What happens if I cross a Bay Area bridge without FasTrak?

With tolltakers gone from all bridges* in the Bay Area, drivers need FasTrak to pay their tolls.

The FasTrak transponder signals when a car goes through a toll plaza, and the account is debited. If a transponder is not detected, the image of the license plate number is checked to see if there’s an associated FasTrak account. And if the plate number is not linked to an account, the owner of the vehicle will get an invoice for the toll.

Can I make a payment right away and avoid getting an invoice?

Yes — you can make a one-time payment through BayAreaFasTrak.org or by calling (877) BAY-TOLL (229-8655). What you’ll be doing is setting up a short-term license plate account that can pay for bridge crossings in the previous 48 hours or up to 30 days in advance. There’s no extra fee for this option.

What if I’m driving a rental car?

The bigger rental companies offer a toll-paying plan, which charges a fee on top of any tolls you incur. If you don’t have such a plan, you can make a one-time payment to FasTrak through a short-term license plate account (see above) for your rental car. Set an end date so you won’t get billed for the car’s future drivers.  What you don’t want to do is just ignore your tolls — the rental car companies charge heavy penalties.

Will I be penalized if I wait for an invoice?

The initial invoice will tell you payment of the toll is required within 30 days. After that deadline, a second notice will be sent, with a $25 penalty for Golden Gate Bridge crossings and a $5 penalty for the other bridges. The third notice, after 60 days, tacks on $50 for the Golden Gate, $15 for the others.  The invoice can be paid by mail, online or by phone at (877) 229-8655.

Can I use somebody else’s FasTrak transponder?

Yes. Best practice is to have the FasTrak holder add your car’s license plate to the account, so if there’s a transponder malfunction, your toll is still covered. License plates can be added or removed for no extra fee.

I got a text message saying I owe a toll. 

This is a common scam. Contact Bay Area FasTrak to see if it’s legitimate.

*The San Francisco Bay Area’s eight toll bridges are Golden Gate, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, San Mateo-Hayward, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Benicia-Martinez and Antioch.