a Dispute

The Habitual Violator Designation: When Things Get Serious

Most missed toll situations are resolved with a quick payment. But if unpaid tolls pile up, Texas law has a serious escalation path.

Under Chapter 372 of the Texas Transportation Code, you become a Habitual Violator if you accumulate 100 or more unpaid toll charges within 12 months.

What Happens After the Designation

1. A formal Habitual Violator Notice is mailed to you
2. You have 30 days to pay, set up a payment plan, or request a hearing with a Justice of the Peace
3. If you take no action, the designation becomes final and enforcement begins

The Three Enforcement Tools

To lift a registration block, you must pay in full or set up a payment plan. Rules vary by agency. At CTRMA, the vehicle ban stays in place until 25% of the balance is paid to start a plan, and lifts fully once 75% of the total balance is cleared.

At NTTA, the registration block remains until all tolls and fees are paid in full or a payment plan is formally arranged with NTTA directly.

Digital Tools and Apps for Managing Texas Tolls

Beyond the official agency websites, a few apps make toll management much easier. These are especially useful for occasional drivers and visitors.

Uproad

Uproad is a GPS based app that acts as a digital transponder without any physical sticker.

• Detects when you pass through a toll gantry and charges your linked account
• Works across multiple states, including Texas (check uproad.com for the current coverage map as the service area expands regularly)
• Supports up to 10 vehicles on one account
• Transaction fees apply per toll, with a Pro subscription option to reduce costs

BancPass

BancPass (also marketed as PlusPass) is a physical cash reloadable toll sticker sold at H-E-B, Walgreens, and CVS stores. It is ideal for people without a bank account or a credit card. You reload it with cash at the register and it works across the CUSIOP Hub in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

NTTA TollMate App

The TollMate app from NTTA lets you manage your TollTag account, view recent trips, and pay ZipCash bills from your phone. It also unlocks the TollPerks rewards program, which gives you points for every toll you pay.

The Smartest Long-Term Fix: Get a Transponder

If you drive Texas toll roads more than a couple of times a year, getting a transponder is the single best thing you can do. Here is a quick comparison of your options.

All three major Texas transponders work across the full CUSIOP Hub network. You only need one.

Regional Mobility Authorities: The Full Picture

Beyond the big three agencies, Texas has several active and developing Regional Mobility Authorities. Here is the full map for reference.

For the full list of TxDOT-managed toll roads, visit the TxDOT toll roads directory.

Full Agency Contact Directory

Here is every contact you might need, all in one place.

Stop That $2 Toll From Becoming a $200 Problem

Paying a missed toll in Texas is straightforward once you know which agency to contact. Find the road, find the agency, pay the bill. That is the whole process.

The most important thing to remember is timing. Pay within 25 to 30 days of receiving your invoice and you avoid every additional fee. Wait past that window and the costs stack up fast.

And if you are driving Texas toll roads regularly, do yourself a favor and get a transponder. One account, one tag, and you will never have to search this topic again.

Pavithra Vinoth

Pavithra Vinoth is the founder of nytollsinfo.com, where she simplifies U.S. toll systems through expert insights and custom-built calculators. Her research-driven tools help drivers avoid costly mistakes and make smarter car decisions.