How to Save Money on George Washington Bridge Tolls (2026)
Six proven strategies to reduce your GWB toll costs. Daily commuters can save up to $4,425 per year at the Jan 2026 rates.
6 Strategies at a Glance
Get E-ZPass
Cross during off-peak hours
Green Pass (low-emission vehicles)
Consider alternative crossings
Multi-trip discount plans
Switch to public transit
Strategy 1: Get E-ZPass (Save $6.51 to $8.51 Per Crossing)
If you are crossing the George Washington Bridge without E-ZPass, you are paying the maximum toll on every single trip. Toll-by-Mail charges a flat $23.30 per crossing regardless of when you travel. E-ZPass reduces that to $16.79 during peak hours or $14.79 during off-peak hours. A new $19.55 Mid-Tier rate (effective 6 July 2025) applies if your tag is improperly mounted on an NY/NJ E-ZPass account.
For a daily commuter making 10 eastbound crossings per week (five round trips), the annual savings from switching to E-ZPass range from about $3,385 (if you always travel at peak times) to $4,425 (if you always travel off-peak). Getting E-ZPass is free or costs a small one-time fee through most issuing agencies. You can sign up online through E-ZPass New York, E-ZPass New Jersey, or any participating state agency. The transponder typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. See full E-ZPass rate details and sign-up instructions.
Strategy 2: Cross During Off-Peak Hours (Save $2.00 Per Crossing)
If you already have E-ZPass, the next easiest way to save is adjusting your crossing time. The E-ZPass peak rate for cars is $16.79, while the off-peak rate is $14.79. That $2.00 difference adds up to $1,040 per year for a daily commuter making 10 crossings per week. Note: PANYNJ has approved a four-year phase-out of this off-peak discount starting January 2027, with the off-peak rate rising 50¢/year until it equals the peak rate by 2030. See the full phase-out plan.
Peak hours are weekdays from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, plus Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Everything outside those windows is off-peak, including weekday midday (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM), evenings (after 8:00 PM), overnight, and weekend mornings before 11 AM and nights after 9 PM.
If your employer offers flexible start times, crossing the bridge at 5:45 AM instead of 6:15 AM saves you $2.00 each way. Similarly, leaving Manhattan after 8:00 PM instead of 6:00 PM qualifies for the off-peak rate on your return trip (though eastbound tolls are what you pay, planning your schedule around off-peak windows is still advantageous for the crossing you do pay on). See the complete peak and off-peak toll schedule.
Strategy 3: Green Pass Discount for Low-Emission Vehicles
The Port Authority Green Pass Discount Plan (PA GREEN) gives eligible low-emission passenger vehicles a deeper discount on off-peak crossings. Enrolled Class 1 vehicles pay $11.29 per off-peak trip instead of the standard $14.79, a $3.50 saving. Peak crossings are billed at the normal $16.79 peak rate, so the plan rewards drivers who can also shift their timing.
A commuter with a qualifying vehicle who keeps crossings off-peak pays $11.29 instead of $23.30 Toll-by-Mail, a saving of $12.01 per crossing. Note that since February 2022 eligibility is limited to newer qualifying models (PANYNJ ties it to the NY Clean Rebate eligible-models list); vehicles enrolled earlier are grandfathered.
To enroll, you need an E-ZPass New York account in good standing and must send proof of vehicle registration to the E-ZPass NY Customer Service Center. The discounted rate applies through a special green E-ZPass tag mounted on the enrolled vehicle only. The Port Authority's former occupancy-based carpool discount no longer exists in the current cashless tariff.
Strategy 4: Consider Alternative Crossings
Depending on where you are coming from and where you are going, a different Hudson River crossing may cost significantly less than the GWB. Here is how the options compare:
| Crossing | Toll | Operator |
|---|---|---|
| George Washington Bridge (E-ZPass peak) | $16.79 | Port Authority |
| George Washington Bridge (E-ZPass off-peak) | $14.79 | Port Authority |
| George Washington Bridge (Mid-Tier) | $19.55 | Port Authority (tag misread) |
| George Washington Bridge (Toll-by-Mail) | $23.30 | Port Authority |
| Tappan Zee / Mario Cuomo Bridge (NY E-ZPass) | $7.25 | NY Thruway |
| Tappan Zee / Mario Cuomo Bridge (Toll-by-Mail) | $12.69 | NY Thruway |
| Bear Mountain Bridge (E-ZPass) | $1.65 | NY Bridge Authority |
| Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (E-ZPass) | $1.65 | NY Bridge Authority |
Bear Mountain Bridge and Newburgh-Beacon Bridge are located approximately 40 and 60 miles north of the GWB respectively. Added drive time and fuel should be factored in. See detailed alternative crossing comparison.
The Bear Mountain Bridge connects Rockland County with Westchester County and, at $1.65 with E-ZPass ($2.15 by Tolls by Mail), is the cheapest Hudson crossing in the region, though not free. For drivers heading to the northern suburbs or points east, it slashes toll costs. The Tappan Zee Bridge (officially the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) charges $7.25 with NY E-ZPass, saving roughly $7.50 to $9.50 per crossing compared to the GWB E-ZPass rates. However, these northern crossings add driving distance and time. See our full comparison of alternative crossings.
Strategy 5: Multi-Trip Discount Plans
The Port Authority has offered multi-trip discount programs for frequent commuters in the past. These plans provide a reduced per-crossing toll for E-ZPass users who meet a minimum number of monthly crossings on Port Authority bridges and tunnels. Program availability and terms change periodically.
When available, these plans can save an additional $1 to $2 per crossing beyond the standard E-ZPass rate. For a daily commuter, that adds up to $520 to $1,040 in annual savings on top of the base E-ZPass discount. Check the Port Authority website or contact your E-ZPass agency to ask about current multi-trip programs.
Strategy 6: Switch to Public Transit (Eliminate Tolls Entirely)
The most dramatic savings come from eliminating the drive altogether. NJ Transit provides extensive bus service across the George Washington Bridge from Bergen County and other northern New Jersey communities to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
A monthly NJ Transit bus pass costs approximately $99 to $149 depending on your zone, compared to driving costs that typically exceed $1,000 per month when you add tolls, gas, parking, and vehicle wear. Here is a direct comparison for a typical daily commuter:
| Annual Expense | Driving (E-ZPass peak) | NJ Transit Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Tolls | $8,731 | $0 |
| Fuel | $1,000 - $1,500 | $0 |
| Parking (Manhattan) | $3,600 - $8,400 | $0 |
| Transit pass | $0 | $1,188 - $1,788 |
| Vehicle wear & maintenance | $1,500 - $2,000 | $0 |
| Estimated annual total | $14,831 - $20,631 | $1,188 - $1,788 |
The potential savings from switching to public transit are staggering: $13,000 to $19,000 per year at the Jan 2026 toll rates. Even commuters who drive part of the week and take the bus on other days can save thousands annually. Some employers also offer pre-tax transit benefits that reduce the effective cost of a monthly bus pass further.
Combining Strategies for Maximum Savings
The strategies above are not mutually exclusive. A commuter who gets E-ZPass and travels off-peak reduces their per-crossing cost from $23.30 (Toll-by-Mail) to $14.79, and a qualifying low-emission vehicle on the Green Pass plan pays $11.29 off-peak. That brings the annual cost for 10 tolled crossings per week from $12,116 down to $7,691, or $5,871 with Green Pass. Adding a few days of bus commuting per week reduces it further.
Use our toll calculator to model different scenarios and find the combination that works best for your schedule and budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I avoid paying the full George Washington Bridge toll?
The most effective way to reduce your GWB toll is to get an E-ZPass transponder, which saves you $6.51 to $8.51 per crossing compared to Toll-by-Mail at the Jan 2026 rates. You cannot avoid the toll entirely if you cross the bridge eastbound, but you can minimize costs by crossing during off-peak hours, enrolling a qualifying low-emission vehicle in the Green Pass plan, or using a much cheaper northern crossing like the Bear Mountain Bridge ($1.65 with E-ZPass).
How much does E-ZPass save on the George Washington Bridge?
E-ZPass saves between $6.51 and $8.51 per crossing. During peak hours, E-ZPass costs $16.79 versus $23.30 for Toll-by-Mail (saving $6.51). During off-peak hours, E-ZPass costs $14.79 versus $23.30 (saving $8.51). For a daily commuter making 10 crossings per week, the annual savings range from about $3,385 to $4,425 depending on when you travel.
What is the Green Pass program for the GWB?
The Port Authority Green Pass Discount Plan (PA GREEN) gives eligible low-emission passenger vehicles a discounted off-peak rate of $11.29 (versus the standard $14.79 off-peak E-ZPass car rate) at the Jan 2026 tariff. Peak crossings are billed at the normal $16.79 rate. Eligibility follows the NY Clean Rebate eligible-models list (vehicles enrolled before February 2022 are grandfathered), and enrollment runs through E-ZPass New York with proof of vehicle registration. It is a low-emission vehicle plan, not a carpool discount; PANYNJ's old occupancy-based carpool discount ended with cashless tolling.
Is there a cheaper alternative to the George Washington Bridge?
Yes. The Bear Mountain Bridge and Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, both about 40 to 60 miles north of the GWB, are run by the New York State Bridge Authority and charge just $1.65 with E-ZPass ($2.15 by Tolls by Mail), a fraction of the GWB toll. These northern crossings add driving time but dramatically reduce toll costs. They can be practical for drivers in Rockland, Orange, or Dutchess counties.
How much can I save by switching to public transit instead of the GWB?
Switching from driving across the GWB to taking NJ Transit bus service can save $10,000 to $18,000 per year when you factor in tolls, fuel, parking, and vehicle maintenance. An NJ Transit monthly bus pass from Bergen County costs approximately $99 to $149, compared to total monthly driving costs of $1,250 to $1,800 or more at the Jan 2026 toll rates.
Are there discount toll plans for frequent GWB users?
The Port Authority periodically offers multi-trip discount plans for frequent E-ZPass users on its bridges and tunnels. These plans provide a reduced per-crossing rate for commuters who make a minimum number of crossings per month. Check with your E-ZPass agency or the Port Authority website for current program availability and eligibility requirements.