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Tolls in California

Hi,

I have taken a rental car from San Francisco but have not been given anything for Tolls by the rental company.

Is there any way I can pay tolls that I incur using my registration number online?

Thanks

In California, most toll roads and bridges are electronic and do not have staffed booths, so you don’t pay cash on the spot. Since you have a rental car, the tolls can usually be paid in one of a few ways depending on the rental company and the toll system used.

1. Check with your rental company: Many rental companies offer a toll program where tolls are automatically billed to your credit card on file. Some charge an additional service fee per toll. If you didn’t sign up for this, you may still be able to register your rental car license plate with the toll authority and pay manually.

2. Paying online by license plate: Most California toll roads are managed by the FasTrak system. If your rental car is not equipped with a FasTrak transponder, you can often pay tolls online by entering the vehicle license plate number. Here’s how:

  • Identify which toll road or bridge you used (for example, Golden Gate Bridge, 91 Express Lanes, I-680 Sunol Express Lanes).
  • Go to the website of that toll operator (for Golden Gate Bridge: https://www.goldengate.org/tolls, for 91 Express Lanes: https://www.91expresslanes.com, etc.).
  • Use the option to pay by “plate” or “pay by mail” where you enter the license plate and the date of travel.

3. Important notes:

  • Payment windows: Most toll agencies require payment within a certain number of days (usually 5–15) after using the toll road to avoid fines.
  • Keep a record: Save your confirmation of payment in case the rental company requests proof to avoid duplicate charges.
  • Rental fees: If the toll is not paid directly, the rental company may receive a bill and charge your card, often with a service fee.

In summary, while there isn’t a universal online portal for all California tolls by license plate, each toll operator allows you to pay using the vehicle plate online. Check the specific toll road websites for your travel route and make payments promptly to avoid extra fees.

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