Toll roads will quietly drain your wallet every single week if you let them. The good news? Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps all let you skip tolls entirely with just a tap or two inside the app.
You do not need a special subscription or a fancy device. Just your phone, your preferred navigation app, and about 30 seconds of your time.
Why Avoiding Tolls Actually Matters
Most drivers have no idea how much tolls cost them per year. A daily commuter paying just $3 in tolls each way spends over $1,500 annually on top of gas, insurance, and parking. That adds up fast.
Fortunately, every major navigation app now includes a built-in toll avoidance feature. The tricky part is knowing exactly where to find it, since each app hides it in a slightly different spot. That is exactly what this guide covers.
How to Avoid Tolls on Google Maps
Google Maps remains the most widely used navigation app in the world, and its toll avoidance feature works really well once you know where to look. There are two ways to set it up: before a trip or during route planning.
Setting It Up Before You Start Driving
This method sets toll avoidance as a default, so it applies to every future route automatically.
- Open Google Maps on your phone
- Tap your profile photo in the top right corner
- Select Settings
- Tap Navigation settings
- Scroll down to Route options
- Toggle on Avoid tolls
That is it. From this point forward, Google Maps will default to toll-free routes every time you search for directions. You can always override it for a specific trip if needed.
Avoiding Tolls for a Single Trip
Maybe you only want to skip tolls for one specific journey. Here is how to do that without changing your default settings.
- Enter your destination in Google Maps as normal
- Before you tap Start, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner
- Select Route options
- Toggle on Avoid tolls
- Tap the back arrow and choose your preferred route
Google Maps will then display toll-free alternatives alongside estimated travel time differences. Sometimes the toll-free route adds only a few minutes, which honestly makes the toll road feel even more pointless.
Does Google Maps Show Toll Costs?
Yes, and this feature has become genuinely useful. Google Maps now displays estimated toll prices directly on the route card before you start navigating. The pricing pulls from real toll data, so you can actually compare the cost of taking the toll road versus the extra time on the free route.
You can learn more about Google Maps route features on the official Google Maps Help Center.
How to Avoid Tolls on Waze
Waze takes a slightly different approach to navigation, and its community-based model makes it especially strong for real-time traffic conditions. Setting up toll avoidance on Waze is straightforward, though the menu layout is a little different from Google Maps.
Turning Off Tolls in Waze Settings
- Open Waze and tap the search bar at the bottom
- Tap the Settings icon (the gear icon in the top left)
- Select Navigation
- Scroll down to find Toll roads
- Tap it and select Avoid
Waze will now route you around toll roads by default. One thing worth noting: Waze sometimes suggests a toll road anyway if the traffic situation makes it significantly faster. It will flag this clearly before you commit to the route.
Avoiding Tolls on a Per-Trip Basis in Waze
Want to skip tolls on just one trip without touching your settings? Here is the quick method.
- Search for your destination
- Before starting, tap Settings on the route preview screen
- Toggle Avoid toll roads to on
- Select your preferred route and tap Go
Waze handles this cleanly and shows you the alternative routes right away. The community traffic data Waze uses often finds toll-free routes that other apps miss, especially in busy metro areas.
Waze vs Google Maps for Toll Avoidance
| Feature | Google Maps | Waze |
|---|---|---|
| Default toll avoidance setting | Yes | Yes |
| Per-trip toll avoidance | Yes | Yes |
| Estimated toll cost display | Yes | No |
| Real-time community traffic | Partial | Yes |
| Toll-free route accuracy | Good | Very Good |
Waze wins on real-time routing accuracy. Google Maps wins on showing you upfront toll costs. Both are genuinely solid for avoiding tolls, so your choice really comes down to which app you prefer overall.
Check out the Waze Support page for more detailed feature documentation.
How to Avoid Tolls on Apple Maps
Apple Maps often gets overlooked in conversations like this, which is a shame because it has improved dramatically over the past few years. The toll avoidance feature works well and integrates cleanly with Siri, which is a nice bonus for hands-free driving.
Setting Up Toll Avoidance in Apple Maps
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone (not Apple Maps itself)
- Scroll down and tap Maps
- Tap Driving & Navigation
- Under Avoid, toggle on Tolls
That is the only place to set this in Apple Maps. Unlike Google Maps and Waze, Apple Maps does not currently offer a per-trip toggle inside the app itself. Your settings here apply globally across all Apple Maps routes.
Using Siri to Get Toll-Free Directions
Here is a genuinely useful trick that most people do not know about. You can ask Siri directly for a toll-free route without opening any settings at all.
Just say: “Hey Siri, give me directions to [destination] avoiding tolls.”
Siri will immediately launch Apple Maps with a toll-free route preselected. This works great for one-off trips where you do not want to change your default preferences.
Apple Maps Toll Avoidance: What to Expect
Apple Maps handles toll avoidance reliably in most regions, particularly across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and major European cities. If you live outside these areas, your mileage may vary (pun absolutely intended).
Apple provides navigation-related documentation through the Apple Maps support page.
Which App Is Best for Avoiding Tolls?
Honestly, all three apps do a competent job. But depending on your situation, one might work better for you than the others.
Choose Google Maps if:
- You want to see the estimated toll prices before choosing a route
- You use Google services across your devices
- You want a reliable default setting that just works
Choose Waze if:
- You drive in heavy traffic areas frequently
- You want community-sourced routing that adapts in real time
- You appreciate an app that actually feels like it is on your side
Choose Apple Maps if:
- You are deeply in the Apple ecosystem
- You rely on Siri for hands-free navigation
- You prefer a clean, minimal interface
The bottom line here is simple: use whichever app you already trust, just make sure you have toll avoidance actually turned on. A surprising number of people assume it is on by default when it is not.
Extra Tips to Save Even More on Tolls
Turning on toll avoidance in your navigation app is a great start. But here are a few additional ways to keep more money in your pocket.
Use an E-ZPass or equivalent transponder. Even when you do pay tolls, electronic transponders almost always cost less than cash rates. Programs like E-ZPass in the United States offer discounted rates on most participating highways.
Check your route timing. Some toll roads charge variable rates based on traffic levels. Traveling 20 minutes earlier or later can sometimes cut the toll cost in half, even if you decide the toll road is worth it.
Combine apps strategically. Some drivers use Waze for real-time traffic but cross-check Google Maps for toll cost estimates before committing to a route. A little extra planning takes seconds and can save real money.
Know your local toll-free alternatives. Most cities have parallel routes that avoid major toll roads entirely. Spending five minutes with Google Maps once to identify your regular toll-free commute route will pay off every single day.
Stop Paying Tolls You Do Not Have to Pay
Every major navigation app gives you a free, built-in tool to avoid toll roads. Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps all handle it well, and setup takes less than a minute in each case.
So go check your settings right now. Seriously. 🙌 If toll avoidance is not toggled on, you have probably been paying for roads you did not have to take. The apps are all ready to help, they just needed you to flip the switch.
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.