How to Save Money on George Washington Bridge Tolls (2026)

Strategy 1: Get E-ZPass (Save $2.25 to $4.25 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 $16.00 per crossing regardless of when you travel. E-ZPass reduces that to $13.75 during peak hours or $11.75 during off-peak hours.

For a daily commuter making 10 eastbound crossings per week (five round trips), the annual savings from switching to E-ZPass range from $1,170 (if you always travel at peak times) to $2,210 (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 $13.75, while the off-peak rate is $11.75. That $2.00 difference adds up to $1,040 per year for a daily commuter making 10 crossings per week.

Peak hours are weekdays from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 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 all day on weekends and holidays.

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: Carpool with the Green Pass Program (Off-Peak Rate All Day)

The Port Authority Green Pass program rewards carpooling. Vehicles carrying three or more occupants and equipped with an E-ZPass transponder registered for the program receive the off-peak toll rate at all times, including during peak hours.

For a car, this means paying $11.75 instead of $13.75 during peak hours, saving $2.00 per peak-hour crossing. If you commute during rush hour and can find two regular carpool partners, this strategy saves $1,040 per year. Combined with E-ZPass itself, carpooling brings your annual cost down from $8,320 (Toll-by-Mail, no carpool) to $6,110 (E-ZPass Green Pass), a total savings of $2,210.

To enroll, you need an E-ZPass account in good standing. Contact your E-ZPass agency to add the Green Pass designation to your transponder. Enforcement is handled through random occupancy checks at the toll plaza.

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:

Bear Mountain Bridge is completely free and connects Rockland County with Westchester County. For drivers heading to the northern suburbs or points east, it eliminates toll costs entirely. The Tappan Zee Bridge (officially the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) charges just $5.25 with E-ZPass, saving $6.50 to $8.50 per crossing compared to the GWB. 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:

The potential savings from switching to public transit are staggering: $12,000 to $17,000 per year. 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, travels off-peak, and carpools with the Green Pass program can reduce their per-crossing cost from $16.00 (Toll-by-Mail) to $11.75 (E-ZPass off-peak with Green Pass). That brings the annual cost for 10 crossings per week from $8,320 down to $6,110. 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.

Explore More

• E-ZPass toll rates and sign-up guide
• Peak vs off-peak toll schedule
• Calculate your annual GWB toll cost
• Compare alternative Hudson River crossings
• Complete GWB commuter guide