Tolls in Maryland

Maryland tolls are collected electronically through E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate, or Video Tolling. What you pay depends on the crossing or road segment, vehicle class, payment arrangement, direction, and sometimes the time of travel. For a truck or container shipment, calculate the complete movement, including the empty return and any separate equipment trips.

A five-axle truck, for example, pays a standard $24 E-ZPass toll for each passage through the Fort McHenry Tunnel, compared with $36 at the Video Toll rate. Crossing twice makes that $48 or $72 before any other road charges. A passenger-car price can therefore leave a substantial expense out of a freight quote.

This guide explains Maryland's principal toll facilities, truck rates, payment choices, Baltimore routing restrictions, and the steps needed to estimate and reconcile shipment tolls. Rates and operating guidance were checked on October 25, 2026. Check the operator's current schedule for the intended travel date; the examples below illustrate toll calculations rather than prescribe dispatch routes.

How Maryland tolls work

The Maryland Transportation Authority, or MDTA, operates the state's toll facilities. DriveEzMD is the customer-facing toll account and payment service. Maryland's crossings are cashless: drivers do not stop at a booth to hand over cash.

E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate, and Video Tolling

These payment methods have different account requirements and pricing consequences.

E-ZPass uses a transponder linked to a funded account. Maryland accepts valid tags from other E-ZPass agencies, but tag acceptance and discount eligibility are separate questions. Keep the transponder properly mounted and the vehicle and account information current.

Pay-By-Plate uses a registered license plate and an electronic payment method supplied in advance. It does not require a transponder. Maryland's recorded-image toll rules make the customer responsible for keeping vehicle and payment information valid and limit this arrangement to MDTA's system. A Maryland Pay-By-Plate account does not cover the rest of a multistate trip.

Video Tolling applies when travel is not covered by another valid payment arrangement. The plate image is used to identify the responsible owner, and a Notice of Toll Due, commonly called an NOTD, is mailed. This is a higher-priced billing category, not a penalty by itself. A penalty can follow if the toll remains unpaid.

Having an E-ZPass account does not prevent every Video Toll. Insufficient funds, an expired replenishment card, or incomplete account information can lead to separate notices. DriveEzMD's Video Toll FAQ also explains that restoring an account balance does not automatically clear notices already recorded to a separate Video Toll account.

Choose the class for the actual vehicle

For the truck schedules below, count the axles on the complete combination. A three-axle tractor pulling a two-axle chassis has five axles; the same tractor pulling a three-axle chassis has six. The container chassis guide explains the equipment behind those configurations.

A 20-foot container is not a two-axle vehicle. Likewise, unloading a container does not remove the tractor or chassis axles. If the equipment configuration remains the same, an empty return still belongs in the applicable truck class. If the return is bobtail or uses different equipment, classify that actual movement separately.

Do not use an axle category as evidence that a load is legal. Gross weight, axle loading, dimensions, permits, and cargo restrictions require their own checks.

Maryland toll bridges, tunnels, and truck rates

Maryland combines fixed crossing tolls with journey- and time-based roads. Identify the facility first, then apply its vehicle and payment schedule. The familiar name of a bridge is not always a separate charge: the Tydings Bridge crossing on I-95 belongs to the JFK Memorial Highway toll arrangement.

Fixed crossing rates

The following standard five-axle rates come from MDTA's toll tables. The E-ZPass amounts shown apply to both Maryland and out-of-state E-ZPass categories and match Pay-By-Plate for these five-axle crossings. They are before eligible commercial rebates or special ramp arrangements. In the tables, PBP means a registered Pay-By-Plate account.

For other commercial configurations, these are the standard E-ZPass and Pay-By-Plate amounts. Hatem's Maryland E-ZPass exceptions for three- and four-axle vehicles are listed separately.

For these standard schedules, Video Toll pricing is the base toll plus a surcharge of 50%, subject to a $1 minimum and $15 maximum surcharge. That cap explains why a $48 base toll becomes $63, rather than $72. Use the posted Video Toll amount for the actual class instead of multiplying a discounted rate.

Two-axle drivers should use the two-axle schedule. For example, the Bay Bridge's standard Maryland E-ZPass rate is $2.50, compared with $4 for out-of-state E-ZPass or Pay-By-Plate and $6 for Video Tolling. At Nice/Middleton, those amounts are $4.50, $6, and $9. Commuter-plan prices have additional eligibility and usage conditions. See the official Bay Bridge schedule and Nice/Middleton schedule.

Understand which crossing you are pricing

Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor tunnels are separate harbor crossings on I-95 and I-895. Their standard truck tolls match, but their access restrictions do not. Check the harbor-crossing resources before choosing between them.

JFK Memorial Highway and the Tydings Bridge should not be counted as two separate fixed tolls for the same passage. MDTA describes the JFK toll collection point as northbound, approximately one mile north of the Tydings Bridge over the Susquehanna. An itinerary can still incur additional I-95 express-lane or harbor-tunnel tolls elsewhere.

Hatem Bridge crosses the Susquehanna on US 40 between Havre de Grace and Perryville. Its toll is collected eastbound. It is a separate route choice from the I-95 crossing, not an automatic additional charge on every northern Maryland trip.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge connects the Annapolis area with the Eastern Shore on US 50/301 and collects eastbound. Do not confuse it with Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on US 13, which has a different operator and tariff.

Nice/Middleton Bridge carries US 301 between Maryland and Virginia and collects southbound, toward Virginia. A return northbound crossing does not create another Nice/Middleton toll.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is unavailable as a through crossing. Its continued appearance in historical toll tables does not establish an open route. Price the actual replacement itinerary during the rebuild.

ICC and I-95 Express Toll Lane pricing

The Intercounty Connector and I-95 Express Toll Lanes need their own calculation because the section traveled and pricing period affect the amount. A bridge toll from the table above cannot stand in for either road's journey price.

Intercounty Connector, MD 200

The ICC connects the I-370 area with the I-95 and US 1 area. Use the official DriveEzMD toll calculator for the actual vehicle class, entry, exit, payment method, and travel period.

MDTA's ICC pricing plan describes these periods:

Use the crossing time, not simply the delivery appointment. A truck leaving a terminal at 3 p.m. can reach the priced road during a different period. If timing is uncertain, state which period supports the estimate and assess whether the appointment and expected journey make it plausible.

Do not multiply a car toll by the number of truck axles or calculate a final bill from an approximate map distance. Use the operator's journey price, including its classification and rounding rules.

I-95 Express Toll Lanes

The ETLs offer a paid alternative to the adjacent general-purpose lanes on the express-lane corridor. Remaining in those general-purpose lanes avoids the ETL charge; it does not remove a separate tunnel or JFK Highway toll encountered later.

The current ETL schedules distinguish northbound journeys to MD 43, northbound journeys continuing to MD 152, and southbound travel from MD 43 toward I-95/I-895. Select the full journey rather than charging both a combined trip and its component sections.

For example, the five-axle northbound journey from I-95/I-895 to MD 152 is listed at $18.08 peak, $13.97 off-peak, or $5.75 overnight with Maryland E-ZPass. Its corresponding Video Toll prices are $27.13, $20.96, and $8.63. Choose the actual payment category when comparing a calculator result with that schedule.

Pricing periods also differ from the ICC. The published northbound weekday peak is 3–7 p.m.; the southbound weekday peak is 6–9 a.m. Both directions have weekend peak periods, and their regular overnight period is 9 p.m.–5 a.m. Check applicable holiday adjustments instead of assuming that a weekend or holiday always means off-peak pricing.

MDTA's northbound extension update confirms that the extension from MD 43 to MD 152 opened in December 2024. The further extension beyond MD 24 is expected by the end of 2027. Do not treat a planned section or a newly opened auxiliary lane as an operating tolled section without checking the current arrangement.

For a lane that continues into Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Virginia, add the relevant neighboring operator's charges separately. A Maryland-only subtotal is not the complete interstate toll budget.

Baltimore truck routing during the Key Bridge rebuild

For Port of Baltimore cargo, the first question is whether the proposed truck route is usable. A low toll estimate is of little value if the vehicle or cargo cannot use the crossing.

The loss of the Key Bridge removed the southeast I-695 harbor crossing. MDTA's restriction and detour guidance directs motorists away from that corridor. Use current harbor-crossing traffic information and the Maryland CHART traffic map close to dispatch, particularly when tunnel work or an incident changes the approach.

Baltimore Harbor Tunnel limits matter for ordinary equipment decisions. MDTA prohibits tandem trailers and vehicles over 96 inches wide or 13 feet 6 inches high on the I-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Its guidance also requires vehicles over five tons to use the right lane on the approach roadways and in the tunnel. Do not assume that a vehicle suitable for Fort McHenry is automatically suitable for I-895.

Hazardous cargo needs a specific review. Both tunnels prohibit specified hazardous materials and quantities. MDTA identifies bulk gasoline, flammable liquids, explosives, radioactive material, and certain propane loads among the restrictions, and directs carriers to COMAR 11.07.01 for the permitted and prohibited movements. Provide the material identification, packaging, quantities, and shipment conditions so the carrier can determine the route. Our hazmat shipment guide explains the information behind that review.

Oversize and overweight approval is separate from the toll. Check the Maryland State Highway Administration's hauling-permit resources for the complete vehicle and load. A permit fee, an escort charge, and a road toll are different expenses. The overweight shipment guide explains why cargo weight alone does not settle vehicle legality.

Use the actual port gate and return yard. Seagirt, Dundalk, rail ramps, and equipment depots have different approaches and transactions. The Baltimore facility guide helps identify the locations before the carrier checks its current route.

MDTA also publishes a separate $2-per-axle arrangement for eligible Maryland E-ZPass truck movements at specified port-access ramps, including I-895/Childs Street. This is not a general $10 five-axle fare through either harbor tunnel. Confirm the particular movement, account eligibility, and current ramp access before using it in a quote. A Key Bridge-area turnaround listing in the schedule does not mean the bridge is open.

How to calculate tolls for a Maryland shipment

A useful estimate follows the movement the carrier must perform. Keep each leg separate until the route, class, direction, and payment basis are established.

1. List the complete itinerary.

For an import, record the pickup terminal, delivery entrance, authorized empty-container return, and any separate chassis handoff. For an export, record the empty pickup, shipper, and loaded receiving terminal. A drop-and-pick arrangement can add another trip. Include only the work belonging to the quoted service, but include all of it.

2. Confirm the equipment and a suitable truck route.

Establish the axle count on each leg, overall dimensions, loaded weight, and cargo restrictions. Have the carrier confirm the operating route. A passenger-car route or a toll calculator's price is not a truck-access approval.

3. Identify each charged passage or road journey.

Record the crossing, direction, and number of passages. For the ICC or ETLs, record the actual entry and exit or priced section. Keep the JFK toll separate from optional express-lane use, and avoid adding another Tydings charge for the same JFK passage.

4. Select the payment and time assumptions.

Use the carrier's actual account arrangement when known. Establish eligibility before subtracting a commercial rebate or special ramp discount. For a time-based road, price each leg at the expected travel period. If payment or timing is unresolved, make the estimating basis visible.

5. Add the legs and retain the calculation.

Keep the facility, class, direction, payment category, amount, intended travel date, and source with the quote. Record any extra equipment trips separately. A missing return-leg calculation is an unresolved cost, not evidence of a free return.

6. Confirm how the toll enters the freight price.

Establish whether the quoted total includes tolls, includes an allowance, or passes actual tolls through separately. Check the treatment of route changes and additional trips. The all-in drayage quote guide explains how to compare the same service scope without adding an included expense twice.

Worked examples for five-axle trucks

These examples assume the same five-axle configuration throughout, standard rates without commercial rebates, and no special ramp arrangement. They show crossing costs rather than confirm a route for a particular shipment.

A harbor round trip

If the itinerary uses Fort McHenry once on the loaded leg and once on the empty return, the toll subtotal is $24 + $24 = $48 with E-ZPass or Pay-By-Plate. At Video Toll rates it is $36 + $36 = $72. The unloaded return remains a charged truck passage.

A journey using both Fort McHenry and JFK Highway

Assume the chosen itinerary passes through Fort McHenry and the JFK collection point northbound, then returns through those facilities southbound. It uses no ETLs.

Add other facilities only if the actual itinerary uses them. A destination beyond Maryland can introduce additional state or bridge charges.

An Eastern Shore delivery across the Bay Bridge

If the loaded trip crosses eastbound and the empty return crosses westbound, the Bay Bridge subtotal is $24 using E-ZPass or Pay-By-Plate, or $36 using Video Tolling. Doubling the eastbound toll would overstate this bridge component. The rest of the route still needs checking.

Discounts and the cost of avoiding a toll

Account discounts and route savings should be evaluated against the actual operation. The lowest advertised passenger-car rate is not a suitable default for a commercial quote.

For eligible vehicles with five or more axles, MDTA's commercial discount program publishes post-usage account discounts:

A supplemental rebate applies to eligible individual transponders: 10% for 60–79 trips, 15% for 80–99, and 20% for 100 or more. The commercial program excludes the ICC and I-95 Express Toll Lanes. DriveEzMD's plan descriptions explain the account, cycle, and trip-count conditions. Do not assume an account-level or later-credited rebate is an immediate discount on every customer shipment.

Avoiding a toll can increase the total cost. Compare additional mileage, fuel, driver time, appointment risk, and permitted truck access. As a planning illustration, suppose a detour adds 20 miles and 30 minutes, diesel is assumed at $4 per gallon, the truck achieves 6 mpg, and time is valued at $80 per hour. The added fuel is approximately $13.33 and time is $40: $53.33 combined before other operating costs. Those are assumed inputs, not quoted market prices. Saving a $24 toll would not offset that illustrative detour.

An ETL decision can involve the reverse tradeoff: paying an optional toll may be worthwhile when it supports the appointment, but the time saving is not guaranteed. Use current conditions and the carrier's operating judgment.

Paying toll bills and resolving unexpected charges

Shipment delivery, toll posting, invoice receipt, and customer billing are different events. Keep the toll allowance visible while quoting and preserve the trip record so a later charge can be matched to the shipment.

Pay through the official system and follow the notice

Use DriveEzMD and its Pay Tolls service to review available transactions or notices. A Video Toll notice and an E-ZPass account statement may require separate attention.

Under COMAR's notice requirements, a recipient generally has at least 30 days from the NOTD mailing date to pay. Follow the printed due date; that clock is not measured from the freight delivery date. Maryland's toll-liability statute provides for a civil penalty assessed 15 days after a toll violation occurs. The current civil penalty is $25 per violation. Unresolved violations can lead to further collection and registration consequences under the applicable rules.

DriveEzMD offers a 15% early-payment discount on eligible Video Tolls, capped at $5 per toll, when payment occurs before the toll is placed on a mailed NOTD. For a $63 Video Toll, the cap limits that saving to $5. Confirm the available transaction and amount in the official portal.

Be careful with unexpected payment texts. MDOT's scam guidance says DriveEzMD does not contact customers by text to request payment or personal information. Open the official site independently rather than following a payment link in an unsolicited message.

Match a later charge to the movement

Before accepting an additional toll line on a freight invoice, check:

• Vehicle and transaction: Do the plate, state, travel date, time, and facility match the truck's movement?
• Route and direction: Did this leg use that facility, and was it traveling in the charged direction?
• Class and payment: Does the axle class match, and was the charge E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate, or Video Toll?
• Included amount: Was the same expense already included in the agreed freight total or a previous adjustment?
• Separate fees: Is the disputed amount the road toll, a civil penalty, or a carrier's administration charge?
• Supporting evidence: Is there an operator transaction, notice, or other document that explains the amount?

For an apparent operator error, contact DriveEzMD with the transaction or notice details before the response deadline. For a freight-price dispute, reconcile the charge against the quote and shipment terms. The accessorial tracking guide explains how to review supporting documents and adjustments line by line.

Keeping the transponder, funding method, plates, and mailing address current helps prevent avoidable billing problems. Clear quote terms address a different issue: who ultimately bears a valid toll, a changed route, or an additional equipment trip.

Get the estimated tolls in your quote

Portmate calculates estimated tolls automatically for the selected drayage route and equipment, combining the loaded and empty legs into the quote's toll amount. That brings the expected expense into the pricing decision without requiring you to trace each leg through separate government schedules and toll calculators.

Provide the terminal, delivery address, container and cargo details, and known empty-return location, then review the itinerary and Tolls line alongside the total. The toll-calculation walkthrough shows where to find it. This reduces manual work and helps surface costs before booking; the estimate should be read with the route assumptions and agreed treatment of later changes.