You just drove through a Maryland toll without an E-ZPass. Now what? You have more options than you think, and none of them require you to stop or turn around. Maryland’s toll system handles it automatically, and this guide shows you exactly how to pay quickly, cheaply, and without stress.
- How Maryland Tolling Works in 2026
- Option 1: Pay-By-Plate (The Smarter Choice)
- Option 2: Video Tolling (The Default If You Have No Account)
- How to Pay Your Maryland Toll Bill
- The DriveEzMD App: Your Fastest Payment Tool
- Toll Rates Compared: How Much More Does Video Tolling Cost?
- What Happens If You Do Not Pay
- Good News: Medical Exemptions Are Now Available
- Rental Cars: What You Need to Know
- All Payment Options at a Glance
- Should You Just Get an E-ZPass?
- Pay It Fast, Pay It Right
How Maryland Tolling Works in 2026
Maryland’s roads are 100% cashless. Every toll plaza now uses overhead cameras and license plate readers instead of toll booths. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) calls this All-Electronic Tolling (AET).
When you drive through without an E-ZPass, the camera reads your plate. The system then looks up your vehicle registration to find your address. You receive a bill in the mail, and you pay it.
There are two main systems for non-E-ZPass drivers:
- Pay-By-Plate (registered account, automatic billing)
- Video Tolling (no account needed, billed by mail)
Each one works differently and costs a different amount. Let us look at both.
Option 1: Pay-By-Plate (The Smarter Choice)
Pay-By-Plate is the best option if you drive in Maryland regularly but do not want a physical E-ZPass transponder. You register your license plate on the DriveEzMD platform, and tolls bill automatically to your card every time you drive through.
How to Sign Up
- Go to DriveEzMD.com
- Create an account
- Add your vehicle details (year, make, model, color, plate number, and state)
- Add a credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover)
That is it. No transponder. No monthly fee. No prepaid balance required.
What to Know Before You Register
- You can register up to 10 license plates on one account
- It is a post-pay system, so you are billed after each trip
- If your card expires or gets declined, the toll automatically becomes a Video Toll (more on that below)
- Pay-By-Plate only works at Maryland MDTA facilities. It does not work in other states like E-ZPass does
Option 2: Video Tolling (The Default If You Have No Account)
If you drive through a Maryland toll with no E-ZPass and no Pay-By-Plate account, Video Tolling kicks in automatically. You do not need to do anything at the toll plaza. The camera captures your plate, and a Notice of Toll Due (NOTD) arrives in the mail.
Key Facts About the Video Toll Notice
- Timeline: Maryland law requires the NOTD to be mailed within 60 days of your toll transaction
- Payment window: Once you receive the notice, you have at least 30 days to pay
- Rate: Video Toll rates are 1.5 times the base toll rate, with a minimum $1 surcharge and a maximum $15 surcharge per transaction
- Out-of-state drivers: The system cross-references your home state’s DMV records to find your address
The “Find My Tolls” Early Payment Discount
Here is a money-saving tip most drivers miss. You do not have to wait for the paper notice to arrive. Maryland’s “Find My Tolls” feature lets you pay before the bill even gets mailed.
Visit DriveEzMD’s Pay Tolls Now page and search by your license plate number and zip code. Paying early gives you:
- A 15% discount on the Video Toll amount
- A maximum discount of $5 per transaction
- Instant confirmation that your toll is settled
This discount disappears once the physical notice goes into the mail. If you know you drove through a toll without an account, check the site as soon as possible.
How to Pay Your Maryland Toll Bill
Once you have a notice in hand, or even before it arrives, you have several ways to pay. Maryland makes this reasonably easy, and you can pick whatever method works best for you.
Method 1: Pay Online
Go to DriveEzMD.com and use the “Pay a Toll Bill” section. You will need your license plate number or the notice number from your bill. This is the fastest option and works 24 hours a day.
Method 2: Pay by Phone
Call 1-888-321-6824 to pay by phone. Representatives are available Monday through Friday during business hours. This is a solid option if you want to talk through a confusing bill or dispute a charge.
Method 3: Pay by Mail
Your paper notice includes a payment stub and a return envelope. Write a check or money order made out to “Maryland Transportation Authority” and mail it back before the due date.
Method 4: Pay at a Customer Service Center
Maryland has in-person service centers where you can pay in cash, by check, or by card. There are two types of locations:
| Location Type | Where | Appointment Required | Cash Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facility-Based Centers | Fort McHenry Tunnel, Bay Bridge, Nice Bridge, JFK Highway, Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | No | Yes |
| MVA-Based Centers | Annapolis, Bel Air, Beltsville, Gaithersburg, Glen Burnie, Waldorf | Yes | Yes |
Most centers have extended hours on Thursdays until 6:30 PM and Saturday mornings from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Check DriveEzMD’s contact page for current hours before making the trip.
If you cannot visit during business hours, facility-based centers have 24/7 secure drop boxes for checks and money orders. Cash is not accepted in the drop boxes.
Method 5: Pay with Cash at Retail Stores
Through the PayNearMe network, you can pay your Maryland toll bill in cash at over 62,000 retail locations across the country. This is the option most people do not know about.
Participating stores include:
- 7-Eleven and CVS Pharmacy
- Walmart and Family Dollar
- Dollar General, Walgreens, and Kroger
Here is how it works:
- Generate a barcode through the DriveEzMD app or website
- Bring that barcode to any participating store
- The cashier scans it and accepts your cash payment
- You receive an instant digital receipt confirming payment
This option is especially helpful for travelers without a bank account or anyone who prefers paying in person without visiting an MDTA center.
The DriveEzMD App: Your Fastest Payment Tool
The DriveEzMD mobile app is the most convenient way to manage everything in one place. It works on both iPhone and Android, and a major update rolled out in December 2025 added several useful features.
What the App Can Do
- One-time payment using Apple Pay or Google Pay (no card number needed)
- Real-time notifications when a new toll transaction is recorded on your plate
- Find My Tolls search to locate and pay the unpaid Video Tolls early
- Account management for Pay-By-Plate users
- Court date scheduling if you need to contest a toll citation in the Maryland District Court
- Biometric login using Face ID or fingerprint
A Word of Caution
User reviews from late 2025 and early 2026 mention occasional freezing during payment processing. Some users have reported being charged twice during these glitches.
If you are paying a large balance or making a major account update, the MDTA recommends using the desktop website at DriveEzMD.com for better stability.
Toll Rates Compared: How Much More Does Video Tolling Cost?
The rate difference between payment methods is significant. Maryland charges more for Video Tolling on purpose, to encourage drivers to use E-ZPass or register a Pay-By-Plate account. The tables below show exactly what each method costs at Maryland’s main facilities.
Standard 2-Axle Vehicle Rates (2026)
| Facility | E-ZPass MD | Pay-By-Plate | Video Toll | E-ZPass Out of State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895) | $3.00 | $4.00 | $6.00 | $4.00 |
| Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) | $3.00 | $4.00 | $6.00 | $4.00 |
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge (US 50/301) | $2.50 | $4.00 | $6.00 | $4.00 |
| JFK Memorial Highway (I-95) | $6.00 | $8.00 | $12.00 | $8.00 |
| Thomas J. Hatem Bridge (US 40) | $6.00 | $8.00 | $12.00 | $8.00 |
| Nice/Middleton Bridge (US 301) | $4.50 | $6.00 | $9.00 | $6.00 |
Source: MDTA Toll Rates Tables
A driver paying via Video Tolling at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel pays exactly double what an E-ZPass Maryland holder pays for the same trip. For frequent commuters, that gap adds up to hundreds of dollars per year.
I-95 Express Toll Lane Rates
The I-95 Express Toll Lanes use dynamic pricing based on traffic levels. Rates change by time of day:
| Period | Time | E-ZPass MD | Pay-By-Plate | Video Toll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Mon to Fri, 6 to 9 AM and 4 to 7 PM | $3.01 | $3.77 | $4.52 |
| Off-Peak | Daytime and weekends | $2.33 | $2.91 | $3.49 |
| Overnight | Daily 11 PM to 5 AM | $0.96 | $1.20 | $1.96 |
Source: MDTA Cashless Tolling
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
Ignoring a Maryland toll notice is a serious mistake. The consequences escalate in stages, and by the end of the chain they can affect your credit score and ability to register your vehicle.
Here is the full escalation path:
- Notice of Toll Due arrives. Standard Video Toll rate applies. You have 30 days to pay.
- You miss the deadline. A formal civil citation is mailed within 60 days of the violation. A $25 civil penalty is added.
- You ignore the citation. The MDTA notifies the MVA. Your vehicle registration is suspended automatically. No hearing is required before this happens.
- Your balance exceeds $300. The debt goes to Maryland’s Central Collection Unit (CCU). At that point, the MDTA can no longer accept your payment directly.
- The CCU takes action. This can include seizing state and federal tax refunds, garnishing wages, and reporting the debt to national credit bureaus.
That $6 Bay Bridge toll can genuinely become a credit score problem if you ignore it long enough. Pay it early and move on.
Towing a Trailer Through a Maryland Toll
Under House Bill 246, passed in 2026, if you are towing a trailer through a Maryland toll, the notice goes to the registered owner of the towing vehicle. The trailer’s plate is no longer a loophole. Both the NOTD and any resulting citation follow the towing vehicle’s registration.
Good News: Medical Exemptions Are Now Available
Starting October 1, 2026, House Bill 1200 allows drivers to request a waiver for toll charges incurred during a medical emergency or essential medical transport. This applies whether you were transporting yourself or someone else for urgent medical purposes.
To qualify, you must:
- Submit medical documentation to the MDTA
- Provide this documentation by the due date on your original NOTD
This is a meaningful protection for vulnerable drivers. Full details are available in the official HB 1200 fiscal note.
Rental Cars: What You Need to Know
Renting a car in Maryland adds one more layer to the toll situation. When a rental car triggers a Video Toll, the notice goes to the rental company first. The company then charges the toll to your card on file, plus an administrative fee that typically runs $5 to $15 per transaction.
That fee applies per toll event, not per trip. Driving through the Bay Bridge twice in a rental at $2.50 per toll could quietly become $35 on your final bill once admin fees stack up.
Before your rental trip, ask the company whether they offer a toll pass program. Many do, and it can save you real money.
All Payment Options at a Glance
Here is every way to pay your Maryland toll in one easy table:
| Payment Method | How to Use | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Online at DriveEzMD.com | Pay by plate number or notice number | 24/7 |
| DriveEzMD App | Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card | 24/7 |
| Phone: 1-888-321-6824 | Pay by card with a representative | Business hours |
| Return stub with check or money order | Before due date | |
| MDTA Customer Service Center | Pay in person with cash or card | Business hours and Sat AM |
| Retail Cash via PayNearMe | Generate barcode, pay at Walmart, CVS, etc. | Store hours |
Should You Just Get an E-ZPass?
If you drive through Maryland more than a handful of times per year, the numbers strongly favor getting an E-ZPass. A Maryland transponder costs around $35 to start, which includes a $15 toll credit. There is no monthly fee, and it works across 18 states in the E-ZPass network.
Visit Maryland E-ZPass at DriveEzMD.com to order one. You will get the lowest available toll rate at every Maryland facility, plus access to faster E-ZPass lanes at most plazas.
Pay It Fast, Pay It Right
Maryland’s cashless toll system is well built and genuinely easy to work with, as long as you act quickly. The single most important thing to remember: pay early. Use Find My Tolls before the paper notice arrives, grab the 15% discount, and consider it done.
Whether you pay online, through the app, at a retail store, or by mailing a check, you have plenty of good options. And if you find yourself driving through Maryland regularly, setting up a Pay-By-Plate account or picking up a full E-ZPass transponder will save you real money on every single trip.
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.