Illinois Tollway Complete Guide: I-PASS, E-ZPass and Rates 2026
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Illinois Tollway & Bridges Complete Guide
System: All-electronic open road tolling — I-PASS / E-ZPass + Pay Online / Pay By Plate; no cash accepted
Coverage: 294 miles across five tollways in 12 Chicagoland counties + Chicago Skyway (private)
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Technology: I-PASS / E-ZPass RFID transponders, ANPR license plate cameras, open road tolling gantries
Operators: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (Illinois Tollway), Chicago Skyway Concession LLC (private, separate system)
Do I Need I-PASS for Illinois? 2026 Update
I-PASS is not legally required — you can pay via license plate billing — but without one you pay exactly double the I-PASS rate. Illinois eliminated all cash toll collection in 2021 and operates 100% electronic open road tolling. There are no toll booths and no cash lanes anywhere on the Illinois Tollway system.
Key Reality: Without I-PASS, you pay "Pay Online" rates — exactly double. For a typical daily Chicago-area commute, this means $20–$40 extra per week in unnecessary costs. Passenger vehicle I-PASS rates have not increased since 2012, making Illinois one of the lowest per-mile toll systems in the nation ($0.07–$0.20/mile).
2026 Update: The Illinois Tollway Board approved a 2026 budget with no passenger vehicle toll increase for the year — passenger rates remain frozen at 2012 levels through at least mid-2026. However, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed a major transit funding bill in late 2025 that authorizes the Tollway Board to raise passenger tolls by $0.45 (to approximately $1.20 at key plazas) and commercial vehicle rates by 30%, effective June 1, 2026. As of early May 2026, the Tollway Board had not yet formally implemented this increase — drivers should confirm current rates at illinoistollway.com before travel. Truck/trailer rates continued their annual increase on January 1, 2026 under the schedule originally approved in 2008.
Illinois Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)
Passenger Vehicle Rates — Key Plazas (Current as of Early 2026)
| Tollway / Plaza | I-PASS Rate (Passenger) | Pay Online Rate (No I-PASS) | Tollway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touhy Avenue | $0.95 | $1.90 | Tri-State (I-294/I-94) |
| I-90/O'Hare (to airport) | $0.75 | $1.50 | Jane Addams (I-90) |
| Belvidere / South Beloit | $0.95–$1.50 | $1.90–$3.00 | Jane Addams (I-90) |
| Waukegan (Tri-State north) | $1.40 | $2.80 | Tri-State (I-94/I-294) |
| Elgin (Jane Addams) | $0.75 | $1.50 | Jane Addams (I-90) |
| Typical ramp plaza | $0.40–$0.65 | $0.80–$1.30 | All tollways |
Important — Pending Rate Increase: The Illinois transit funding bill signed in late 2025 authorizes a $0.45 increase for passenger vehicles (bringing the typical $0.75 plaza toll to ~$1.20) and a 30% increase for commercial vehicles, effective June 1, 2026. As of publication, the Tollway Board had not yet formally voted to implement these increases. Drivers should verify current rates at the official Illinois Tollway website before travel. Starting 2029, automatic CPI-based adjustments of up to 4% every two years are also authorized.
Truck / Commercial Vehicle Rates (January 1, 2026)
Commercial vehicle rates increased annually on January 1, 2026 under the schedule approved by the Tollway Board in 2008. Rates vary by axle count and time of day (daytime 6 AM–10 PM vs. overnight 10 PM–6 AM). Key examples:
| Vehicle Tier | I-PASS Daytime (per mainline plaza) | I-PASS Overnight | Pay Online Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (2-axle commercial) | Check official 2026 PDF at illinoistollway.com | Reduced overnight rate | Higher than I-PASS |
| Tier 4 (5+ axle trucks) | Up to $12.20+ per plaza (South Beloit) | Reduced | Up to $16.30 (Pay Online) |
For full 2026 truck rate tables by plaza, download the official 2026 Truck/Trailer Rate PDF at agency.illinoistollway.com/toll-rates.
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across Illinois toll roads, use the TollGuru Illinois toll calculator:
Illinois Tollway System Overview
| Tollway Name | Route | Corridor | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | I-94 / I-294 / I-80 | Indiana border south to Wisconsin border north via Chicago suburbs | ~80 miles |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | I-90 | Chicago/O'Hare northwest to Wisconsin (Rockford) | ~77 miles |
| Reagan Memorial Tollway | I-88 | Chicago west to Iowa border (DeKalb, Aurora, Moline) | ~104 miles |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | I-355 | North-south spine through DuPage and Will counties | ~31 miles |
| Illinois Route 390 | IL-390 | Elgin–O'Hare connector (new direct I-90 to O'Hare access) | ~7 miles |
| Chicago Skyway | I-90 (Chicago, separate private system) | Dan Ryan Expressway to Indiana Toll Road | 7.8 miles |
How to Pay Illinois Tolls
No cash is accepted anywhere on the Illinois Tollway system.
1. I-PASS / E-ZPass (Recommended — 50% savings):
- I-PASS is Illinois's E-ZPass compatible transponder — works on all 20 E-ZPass network states
- Any E-ZPass transponder from another state also works in Illinois at I-PASS rates
- Minimum $40 prepaid balance required to open I-PASS account
- Open at getipass.com or at I-PASS Customer Service Centers
- Interoperable via Central US Hub: Illinois I-PASS accepted in Texas (TxTag network), Oklahoma, Kansas
- Motorcycles pay the same rate as passenger cars
2. Pay Online / Pay By Plate:
- Cameras photograph your plate; invoice mailed with a $3 fee per toll if paying via invoice
- Must pay online within 14 days of travel to avoid the $3/toll invoice fee
- Pay By Plate service can be set up within 14 days of first travel — no account needed but higher rates apply
- Rental cars: add your rental's plate to your I-PASS account to avoid separate invoices at Pay Online rates
- Most rental companies charge daily admin fees ($3–15/day) for their own toll program — confirm before departing
Chicago Skyway (separate private system):
- Operated under a 99-year private concession — separate from the Illinois Tollway Authority
- Does not offer I-PASS discounts; rates are higher than equivalent Illinois Tollway plazas
- Different payment rules and billing system than the rest of the Illinois Tollway
- E-ZPass is accepted; 7-day grace period before administrative fees apply
Recent Changes (2026)
2026 Budget (approved December 2025):
- No passenger vehicle toll increase for 2026 budget year — rates remain at 2012 levels through mid-2026
- Annual commercial truck rate increase effective January 1, 2026 (ongoing per 2008 schedule)
- $1.79 billion total revenue projected; $1.26 billion capital program (largest in agency history)
- $374 million for systemwide roadway and bridge maintenance
- Key 2026 capital projects: Route 390 interchange improvements and direct O'Hare airport access; I-94/I-294/I-57 Tri-State interchange
Transit Funding Bill — Authorized Toll Increases (June 1, 2026):
- Illinois Governor signed legislation in November 2025 authorizing the Tollway Board to raise passenger tolls by $0.45 and commercial rates by 30%, effective June 1, 2026
- Expected to generate up to $1 billion annually in additional toll revenue
- Analysts estimate a typical commuter would pay approximately $329 more per year
- Starting 2029, automatic CPI-based adjustments of up to 4% every two years are authorized
- As of early May 2026, the Tollway Board had not yet formally voted on implementation — check illinoistollway.com for current status
Frequently Asked Questions
Does E-ZPass from another state work in Illinois?
Yes. Any E-ZPass transponder from any of the 20 E-ZPass member states works in Illinois at the I-PASS rate. You do not need to get a separate Illinois I-PASS if you already have E-ZPass from another state.
What happens if I drive through without paying?
Cameras photograph your plate and you have a 10-day grace period to pay online at the I-PASS rate. After 10 days, an invoice is mailed with a $3 fee per toll. After 14 days, additional fees apply. Unpaid tolls escalate to violations that can block vehicle registration renewal.
Is the Chicago Skyway part of the Illinois Tollway?
No. The Chicago Skyway is a privately operated 7.8-mile bridge/roadway under a 99-year concession lease. It has its own separate rate schedule, billing system, and does not offer I-PASS discounts. It connects the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago to the Indiana Toll Road at the Indiana border.
Illinois vs. Neighboring States (2026)
| State | System | Tag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 294-mile all-electronic tollway system | I-PASS / E-ZPass | No cash; lowest per-mile rate in Midwest; rate increase pending June 2026 |
| Indiana | 157-mile East–West Toll Road + bridges | E-ZPass + cash (transitioning to AET by 2027) | New law mandates all-electronic tolling by Dec 31, 2027 |
| Kansas | Kansas Turnpike; distance-based cashless | K-TAG (I-PASS/E-ZPass compatible via Central hub) | Interoperable with Illinois I-PASS |
| Wisconsin | No toll roads | N/A | Entirely toll-free; shares I-90/I-94 corridor with Illinois |
Useful Links & Resources
- US Toll Guide - All 37 toll states overview
- Illinois Toll Calculator - Calculate tolls for any Illinois Tollway route
- I-PASS / Illinois Tollway - Open account, manage transponder, pay invoices
- Illinois Tollway Official Toll Rates - 2026 rate PDF downloads for passenger and commercial vehicles
- Illinois Tollway Agency - Trip planner, plaza maps, construction updates
- Indiana Toll Road - Connecting east from Chicago Skyway to Ohio
- I-PASS Customer Service: info@getipass.com | 2700 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515
