How Much Does Bay Bridge Toll Cost?

Published on October 15, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

As of October 2025, most crossings are cashless, which means you either pay from a prepaid transponder account or get billed by license plate later. In the Bay Area, the state-owned bridges, including the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, charge $8 for standard two-axle vehicles and $4 for qualified carpools using the designated lane with a valid FasTrak tag. In Maryland, a two-axle car with E-ZPass pays $2.50 eastbound across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, while Pay-By-Plate or Video Tolling costs $4.00 per crossing as listed in the MDTA toll rates. These totals shift if you tow a trailer, ride a motorcycle, or pay late.

Article Insights

• California Bay Bridge standard two-axle toll is $8, carpool with tag is $4, and multi-axle totals range $18–$38.
• Maryland Chesapeake Bay Bridge is $2.50 with E-ZPass and $4.00 by Video/Pay-By-Plate; frequent users can pay $35 for 25 trips in 45 days via the Bay Bridge Discount Plan.
• Bay Area violations add $5 then $15 per crossing if unpaid; Maryland citations add $25 per notice, per the FasTrak penalties FAQs and DriveEzMD Video Tolling FAQ.
• Carpool discounts in California require a FasTrak tag and the carpool lane during posted hours; Maryland has no HOV discount on the Bay Bridge.
• Plan ahead, watch your balance, and pay promptly to keep the total at the posted toll using FasTrak’s ways to pay or by creating a DriveEzMD account.

How Much Does Bay Bridge Toll Cost?

The Bay Bridge Toll cost ranges from $2.50 up to $38.

Across the two Bay Bridges, you will see four common pricing patterns: a flat per-vehicle rate for two axles, a per-axle schedule for larger vehicles, time-limited carpool discounts, and modest differences tied to payment method. In the Bay Area, the posted two-axle toll is $8, carpools with a FasTrak tag pay $4 in the signed carpool lanes during weekday windows, and three or more axles follow a stepped schedule up to $38.

Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge charges $2.50 with E-ZPass for a two-axle car and $4.00 for Video Tolling or Pay-By-Plate. Frequent travelers can purchase a Bay Bridge Discount Plan, $35 for 25 trips in 45 days (effectively $1.40 per crossing), with a separate “Shoppers” plan of $20 for 10 trips valid Sunday through Thursday.

See the table below for a one-glance comparison, then read on for real-world totals, billing quirks, and tips to cut your spend.

Sources: Bay Area Toll Locations & Carpooling Guide, 511 Tolling Information, MDTA Toll Rates, DriveEzMD Discount Plans.

Tolls for vehicles with three or more axles range from $18 to $38, depending on the number of axles, with specific rates such as $18 for three axles and $38 for seven or more axles. This toll increase took effect on January 1, 2025, and applies to most state-owned toll bridges in the Bay Area.CBS News Bay Area Bridge Toll IncreaseMetropolitan Transportation Commission Toll Info

The funds raised from the toll increase are allocated for transportation infrastructure improvements, including freeway upgrades, expansion of BART systems, Caltrain corridor enhancements, and new transit vehicle purchases. The Bay Area Toll Authority oversees toll rates for seven state-owned bridges, setting uniform prices for cars, motorcycles, and trucks based on axle count. Carpool discounts reduce weekday peak trip tolls to $4 for two-axle vehicles during designated hours.ABC7 News Toll Increase 511 Tolling Information

Also read our articles on the cost of an LIRR monthly pass, Big E parking, or MT Washington auto road.

While the toll on the Bay Bridge is $8.00 for standard vehicles as of 2025, future planned hikes could see bridge tolls reach $10.50 by 2030 to cover ongoing infrastructure costs. Drivers have expressed concerns about the rising toll costs amid persistent traffic congestion. Toll collection is fully electronic with no cash booths, using FasTrak or license plate tolling systems. The Golden Gate Bridge maintains separate toll rates and policies.San Francisco Standard Tolls and FaresABC7 News Video on Toll Increase

Real-Life Cost Examples

Scenario A, California peak, solo driver by plate: You cross westbound into San Francisco at 8:30 a.m. in a two-axle sedan without a transponder. The posted toll is $8. If you pay the initial invoice on time, the bill equals the toll. Miss the due date and a violation sequence adds $5, then $15 on a second notice if you still delay (see FasTrak invoice & penalties details).

Scenario B, California off-peak, HOV-eligible with FasTrak: Two adults in a two-seater sports car set the FasTrak Flex to “3+,” use the carpool lane at 9:45 a.m., and pay $4. Motorcycles in the carpool lane with a valid tag also pay $4; outside the carpool lane or without a tag, expect the standard $8 invoice.

Scenario C, Maryland night crossing with E-ZPass: You drive eastbound at 10:30 p.m. in a two-axle car and pay $2.50 with E-ZPass. If you do not have a tag and rely on Video Tolling, your charge is $4.00, which MDTA sets higher to offset processing.

Scenario D, Maryland weekend with a small trailer: A pickup and single-axle trailer pay per axle, and totals are higher than a standard car. Frequent weekenders often buy the $35 discount plan for 25 trips in 45 days when feasible, pulling the effective per-crossing price down to $1.40 for qualifying two-axle movements.

Cost Breakdown

Start with the base toll, which depends on axles and bridge. Add or subtract for payment method. In California on state-owned bridges, standard two-axle cars pay $8 regardless of whether the system reads a tag or snaps your plate, but payment timing matters because invoices escalate to violations with $5 and then $15 in penalties if ignored. In Maryland, payment method changes the base rate for two axles: E-ZPass is $2.50, Pay-By-Plate or Video Tolling is $4.00, and if a Notice of Toll Due ages into a violation, state law allows a $25 civil penalty per citation. Maryland also explains that Video Tolling is priced at 1.5× the base rate with a minimum $1 and maximum $15 above base to cover processing. First-time violators in the Bay Area can often resolve an invoice or violation online; in Maryland, paying promptly at the DriveEzMD portal halts escalation.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Toll boards adjust prices to fund maintenance, seismic resilience, and operations. The Bay Area Toll Authority completed a three-step, $1-each series of increases ending January 1, 2025, then approved a second program of annual adjustments beginning in 2026, which means drivers will see gradual changes over several years as repainting, fender work, and deck upkeep require stable revenue. Policy shifts affect discounts: the Bay Area’s carpool rate is $4 only when you use a FasTrak Flex tag in the signed lane during posted weekday hours, and some clean-air vehicle perks are ending, so single-occupant EVs must meet occupancy rules to claim HOV pricing. Maryland demand ebbs with seasons and construction schedules on the eastbound span, a multi-year project that can alter travel times and traffic surges.

Ways to Spend Less

Open a transponder account. It pays. In California, a FasTrak tag is required to get the $4 carpool discount and helps you avoid invoices and penalty ladders; in Maryland, E-ZPass unlocks the $2.50 rate and enables commuter plans that drop some trips to $1.40 effectively. Target off-peak windows and form a true carpool where applicable. In the Bay Area, carpool lanes operate weekdays 5:00–10:00 a.m. and 3:00–7:00 p.m. with specific occupancy rules, while all other times require the full $8 toll. In Maryland, there is no HOV discount, so your savings come from E-ZPass or a multi-trip plan rather than timing. Avoid violations: Bay Area first notices add $5 and second notices add $15 per crossing; Maryland citations carry a $25 civil penalty.

Total Costs

If you cross the Bay Bridge five days per week in California as a solo driver, a typical month of 22 workdays totals $176 at $8 per crossing. In Maryland, a similar two-axle commuter using E-ZPass pays $2.50 per trip, or $110 for 44 monthly crossings, but the discount plan can slash this further if your schedule fits the 25 trips in 45 days for $35 constraint.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Two categories bite: administrative add-ons and rental-car fees. In California, invoices escalate to $5 and then $15 penalties if ignored, and the Golden Gate Bridge district has its own ladder, which matters if you mix crossings across the area in a single trip. In Maryland, Video Tolling is 1.5× the base rate with a minimum $1 and maximum $15 above base, and unpaid notices can add a $25 civil penalty per citation; if you rent, consider learning how Pay-By-Plate works to avoid rental-company admin charges.

Answers to Common Questions

Is the toll per vehicle or per axle for my setup?

Two-axle cars pay a flat amount, while larger vehicles pay per axle. California’s Bay Bridge lists $18–$38 for three or more axles, and Maryland publishes per-axle schedules on its rate pages.

Do motorcycle riders pay the same as cars?

In the Bay Area, motorcycles qualify for the $4 carpool rate when using the designated lane with a valid tag during posted hours; otherwise they pay the standard $8 toll. Maryland treats motorcycles within the vehicle class rules at posted rates.

How long before an invoice becomes a violation?

In the Bay Area, an initial toll invoice becomes a violation if unpaid after the notice’s window, at which point a $5 penalty applies, and a second notice adds $15. In Maryland, unpaid notices can trigger a $25 civil penalty per citation.

What discount applies for frequent Bay Bridge commuters?

Maryland’s Bay Bridge plan is $35 for 25 trips in 45 days (effectively $1.40 per crossing). California offers a $4 carpool discount on state-owned bridges when rules are met and a FasTrak tag is used in the carpool lane.

Can I pay the toll quickly to avoid fees in a rental car?

Yes. In the Bay Area, use your own FasTrak or set up a short-term plate account, and in Maryland, enroll your plate on Pay-By-Plate to have charges billed automatically. Both approaches reduce the risk of duplicate rental-company fees.