How to Use Toll Roads (TollTag/EZ Tag) in Texas

Table of Contents

What to Expect on Texas Toll Roads

In Texas, many toll roads and express lanes use electronic toll collection.
Overhead readers detect your windshield tag. If a tag isn’t detected, cameras read your license plate and a bill is sent later.
It’s designed to keep traffic flowing, especially in busy metro areas like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin.

What you’ll usually see on the road

• Overhead gantries (metal structures across the roadway) with readers and cameras
• Signs that say “TOLL,” “TollTag,” “TxTag,” “EZ TAG,” or “Pay By Mail”
• Express lanes that may change price based on congestion (common on managed lanes)

You don’t need special driving skills. You just need the right setup.
The biggest difference is mental: you don’t stop to pay.

Which Tag Should You Use in Texas?

Texas has a few major tag brands that drivers commonly use:
TollTag (popular in North Texas),
EZ TAG (popular in the Houston area),
and TxTag (statewide program).
The best choice is usually the one that matches where you drive most, plus how easy it is for you to manage your account.

Quick comparison

A practical way to choose

1. If you drive mostly around Dallas–Fort Worth, consider TollTag.
2. If Houston is your main zone, EZ TAG is a natural fit.
3. If you travel widely across the state, TxTag is a common pick, and it’s designed to work anywhere you see the TxTag symbol.

One more thing: use only one electronic toll tag on your windshield at a time.
Multiple tags can interfere with each other.
Simple rule, fewer headaches.

Set Up Your Toll Account (Fast, Clean, No Surprises)

A toll tag is only half the system. The other half is your account: vehicle details, license plate, and a balance that stays funded.
Most drivers set it up online in one sitting.

Step-by-step setup

1. Create an account with your chosen agency (TollTag, EZ TAG, or TxTag).
   Use a stable email address you check often.
2. Add your vehicle: plate number, vehicle type, and any required details.
   Accuracy matters here.
3. Load funds (prepaid balance) or enable auto-replenishment.
   Auto-replenishment is the “set it and forget it” option.
4. Confirm your mailing address so any invoices or notices go to the right place.

Good habits that keep charges correct

• Update your account if you change plates or get a new vehicle.
• Keep enough balance for regular driving, especially on longer trips.
• Check transactions occasionally. A quick scan beats a long phone call later.

On TxDOT-managed toll roads, TxDOT notes that tags are read from your windshield and tolls are deducted from your prepaid account when set up correctly.
That’s the experience you want: smooth and boring.

Install Your Tag Correctly

Correct placement improves read accuracy.
Place the sticker on the inside of your windshield, typically behind or near the rearview mirror area.
Keep it clean.

Placement tips that matter

• Mount it in the recommended spot and press firmly.
  Don’t hold it up by hand while driving.
• Keep it at least 4 inches away from the top edge of the windshield, away from metal and heavy tint areas when possible.
• Apply it when the glass is warm enough. TxDOT advises windshield temperature above 50°F (10°C) for best adhesion.
• Avoid installing more than one toll tag on the windshield. Interference can lead to missed reads or double reads.

Do not move a sticker tag between vehicles

These tags are meant to be permanently mounted.
Pulling it off can damage the chip.
If you have more than one vehicle, order a tag for each and manage them under one account.

Small detail, big difference: If your tag is too close to metal or installed in the wrong area, the overhead reader may not detect it consistently.
Get the placement right once, then forget about it.

Driving Through Toll Points: What to Do on the Road

The goal is to drive normally.
When you see toll signs, stay in the correct lane and keep your speed consistent with traffic.
No swerving at the last second.

On-the-road basics

1. Follow the signs for toll lanes or express lanes well ahead of the split.
2. Stay steady through the gantry. Readers do the work automatically.
3. Don’t stop under tolling equipment. It’s not designed for booth-style payment.
4. Keep your tag visible in its installed location.

Managed lanes feel different

Express lanes may show prices on electronic signs.
In many places, the price changes with congestion.
If you want predictable costs, choose general-purpose lanes.
If you want time savings, express lanes can be worth it on a busy day.

If You Don’t Have a Tag: Pay-by-Mail Basics

You can still use many toll roads without a tag.
The system reads your license plate and sends an invoice to the registered owner’s address.
It works, but it’s typically priced higher than tag rates because it requires extra processing.

What “Pay by Mail” usually means

• Your plate is captured by cameras at toll points.
• An invoice is generated by the road’s billing agency.
• You pay online, by phone, or by mail depending on the agency.

Why you might still want a tag

Tags are built for frequent use: lowest toll rates, automatic charging, and easier tracking.
If you’ll be in Texas for more than a quick visit, a tag often pays for itself in convenience alone.

One Texas detail to remember

In some regions (especially around Austin), different toll authorities may bill separately depending on which roads you drive.
TxDOT’s toll information notes that you may receive separate invoices from different agencies if your routes cross multiple systems.
It’s normal.
Just match each invoice to its billing agency and pay it through the correct portal.

Rental Cars, Motorcycles, Trailers, New Plates

Rental cars

Don’t peel your sticker tag off your personal vehicle and try to use it in a rental.
Sticker tags aren’t designed to transfer.
For rentals, toll charges are usually handled through the rental agreement and the rental company’s toll program.
Ask at the counter if you expect to use toll roads.
Policies vary.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles often require a motorcycle-specific tag.
If you ride, request the correct tag type from your toll agency so reads and billing match your vehicle class.

Trailers

If you’re towing a trailer, some systems detect the extra axle(s) and charge accordingly.
Plan for that on longer trips, especially on tolled bridges and express lanes.

New plates, new vehicle, or you sold your car

• New plates: update the plate number in your account as soon as possible.
• New vehicle: add the vehicle and request a new sticker tag rather than moving the old one.
• Sold your car: deactivate the tag in your account and remove/discard the sticker from the vehicle you sold.

Troubleshooting and Common Fixes

Most problems come from placement, account details, or balance.
The fixes are usually quick.

If you received a bill even though you have a tag

1. Check if your account balance was low. Some systems charge a higher rate when the account can’t cover the toll.
2. Confirm the license plate on your account matches the plate on the vehicle.
3. Look at your windshield: is the tag correctly installed, inside the vehicle, and not blocked by metalized tint?

If your tag isn’t being read consistently

• Re-check placement near the rearview mirror area.
• Make sure the tag is not too close to the windshield’s top edge or to metal.
• Remove old adhesive residue if you’re replacing a tag, and clean the area before applying the new one.
• Stick with one tag on the windshield.

Tip: If you drive across Texas regions often, keep your account login saved and check your transaction list after a multi-city trip.
Two minutes. Clear answers.

Quick Pre-Trip Checklist

1. Tag installed correctly (inside windshield, proper spot, firmly attached)
2. Only one tag on the windshield
3. Account funded (or auto-replenishment enabled)
4. License plate matches what’s on your account
5. Rental plan confirmed if you’re renting (ask about toll programs)
6. Know your route (some metro areas have multiple toll agencies)

FAQs

Do I have to get a tag to drive on toll roads in Texas?

Not always. Many toll roads support pay-by-mail via license plate billing.
A tag is still the easiest option if you’ll use toll roads more than a few times.

Can I move my sticker tag to another car?

No. Sticker tags are designed to stay in one vehicle.
If you have multiple vehicles, order a tag for each one and manage them under one account.

Where should I place the tag?

Inside the windshield near the rearview mirror area is the common location.
Follow your agency’s instructions, keep it away from metal, and apply it to a clean, warm windshield.

Why do some Texas drivers get more than one invoice?

In certain areas, different toll authorities operate different roads.
If your trip includes roads managed by more than one authority, each one may bill you separately.

Is there a simple way to keep toll costs predictable?

Keep your account funded and use a tag.
For express lanes, check posted prices and choose general lanes when you want stable costs.

Sources

• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) – How tags work:
  TxDOT tag usage and installation guidance
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) – Paying tolls:
  TxDOT toll billing overview and contacts
• Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) – Electronic Toll Collection Systems:
  How electronic tolling works (university research)
• Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) – EZ TAG Getting Started (PDF):
  Placement and installation guide
• Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) – Pay Online:
  How to pay invoices online in Central Texas
• North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) – Pay Your Bill:
  Billing and payment options for North Texas toll roads