Today, toll roads in Texas are about 25 highways located in different parts of the state. Texas is the leader in the number of highways that require tolls, but the reason for this is the fairly low gasoline taxes, which require additional funding to build, maintain, and repair highways. It is in Texas that toll road 130, also known as the Pickle Parkway, has a speed limit of 85 miles per hour, which is the highest in the United States.

There are three main highways, which are the largest and most popular among drivers.

North Tarrant Express

Designed to increase mobility along northbound I-35W, Northeast bound I-820 and SH 121/183 Airport Freeway with a regionally maintained managed lane system. There are two toll segments on the freeway: toll segment 1 runs from I-35W to the Northeast Loop (the airport freeway interchange). Toll Segment 2 begins at the Northeast Loop interchange and ends at Industrial Boulevard.

Brief characteristics of the North Tarrant Express

Anyone can use the TEXpress lanes, and they are open to all types of vehicles, including cars, SUVs, motorcycles, pickup trucks, large trucks, and tractor-trailers.

Katy I-10 QuickRide

Since 2009, the managed lanes of this Texas toll road have opened for single occupancy vehicle (SOV) use in addition to traditional HOV traffic.

Katy I-10 QuickRide features

To use the express lanes, drivers must have an EZ TAG or TxTag unless they are HOV (high occupancy vehicle) compliant. Signs at each toll booth will indicate the correct lane for HOV and other drivers.

I-635 LBJ Managed Lanes

Branches of the Texas Toll Road run east and west on I-635/LBJ, in the middle of the roadway from Luna Road to Greenville Avenue. North and south on I-35E/Stemmons Freeway, on the outside of the roadway from I-635 south to the I-35E splitter.

I-635 LBJ Managed Lanes in Brief

As in previous cases, any driver can use the expressway lanes because they are open to all types of vehicles.

All drivers using toll booths in Texas, including out-of-state drivers, must pay a toll. You can pay by using special toll tags as well as cash. But there are toll roads in Texas that do not accept all payment methods. Toll rates also vary depending on which method of payment is used, the type of highway, and other things.

Transponder tolls are the preferred way to pay tolls in Texas because they offer the highest discount. The following systems can be used:

1. TxTag. Issued by the Texas Department of Transportation, which allows drivers to navigate toll lanes in Texas.
2. TollTag. Like the TxTag, this transponder is issued by the North Texas Toll Road Authority, allowing motorists to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths.
3. EZ TAG. This option is valid for all toll lanes in Texas and is issued by the Harris County Toll Road Authority, which provides the electronic toll.
4. PikePass. Mostly used for toll roads in Oklahoma, but this tag is also valid in Texas at the same rate as the TxTag. It is also called PPAss.
5. K-Tag. Issued by the Kansas Highway Authority and primarily used for toll booths in Kansas.

Some bridges and toll roads still accept cash. This includes several sites on the Sam Houston Toll Road. A map of toll roads in Texas will help you determine exactly where these locations are for planning your trip.

If there is no valid tag, other methods should be used when crossing toll booths in Texas. You can pay the toll by cash, card, or online banking as indicated on the invoice.

In addition, you can visit the online portal of the relevant toll agency, find the necessary category in the menu, select the items associated with the license plate number of the owner's car, and then make the payment.

What happens if I don't pay the fees?

Driving through a toll booth in Texas without paying (wrong transponder, insufficient funds, etc.) is considered a violation or omission of the toll. An invoice will be sent to the address of the vehicle owner. An administrative fee may be assessed if the toll is late. For frequent violators, stricter penalties will be imposed by the appropriate authority.

How do I pay the fare for visitors to the state?

Visitors to the state or those who drive rental cars on toll roads can pay the toll by temporarily tying a transponder to the license plate of the rental car. They can also choose rental companies that will pay the toll according to the cost of toll roads in Texas.

What is the most convenient way to pay the fee?

The Uproad app is the optimal way to quickly pay your fare using an electronic system. It is suitable for different types of transponders that operate in Texas. All you need to do to get started is to install the app, then create an account and top up your account any way you like.

The app allows you to pay automatically through your smartphone or other gadget (if you have a positive balance). All tolls are as transparent as possible, and the amount will be shown on the screen before it is debited. You can pay the toll on the following toll roads in Texas:

The central part of the state:

1. MoPac Expressway Loop 1 & Express Lanes;
2. SH-45;
3. SH-550;
4. SH-71;
5. US-183;
6. US-183A;
7. US-290 Manor Expressway.

Northern part of the state:

1. Addison Airport Tunnel;
2. Chisholm Trail Parkway;
3. Dallas North Tollway;
4. I-30;
5. I-35;
6. I-635;
7. I-820;
8. Lewisville Lake Bridge;
9. Mountain Creek Lake Bridge;
10. President George Bush Turnpike;
11. Sam Rayburn Tollway;
12. SH-114;
13. SH-12;
14. SH-121;
15. SH-183;
16. SH-360;
17. SH-49.

The southern part of the state:

1. Fort Bend Parkway Harris County;
2. Hardy Toll Road;
3. I-10 Katy Freeway;
4. I-45;
5. SH-288;
6. SH-8 Sam Houston Tollway;
7. SH-99 Grand Parkway Harris County;
8. Tomball Tollway;
9. US-290 Northwest Freeway;
10. US-59 Eastex Fwy;
11. US-59 Southwest Fwy;
12. Westpark Yollway Harris County.

With the help of Uproad, you can pre-plan your trip, decide on the route, and get acquainted with all the tariffs. A built-in calculator will allow you to calculate in advance the amount of toll to be paid. All toll roads in Texas are marked on the map for drivers' convenience.