Crossing the Holland Tunnel without knowing the toll first is like showing up to a restaurant without checking the menu. You might be fine, or you might be scrambling for exact change at the worst possible moment.
The good news: the 2026 Holland Tunnel toll for a standard passenger car using E-ZPass ranges from $14.79 (off-peak) to $16.79 (peak hours). Use the calculator below to get your exact cost based on your vehicle, payment method, and travel time.
Holland Tunnel
- What You Are Actually Paying For
- 2026 Holland Tunnel Toll Rates at a Glance
- E-ZPass Discounts You Might Not Know About
- The MTA Congestion Relief Zone: The Fee You Might Forget
- Vehicle Restrictions Worth Knowing Before You Drive
- Bus Toll Updates for July 2026
- Smart Tips to Keep Your Tunnel Costs Down
- Your Final Green Light
What You Are Actually Paying For
A lot of drivers treat the Holland Tunnel toll like a mystery fee that changes without warning. It does not. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) sets structured rates based on a few simple variables.
Those variables are:
- Direction of travel (eastbound into New York costs money; westbound to New Jersey does not)
- Time of travel (peak vs. off-peak hours)
- Vehicle class (passenger car, motorcycle, truck, bus, etc.)
- Payment method (E-ZPass, plate-read, or Tolls by Mail)
Once you understand those four factors, the toll stops feeling like a guessing game.
2026 Holland Tunnel Toll Rates at a Glance
Here is a clean breakdown of what you will pay depending on your setup. All rates apply to the eastbound direction only (NJ to NY). Westbound travel is free.
Passenger Cars and SUVs (Class 1)
| Payment Method | Peak Rate | Off-Peak Rate |
|---|---|---|
| E-ZPass (NY/NJ) | $16.79 | $14.79 |
| Plate-Read (Mid-Tier) | $19.55 | $19.55 |
| Tolls by Mail | $23.30 | $23.30 |
Peak hours on weekdays run from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. On weekends, peak hours shift to 11:00 AM through 9:00 PM.
Motorcycles (Class 11)
| Payment Method | Peak Rate | Off-Peak Rate |
|---|---|---|
| E-ZPass | $15.79 | $13.79 |
| Plate-Read | $19.05 | $19.05 |
| Tolls by Mail | $23.30 | $23.30 |
Commercial Vehicles
| Vehicle Type | E-ZPass (Off-Peak) | E-ZPass (Peak) | Tolls by Mail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2 (2-Axle Truck) | $43.34 | $45.34 | $51.34 |
| Class 3 (3-Axle Truck) | $65.01 | $68.01 | $77.01 |
| Car + Trailer | $28.59 | $30.59 | $44.60 |
| Bus / Coach | $16.00 | $21.00 | $30.00 |
Important: Tractor-trailers and vehicles with four or more axles are strictly prohibited from the Holland Tunnel. Those vehicles must use the George Washington Bridge instead.
E-ZPass Discounts You Might Not Know About
E-ZPass is already the cheapest payment option at the Holland Tunnel. But two additional discounts can push the cost even lower for eligible drivers.
The Senior Citizen Plan
If you are 65 or older and drive a passenger car, you can enroll in the PANYNJ Senior Citizen Discount Program. The off-peak toll drops to just $9.05 per crossing. That is a real saving, especially for regular commuters.
The Green Pass Discount
Drivers of qualifying electric or hybrid vehicles can apply for the PANYNJ Green Pass. The off-peak rate falls to $11.29 for passenger cars and $25.09 for car-plus-trailer combinations. You do have to apply in advance through your E-ZPass account, but it is 100% worth the few minutes it takes.
Here is a quick comparison so you can see why E-ZPass matters:
| Scenario | You Pay |
|---|---|
| E-ZPass, off-peak, standard car | $14.79 |
| E-ZPass, off-peak, Green Pass EV | $11.29 |
| E-ZPass, off-peak, Senior 65+ | $9.05 |
| Tolls by Mail, any time, same car | $23.30 |
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive option for the same crossing? Over $14 per trip. That adds up fast if you cross regularly.
The MTA Congestion Relief Zone: The Fee You Might Forget
Here is where a lot of drivers get caught off guard. Since mid-2024, New York City has operated the MTA Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ), which covers most of Manhattan south of 60th Street. If you enter that zone after crossing the Holland Tunnel, you owe a separate MTA charge on top of the PANYNJ tunnel toll.
CRZ Fees by Vehicle Type (2026)
| Vehicle Type | Standard Rate | Overnight Rate (Reduced) |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Car | $9.00 | $2.25 |
| Motorcycle | $4.50 | $1.15 |
| Small Commercial Vehicle | $14.40 | $3.60 |
| Large Commercial Vehicle | $21.60 | $5.40 |
Overnight hours for the CRZ discount run 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM on weekdays and 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM on weekends.
The PANYNJ Crossing Credit
Here is a piece of good news to balance out the extra fee: E-ZPass holders traveling during peak hours receive a PANYNJ crossing credit that offsets part of the CRZ charge. For passenger cars, that credit is $3.00, bringing the net MTA charge down to $6.00 during peak crossings.
So your real total cost for a weekday peak crossing into lower Manhattan as a standard E-ZPass car driver looks like this:
- Holland Tunnel toll: $16.79
- CRZ base fee: $9.00
- PANYNJ crossing credit: -$3.00
- Total estimated trip cost: $22.79
Not cheap, but at least now you know exactly what to expect.
Vehicle Restrictions Worth Knowing Before You Drive
The Holland Tunnel has physical and legal restrictions that affect certain vehicles. Ignoring these is not just expensive, it can get you turned away entirely.
Height limit: 13 feet 6 inches. Anything taller cannot enter.
Width limit: 8 feet 0 inches per lane.
Length limit: 35 feet for single-unit vehicles.
Weight limits:
- Single axle: 22,400 lbs maximum
- Tandem axle: 34,000 lbs maximum
HAZMAT: Compressed gases and propane are prohibited. If you are carrying hazardous materials, check the PANYNJ HAZMAT restrictions before you even think about approaching the tunnel.
3-axle dual-unit trucks are also banned. This is not a maybe; it is a hard no.
Bus Toll Updates for July 2026
Bus operators need to pay close attention to changes rolling out in July 2026. Starting July 5, 2026, a Midtown Terminal fee applies to buses that stop at or route through the Midtown bus terminal.
- Short-haul or local/commuter buses: $2.00 additional fee
- Long-haul or intercity/tour buses: $30.00 additional fee
Then, beginning July 11, 2026, updated transition rates take effect for E-ZPass bus operators. The off-peak E-ZPass rate shifts from $16.00 to $16.80, and Tolls by Mail rises to $30.45.
If you manage a fleet or run bus routes through the Holland Tunnel, mark both of those dates on your calendar now.
Smart Tips to Keep Your Tunnel Costs Down
Knowing the rates is half the battle. Actually saving money is the other half.
1. Always use E-ZPass. The savings versus Tolls by Mail are significant on every single crossing. If you drive in the NY/NJ metro area with any regularity, an E-ZPass account through EZPass NY or EZPass NJ pays for itself quickly.
2. Travel off-peak when you can. Shifting your crossing by even one hour outside of peak windows saves $2.00 per trip as a standard car driver. Over a year of commuting, that is real money.
3. Apply for the Green Pass or Senior Discount. If you qualify, do not leave those savings on the table. Both programs are easy to enroll in and the per-trip savings are worth it.
4. Remember the CRZ if you are heading into lower Manhattan. Factor that fee into your budget, especially if you are tracking business expenses or reimbursements.
5. Use the calculator above before you travel. Plug in your vehicle type, direction, time, and payment method for a precise cost estimate that accounts for all current 2026 rates.
Your Final Green Light
The Holland Tunnel is one of the busiest crossings in the country, moving tens of thousands of vehicles every single day. Knowing what you owe before you get there makes the whole experience a lot less stressful.
Use the calculator at the top of this page, check the rate tables above, and if you qualify for E-ZPass discounts, sign up. The tunnel is not going anywhere, and neither are the tolls. Might as well make every crossing as affordable as possible.
Sources and Further Reading:
- PANYNJ Toll Schedule 2026
- MTA Congestion Relief Zone Tolls
- E-ZPass NY Discount Programs
- PANYNJ Holland Tunnel Vehicle Restrictions
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.