Last time when I was riding my Harley, I saw a group of novice riders who don’t even know whether they should pay tolls or not. I thought, why shouldn’t I write a post answering about motorcycle pay tolls.

In most states, you need to pay tolls, and you can pay your tolls with the toll road app before or after five days. While in some states such as Michigan, Arizona, Montana, Wisconsin, and Idaho, you don’t need to pay tolls. 

Let’s look at what it means for you and what you can do about it. While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned, so you get all legal knowledge in the most straightforward words. 

Do Motorcycles Pay Tolls: 

Yes, you need to pay a motorbike toll which is decided by your local state authority. 

While in some cases, you don’t need to pay a single penny on toll. States such as Michigan, Arizona, Montana, Wisconsin, and Idaho don’t demand a single penny for motorbikes to ride.

The local state authority of Michigan doesn’t charge a toll because the money needed for managing and constructing various highways and bridges is covered by federal funding. 

You can read more about the Michigan state policy here. 

Recently Colorado became a state which doesn’t charge a single penny of toll from motorbikers. But this rule isn’t applied on three major highways. 

You can read more about the Colorado state policy here. 

How You Can Pay Motorcycles Tolls: 

Although there’s a traditional way through which you can pay your motorbike tolls. 

But you might need to remove your motorbike gear such as a helmet and gloves, which can be hectic for anyone. 

Fortunately enough, you can pay your motorbike toll charge through a mobile application called The Toll road app, or you pay through Thetoolsroad.com.

Always remember, the above payment method gives you five days before or after driving through toll. 

You can also pay your toll using a hard case FastTrack transponder mounted on your motorbike windshield. 

Do Motorbike Riders Need Special Toll Tag: 

You can pay your toll through various mediums, and the toll tag is one of them. Now the question arises, whether you need a unique toll tag or not.

Motorbike riders don’t need any unique toll tags; they use tags originally made for four-wheelers. And because of these common tags, sometimes riders face some problems. Often, riders have to choose a traditional method or method to pay the toll that isn’t designed for them. 

Although there’s no specially made motorbike tag, you should consider using one as it’s the only hassle-free payment method other than using a mobile app and website.

You don’t have to worry about removing gears while using a toll tag fitted on your motorbike windshield. 

Additionally, some states offer you a discount while using a toll tag. 

Where You Can Place a Toll Tag on Your Motorbike: 

Toll tags are undoubtedly convenient, but you need to place a tag so that the scanner can easily detect the toll tag. 

Unfortunately, there’s no place where you can place a toll tag on your motorbike. Some riders place them on motorbike windscreens but some riders whose motorbikes don’t have windscreens stick on their motorbike jacket chest pocket. And this whole process causes some problems for riders.

The most significant problem for sticking tags on windscreens is that anyone can steal your tag in the parking lot. And use your money for paying their tolls. 

While riders who stick tags on their chest pocket must have to expose the tag enough so that the machine can read it effectively. 

And practically, no one wants to wear the same motorbike jacket every time, and no one can expose their toll tag every time.

Not exposing tags every time would make you faulty riders and indulge you in the list of riders who don’t pay their toll while riding. And this would definitely cause substantial fines on you.

And that’s why I personally don’t recommend sticking or placing a toll tag on the chest pocket. 

If you can risk your tag being stolen, you can use a tag holder on your motorbike. 

How Much Do You Need to Pay for Tolls?

Before understanding the price you need to pay on tolls, you must first understand three types of toll systems. 

The open road, Open and Closed tolls. 

On the open road, you’ve to stop to pay the toll, while on the closed tolls, you need to pay tolls according to distance traveled while entering or leaving the road. 

But interestingly, on the open road system, some systems are installed on highways that scan your toll tag automatically.

In the US, many highways use all three types of systems for better efficiency. 

You need two-axle vehicles and an E-Z pass to enter open road-enabled expressways such as I-95, I-395, and I-495.   

Toll charges always vary from state to state; still, in the US, on average, you need to pay $5, which is the same as two-axle vehicles. It’s because most of the motorbikes take the same space as two-axle vehicles. Most interestingly, you can save toll by using Google Maps. 

However, many motorbike riders don’t like this system. 

They claim that a motorbike takes much less space than a two-axle vehicle and causes much less wear on the road. 

How Can You Save Money on Tolls?

Probably no one loves to spend their money on tolls. In this section, you’re going to learn some ways through which you can avoid tolls by using Google maps. 

Google maps are undoubtedly the number one GPS platform to select the path for your destination. But very few riders know that Google Maps can be used to show a path where there’s no toll system. You can use Google Maps on both your smartphone and desktop. 

Steps to Save Tolls By Using Google Maps on Your Desktop. 

1. First, go to Google Maps in your browser and write your destination location. Then press the option below the destination blank (you can see in the screenshot below).  

2. After pressing the “option” button, the option to avoid tolls will appear, and you’ve to tick the “toll” in the avoid section (as can be seen in the screenshot below). 

3. Now, a new route appears on Google Maps, as seen in the screenshot above. In this route, you won’t face any toll system. You can also send this map on your phone by pressing “send directions to your phone.” 

Undoubtedly to avoid a toll, you might have to ride more miles. Still, you can consider this option if you don’t have any time limit to reach your destination. 

The Google map will work as long as you have a stable internet connection and some battery left in your laptop or mobile phone. 

I personally use the Google map offline option if I ever face network issues.

You can also surf this option through the Google Maps mobile application.  

Steps to Save Tolls By Using Google Maps on Your Smartphone. 

First, go to Google Maps on your mobile application and write your destination. 

Press the direction button. Now Google Maps will show your path to your destination. (as can be seen in the screenshot below). 

Now tap three vertical dots next to “Your Location” and now select the route option. 

Tick the box next to the “Avoid tolls” option. Now press “Done” and press the “start” button on your left screen when you’re ready to go. 

Now a new route appears in the google map, as can be seen in the screenshot above. In this route, you won’t face any toll system. 

Through these simple hacks, you can avoid spending dollars on the toll system. 

Some riders hate to use these hacks because they think local authorities will use their money for road maintenance.

Now it’s up to you and your ethics, which way you want to go. I personally use these hacks when I’ve no time limit to reach my destination.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

Do motorcycles pay tolls? In most states, you need to pay tolls, and you can pay your tolls with the toll road app before or after five days. 

While in some states such as Michigan, Arizona, Montana, Wisconsin, and Idaho, you don’t need to pay tolls. 

On average, you need to pay approx $5 when crossing the toll system in the US. And if you’re on a long journey, then you can use Google Maps to show you a non-tolls path. 

Here are Some of My Favorite Riding Gears: 

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful as you build your riding journey successfully. 

Here are some riding gears I use as a rider that I hope you’ll also find helpful.

These are affiliate links, so I’ll earn a commission if you decide to use any of them. But in all honesty, these are the same riding gears that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family.

Motorbike Riding Pants:

For getting started, I like Scorpion EXO Covert Jeans for men (check the latest price on Amazon.com) and Indigo Protective Riding Jeans for women (check the latest price on Tobacco Motorwear).

These riding pants are comfortable so you can use these pants in summer, and these pants have a lot of space for using knee guards. 

Motorbike Riding Helmet:

Throughout my riding life, I used several helmets, and almost all helmets protect your head well. Still, I personally prefer YM- 929 Yema helmets as it comes with Bluetooth and aerodynamic ABS shells (check the latest price on Amazon.com).

And suppose you want an eye-appealing and yet effective helmet. In that case, you can go with Icon Airform Sacrosanct Helmet (check the latest price on Revzilla). 

Motorbike Riding Jacket:

Jackets are crucial to protect your upper body. Honestly, every rider has a dream to have an affordable yet best riding jacket. And that’s why I personally recommend the Alpinestars T faster motorbike jacket because of the protection and comfort it offers (check the latest price on Amazon.com). 

Motorbike Riding Gloves:

Almost all riding gloves perform well by protecting your hands from sunburn and cool nights. And if you’re a serious rider, then you should go with Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 Glove, which is lightweight and offers you excellent protection. (check the latest price on Revzilla).