What happens if you don’t pay a toll in Virginia?

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Known for its expensive tolls on interstate highways, bridges and expressways, Virginia drivers can expect them across the Commonwealth at various prices. As a result, some Virginians wonder what happens if they don't pay.

Missing a toll may not seem serious at first, but failing to resolve it can lead to fines and legal issues.

A study conducted by LendingTree found that Virginia has the most expensive interstate toll roads per mile, which likely doesn't surprise some Virginia drivers.

In the study, Virginia’s maximum fee was found to average around $3.27 a mile, and is the only state in the country with an average higher than $2. Most of the average comes from the Interstate 66 inside the Beltway Express lanes, with a $4.75 max fee, the third most expensive in the country.

What are the penalties for unpaid tolls?

Failing to pay a toll leads to an invoice being sent to the vehicle's registered owner, and if the invoice is not paid, drivers receive a "Toll Violation Notice," and an additional fee is also issued.

This will then result in a "Final Notice" and another subsequent fee, according to the Code of Virginia.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the following is the amount of money you owe if you don't pay your missed toll:

• Missed toll (within five days of trip): $1.50 fee
• First invoice (6-35 days after trip): $12.50 fee
• Second invoice (45-74 days after trip): $25.00 fee
• Collections (90+ days after trip): $100.00 fee
• Court (180+ days after trip): $100, plus court fees and civil penalties set by Virginia law

Article 1.1 of the Code of Virginia outlines the following various considerations for toll violations:

• Except for lanes equipped for payment of tolls through an automatic vehicle identification system
• Whether the defendant was required to pay the toll with the exact amount in change
• Whether the defendant had the exact change to make the payment
• Whether the defendant had been afforded appropriate advance notice, by signs or other means, that he would be required to pay a toll and pay it with the exact change

Most toll rolls in Virginia rely on cashless systems, using E-ZPass or automatic license plate recognition systems, according to VDOT.

E-ZPass is the primary method for electronic toll collection.

The Code of Virginia also states that the court will notify the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about a person with three or more unpaid tolls who fails to pay the required penalties, fees and unpaid tolls. This will prevent a reissue or renewal of a driver's registration certificate or license plate.

Each missed toll can create its own set of fees and notices, as multiple unpaid tolls can lead to much higher total costs.

If a vehicle uses a toll facility without paying the toll, the driver is in violation of the law if they refuse to pay the toll within 30 days of receiving an invoice.

Drivers who use the express lanes without an E-ZPass will receive a violation notice with the required toll payment and a fee. This is because an image of their license plate is caught on camera, as per VDOT.

Be aware of scam alerts

Over 2,000 people across the U.S. received suspicious warnings about unpaid toll charges, which the FBI said turned out to be a scam in 2024. On Tuesday, April 24, VDOT reported over 160 unpaid toll scam texts reported in Virginia seemingly overnight.

In order to avoid the threat of a $50 fine, the scam text instructs its victim to click on the embedded link to make a $11.69 payment.

In early March 2025, 8News warned E-ZPass users of a familiar "smishing scam," defined by the FBI as a scam that comes in the form of a text message. This came seven months after E-Z Pass users in Virginia received similar messages in August 2024.

Below are just a few examples of what these messages looked like.

How can I pay a missed toll?

If you receive a notice or fee, VDOT provides drivers with ways to make payments through the correct toll facility website.

Within five days of your trip, you can make a payment for an invoice received or for a toll you've missed within five days of your trip, according to VDOT. The total amount of unpaid trips is usually available within 48 hours.

If you are driving in an express lane, VODT said you must:

• Pay your toll and the $1.50 fee
• Plan ahead and schedule an automatic payment once your trip is processed
• Receive an email notification once your trip is processed and ready for payment
• Pay for the trip mentioned in your email notification from us. If this trip isn’t showing up for payment here, call us and we’ll sort it out
• If you took a trip on the Express Lanes more than five days ago and are still waiting on your invoice, visit VDOT's contact us page or call the customer service center at 855-495-9777.

If you received a violation notice or took an unpaid toll trip, you can, pay online on E-ZPass Virginia's website.

VDOT's website states that toll roads in Virginia may be operated by public agencies, private companies and regional and statewide authorities under varying VDOT oversight. As a result, payment systems and enforcement procedures may be different depending upon the toll facility.