Frequently Asked Questions - Tolls & Payment (2024)

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All Golden Gate Bridge tolls are collected electronically, in the southbound direction into San Francisco. You can conveniently pay your toll with a FasTrak Account, License Plate Account, a One-Time Payment, or a Toll Invoice.

To choose which toll payment option is best suited for your needs, consider how frequently you cross the Golden Gate Bridge and how oftenyou use other Bay Area toll bridges and express laneswhere FasTrak is accepted. Alsoconsider the added benefit of a discounted toll when using FasTrak on the Golden Gate Bridge. Learn more about your Toll Payment Options at left.

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If you take no action to pay your Golden Gate Bridge toll, the firsttoll Invoice is mailed about a week after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge for California plates (longer for some out-of-state plates). Thereafter, invoices are mailed on a 30-day cycle if the customer crossesthe Golden Gate Bridge again in the same vehicle. It is important that vehicle owner information be kept current with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Please note: An unpaid Toll Invoice or any unpaid portion of a Toll Invoice will escalate to a Toll Violation, with added fees and penalties.

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Although Golden Gate Bridge tolls are collected electronically, motorists can still use cash to pay their Bridge toll.

• Motorists can make a One-Time Payment at a Cash Payment Location. Please be sure to have thelicense plate number handy when making your payment.
• Cash is also an option when using FasTrak. A FasTrak toll tag may be purchased at select Bay Area retail locations, such as Costco and Walgreens. Then, after registering the toll tag onlineatwww.bayareafastrak.orgor over thephone (toll-free 1-877-229-8655or 415-486-8655 outside the USA), you can replenish or fund your account using cash at a Cash Payment Locationor at the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco).
• A License Plate Account can be opened at www.bayareafastrak.org or over phone (toll-free 1-877-229-8655 or 415-486-8655 outside the USA). Then, funds can be added to the account using cash at a Cash Payment Location. Note: A cash-based License Plate Account requires a prepaid balance (the value of one toll), before crossing the Bridge.
• A Toll Invoice can be paid using cash at a Cash Payment Location or at the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco, CA).

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FasTrak services remain the same with two exceptions: (1) At the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza, we no longer have dedicated FasTrak-only toll lanes and all toll lanesare equipped to process tolls electronically; (2) Motorists now have more options to replenish their FasTrak Account using cash, including at a Cash Payment Locationand at the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco).

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To learn about FasTrak and how it can save you time and money, do one of the following:

1. Go online:www.bayareafastrak.org
2. By phone:Toll-free 1-877-229-8655 or 415-486-8655 outside the USA.
3. Stop by in person:Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco).

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If you don't have a FasTrak Account, you can pay your Golden Gate Bridge toll by opening a License Plate Account, makingaOne-Time Payment, or paying aToll Invoice.

For more information on these options, visit the www.bayareafastrak.org.

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Yes, especially if you use other Bay Area toll bridges or express lanes. Plus, you pay a discounted toll on the Golden Gate Bridge.Please note: Opening a FasTrak Account requires an initial prepaid toll balance and the use of a toll tag. For more information about FasTrak, visit the Bay Area FasTrak website.

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The initial prepaid toll balance to open a FasTrak Account is $25 if using a credit card or $50 if using cash, check, or money order. After establishing a FasTrak Account, the replenishment amount may increase based on the frequency of your crossings.

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To use cash to open and replenish a FasTrak Account, customers must first visit the Bay Area FasTrak Cusotmer Service Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco) to open a cash-based account. The account can then be replenished by visiting a Cash Payment Location.

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The FasTrak toll tag is provided at no charge and requires a $20 refundable toll tag deposit when opening your FasTrak account.

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As you drive through the Toll Plaza, you should hear a beep if your FasTrak toll tag signal is detected. If the signal is not detected, digitalimages of your license plates will be captured, and the plate number will be reconciled against existing FasTrak Accounts. If the license plate isn’t associated with a valid account, aToll Invoice (for just the toll amount) will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

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If you crossed the Golden Gate Bridge in the southbound direction and took no action to pay the toll (either by opening a FasTrak Account, opening aLicense Plate Account, or makingaOne-Time Payment), a Toll Invoice was generated and mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle, based on the license plate of thatvehicle. The invoice amount due is for the amount of the toll only; fees and penalties are assessed if an invoice or any portion of an amount due goes unpaid.

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To avoid the inconvenience and hassle of receiving and paying a Golden Gate Bridge Toll Invoice, take action now and do one of the following:

• Open a FasTrak Account online now using a credit card.
• Open a License Plate Account online now using a credit card.
• Make a One-Time Payment online now using a credit card.
• Visit a Cash Payment Location and be sure to have your license plate number handy.

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Toll Invoices are generated and mailed to motorists who takeno action to pay their Golden Gate Bridge toll (either by opening a FasTrak Account, opening a License Plate Account, or making aOne-Time Payment).

The first Toll Invoice is mailed about a week after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge for California plates (longer for some out-of-state plates). Thereafter, invoices are mailed on a 30-day cycle if the customer crossesthe Golden Gate Bridge again in the same vehicle.

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Yes. A Toll Invoicewill be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is registered in California or not. This Toll Invoicemust be paid within 21 days after being generated. If a visitorwon’t be home within 21 days of crossing the Bridge heading southbound into San Francisco),it is recommended that they make a One-Time Payment within 30 days beforeor within 48 hours after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Use links at left to learn more.

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Anunpaid Toll Invoice or any unpaid portion of a Toll Invoice will result in aToll Violationnotice which attaches a $25 penalty for each toll transaction associated with the unpaid invoice.

If the first violation notice goes unpaid, a second violation notice will be issued, with increased penalties. If this second notice goes unpaid, the amount due is referred the California Department of Motor Vehicles which will withhold your vehicle registration until the penalties are paid. For out-of-state vehicles, the matter is referred to a collections agency.

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If you have a FasTrak Account or License Plate Account in good standing and still received a Golden Gate Bridge Toll Invoice, the license plate number shown on the invoice likely has not yet been added to your account.

You can manage your account online at www.bayareafastrak.org or by calling toll free 1-877-229-8655 or 415-486-8655outside the US.

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If you were sent a Toll Invoice for a vehicle that does not belong to you, please completethe toll dispute information on the reverse side of the invoice and return it to the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center in the envelope provided, by the due date indicated.

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To contest or request a review of your toll violation(s), please contact the FasTrak Customer Service Center via the website, by phone, fax, mail or in person (see below). You may be eligible for a reduction/waiver on your penalties, depending on your situation.

You may contact FasTrak Customer service for any of the following:

• To contest a toll notice that includes violation penalties.
• To contest toll violation penalties on your FastTrak account.
• To request administrative review of a previous toll penalty decision.

FasTrak contact information:

1. Go online:www.bayareafastrak.org
2. By phone:Toll-free 1-877-229-8655 or 415-486-8655 outside the USA.
3. By Fax: 415-974-6356
4. Stop by in person:Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco).

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Golden Gate Bridge toll lane #2 (second lane from right in the southbound direction)is the designated carpool lane during carpool hours (weekdays, except holidays, from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

Thisdesignated carpool lane may only be used by eligible carpool vehicles with a FasTrak Account in good standing. Eligible vehicles include two-axle vehicles withthree or morepersons; motorcycles, as defined and designated by California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV); and buses. Note:Two-seat vehicles, vehicles with rear axle dual tires, and vehicles with DMV-issued Clean Air Vehicle decals do NOT qualify as carpool vehicles.

Carpool holidays include New Year's Day (January 1), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).

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Most major rental companies offer a conveniencefee-based tolling program, which may bethe most convenient way to pay your Golden Gate Bridge toll. Please inquire with your rental agencyat the time of your reservation about its tolling program.

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You may add a rental vehicle to a FasTrak Account by adding the plate number to the account. However, this is not a recommended practice because if you forget to removethe plate number from your account, you will be charged additional tolls if someone uses the same vehicle at other Bay Area toll facilities.

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If you opt out of your rental company'stolling program and you take no action to pay your Golden Gate Bridge toll by making a One-Time Payment or opening aLicense Plate Account, the rental company (as the registered owner of the vehicle) will receive a Toll Invoice and, in turn, you will be billed for the toll, plus additional fees. These fees vary by rental agency.

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If your rental agency doesn't offer a rental toll program or you choose not to participate in its toll program, you must take action to pay your Golden Gate Bridge toll.

Tolls may be paid 30 days in advance of your first southbound Bridge crossing, or within 48 hours after crossing, by opening a limited-term License Plate Account, making a One-Time Payment, or paying cash at a Cash Payment Location. For complete details, visit the Bay Area FasTrak website.

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The Golden Gate Bridge converted to all electronic tolling in March 2015 for several key reasons.

• Proven technology: All electronic tolling wasin use across the USA, including inMiami, Denver, Texas, and Seattle, and around the world.
• Time savings & convenience: Motorists no longer have to fumble for cash or stop at the Toll Plaza.
• Increased flexibility: The FasTrak and Pay-By-Plate payment options allow customers to pay their toll using a credit card, cash, check, or money order.
• Decrease in traffic congestion at the Toll Plaza: Especiallyon weekday evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Cost savings: The switch to all electronic tolling is projected tosave $16 millionover an eight-year period following the conversion.

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All electronic tolling - sometimes referred to as cashless tolling -assesses all tolls electronically, either by a vehicle-mounted FasTrak toll tag or by the vehiclelicense plate number. Motorists no longer have to stop to pay their toll.

All Golden Gate Bridge tolls are now collected electronically. We have equipment at the Toll Plaza that can detecta signal from a FasTrak toll tag and capture images of vehicle license plates. If a FasTrak signal is detected, the toll is automatically link to and posted to the related FasTrak account. If a signal is not detected, the license plate number is used to link to a FasTrak account, a License Plate Account, or a One-Time Payment. If none exists, a Toll Invoice (for just the toll amount) is generated within several days and mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

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The Golden Gate Bridge introduced the FasTrak electronic toll option in July 2000. Traffic congestion during the weekday morning commute period immediately improved, with typical wait times at the Toll Plaza reduced from up to 20 minutes to under a minute. Today, over 70% of all southbound motorists use FasTrak. The FasTrak market share of weekday commuters is86% in the morning and 79% in the evening; Saturday evening market share is at 59%.

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Dedicated FasTrak-only toll lanes are no longer needed now that all toll lanes are equipped to process FasTrak and Pay-By-Plate options.

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License plate information that is collected as a part of all electronic tolling at the Golden Gate Bridge is used for the purposes of toll collection only. Data collected for the purposeof assessing tolls in California is eliminated from the data systems in accordance with Senate Bill 1268.

Neither the Golden Gate Bridge toll collection system nor the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center systemis publicly accessible.

Read the entire Electronic Tolling Privacy Policy on our Privacy Policies page.