Last verified: November 8, 2026. By Joe Bjorklund · How we check · Report an error
Key Takeaways
- A car with E-ZPass pays $9.00 to enter Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone during peak hours in 2026 and $2.25 overnight, charged at most once a day (MTA).
- Peak hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends; overnight rates are 75% lower (MTA).
- Without E-ZPass, Tolls by Mail cost 50% more: $13.50 at peak for a car (MTA).
- Taxi and black-car trips to, from, within or through the zone add $0.75, and Uber or Lyft trips add $1.50 (MTA).
- Drivers with household income of $50,000 or less can get 50% off peak tolls after their first 10 trips each month, which cuts 20 peak entries from $180 to $135 (MTA; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
How much is the NYC congestion toll?
The MTA charges vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone, which covers local streets and avenues in Manhattan at and below 60th Street. Cars, SUVs, pickups and small vans with E-ZPass pay $9.00 during peak hours and $2.25 overnight, and are charged no more than once a day. The FDR Drive, the West Side Highway (Route 9A) and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street are not in the zone (MTA).
Tolls apply only on entering the zone, not on leaving or driving inside it. Trucks and buses are charged every time they enter. The MTA lists the car toll rising to $12 in 2028.
| Vehicle | E-ZPass peak | E-ZPass overnight | Tolls by Mail peak | Tolls by Mail overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars, SUVs, pickups, small vans (once a day) | $9.00 | $2.25 | $13.50 | $3.30 |
| Motorcycles (once a day) | $4.50 | $1.05 | $6.75 | $1.65 |
| Small trucks and charter buses (each entry) | $14.40 | $3.60 | $21.60 | $5.40 |
| Large trucks and tour buses (each entry) | $21.60 | $5.40 | $32.40 | $8.10 |
Do taxi and Uber riders pay the congestion charge?
Yes, as a per-trip charge. Yellow taxis, green cabs and black cars add $0.75 to every trip to, from, within or through the zone, and high-volume for-hire vehicles such as Uber and Lyft add $1.50, according to the MTA. The charge is the same at all hours.
Subway and local bus riders do not pay a toll. The subway fare is $3.00, with a $35 seven-day OMNY cap. See MTA fares.
What are congestion pricing crossing credits?
Drivers who enter the zone during peak hours through one of the four tolled tunnels (Lincoln, Holland, Queens-Midtown or Hugh L. Carey) with a valid E-ZPass get a credit against the congestion toll, according to the MTA. The credit is up to $3.00 for a car. There are no crossing credits overnight, and none for drivers using the free East River bridges.
| Vehicle | Credit |
|---|---|
| Cars and small vans | Up to $3.00 |
| Motorcycles | Up to $1.50 |
| Small trucks and charter buses | Up to $7.20 |
| Large trucks and tour buses | Up to $12.00 |
How much does congestion pricing cost a daily driver?
A driver who enters the zone during peak hours 20 days a month with E-ZPass pays $180 a month in congestion tolls, before any tunnel or bridge tolls. With the Low-Income Discount Plan, the first 10 trips are full price and the rest are half price, for $135. Paying by mail would cost $270 (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation from MTA rates).
The Low-Income Discount Plan is open to vehicle owners with federal household adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less in the prior year, or who are enrolled in SNAP, WIC or TANF, wherever they live. Residents of the zone with New York adjusted gross income under $60,000 can also claim a state tax credit for tolls paid (MTA).
| Payment | Monthly toll |
|---|---|
| Standard E-ZPass, 20 peak entries | $180 |
| Low-Income Discount Plan, 20 peak entries (50% off after the 10th) | $135 |
| Tolls by Mail, 20 peak entries | $270 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the congestion toll in NYC?
A car with E-ZPass pays $9.00 to enter the Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan at or below 60th Street during peak hours in 2026, and $2.25 overnight, according to the MTA. Cars are charged at most once a day. Without E-ZPass, Tolls by Mail cost $13.50 at peak and $3.30 overnight.
What are the congestion pricing hours?
Peak congestion toll rates apply from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to the MTA. At other times the overnight rates apply, which are 75% lower: $2.25 for a car with E-ZPass instead of $9.00.
Does Uber pay the congestion charge?
Riders do. Uber, Lyft and other high-volume for-hire vehicle trips to, from, within or through the Congestion Relief Zone carry a $1.50 charge, and yellow taxi, green cab and black car trips carry $0.75, according to the MTA. The per-trip charges apply at all hours, not just during the peak period.
Who gets a discount on the congestion toll?
Vehicle owners with household income of $50,000 or less, or who receive SNAP, WIC or TANF, can join the MTA’s Low-Income Discount Plan for 50% off peak tolls after their first 10 trips each month. Zone residents with income under $60,000 can claim a state tax credit, and some disability and emergency vehicles are exempt (MTA).
Is the FDR Drive part of the congestion zone?
No. The FDR Drive, the West Side Highway (Route 9A) and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street are excluded from the Congestion Relief Zone, according to the MTA. Drivers pay the toll only when they enter the local streets and avenues of Manhattan at or below 60th Street.
Related: Cost of owning a car in NYC · MTA fares · Manhattan cost of living · Staten Island cost of living · How much it costs to live in NYC · First-30-days checklist · NYC cost index
Sources
- MTA, Congestion Relief Zone tolls (2026)
- MTA, Congestion Relief Zone toll rates, crossing credits, discounts and exemptions (public webinar deck) (Dec 2024; rates in effect 2026)
- MTA, Low-Income Discount Plan for the Congestion Relief Zone toll (2026)
- MTA, Fares and tolls (Jan 4, 2026)