Free Guide to Tampa Pay By Plate Toll System

What Is the Tampa Pay By Plate Toll System?

The Tampa Pay By Plate toll system is an electronic toll collection method used on Florida's expressways in the Tampa Bay area. Unlike traditional toll booths where drivers stop to pay cash, this system photographs your vehicle's license plate as you pass through a toll plaza and bills you later. The system operates on several major roads in the region, including the Selmon Expressway (formerly known as the Crosstown Expressway), the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway Extension, and connections to the Suncoast Parkway.

The Pay By Plate system was created to reduce traffic congestion and create a faster toll collection process. Instead of waiting in lines at toll booths, vehicles can pass through designated lanes at highway speeds. The technology captures a high-resolution image of your license plate, reads the plate number, and cross-references it with vehicle registration information from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

As of 2024, the Tampa expressway system processes hundreds of thousands of vehicle transactions monthly. The system handles both Florida residents and out-of-state visitors. Tolls vary depending on the specific expressway and the distance traveled. For example, tolls on the Selmon Expressway typically range from $0.50 to $1.25 per trip, though prices may change based on maintenance needs and operational costs.

Understanding how this system works helps drivers know what to expect when traveling through tolled areas. The system operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning tolls are charged regardless of the time you travel. There are no discounts for off-peak travel times on most Tampa area expressways, unlike some other toll systems in Florida.

Key Takeaway: The Tampa Pay By Plate system is a camera-based toll collection method that photographs your license plate and bills you later, allowing drivers to pass through toll plazas without stopping.

How the Pay By Plate System Works Step-by-Step

When you drive through a toll plaza on a Tampa expressway equipped with Pay By Plate technology, several things happen in quick succession. As your vehicle approaches the toll gantry (the overhead structure spanning the roadway), cameras mounted on this structure take a clear photograph of your front license plate. These cameras use infrared technology and high-speed image capture to ensure they get a readable image even if you're traveling at full highway speed.

The photograph is transmitted to a processing center where specialized software reads the license plate number automatically. This process, called optical character recognition (OCR), converts the image into text that can be matched against vehicle registration records. The system cross-references the plate number with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles database to identify the registered owner of the vehicle.

Once the vehicle is identified, a toll charge is recorded against that vehicle's account. The specific amount charged depends on several factors:

• Which expressway you traveled on (Selmon Expressway vs. other routes)
• The distance between entry and exit points
• The time of day (some tolls may vary)
• Your account type (prepaid SunPass account holders receive discounts)

After the toll is recorded, the system generates a bill that will be mailed to the vehicle owner's address on file with the state. For vehicles registered in Florida, this address is the one provided with vehicle registration. For out-of-state vehicles, the bill is mailed based on the registration address. Bills are typically mailed within 5 to 10 business days of the toll transaction.

The entire process from license plate capture to account processing happens automatically and requires no action from the driver. You don't need to stop, swipe anything, or interact with any equipment. However, your toll obligation is created immediately when your vehicle passes through the toll plaza, even though you may not receive a bill for several days.

Key Takeaway: Pay By Plate uses cameras to photograph your license plate, the system identifies your vehicle through state registration records, and a bill is mailed to you within about two weeks.

How to Pay Your Tampa Bay Toll Bills

Once you receive a bill in the mail for tolls charged through the Pay By Plate system, you have several payment options. The bill includes an invoice number, the date of your toll transaction, the expressway you used, and the amount due. Most bills include clear instructions for payment on the document itself.

The primary payment method for Pay By Plate bills is mailing a check or money order to the address provided on your bill. You should include the invoice number with your payment and mail it to the Central Florida Expressway Authority or whichever agency manages the specific expressway. Payment by mail typically takes 7 to 10 business days to process, so mail your payment at least this long before any payment deadline listed on your bill.

Online payment is also available for Pay By Plate tolls. The official expressway websites provide online payment portals where you can enter your invoice number and pay by credit card or debit card. This method is faster than mailing and provides immediate confirmation of payment. Look for the "Pay My Bill" or "Pay Toll" section on the expressway authority's website.

Phone payment represents another option for some toll bills. You can call the expressway authority's customer service line, provide your invoice information, and make a payment using a credit or debit card over the phone. Phone lines are typically available during business hours, though some systems offer 24-hour automated payment lines.

To avoid accumulating additional fees, pay your toll bills when you receive them. Florida law allows expressway authorities to add administrative fees to unpaid tolls. After a certain period (typically 60 days), unpaid tolls may result in:

• Penalty fees added to your account
• Suspension of your vehicle registration
• Prevention of vehicle registration renewal
• Potential vehicle registration revocation

If you receive multiple tolls and prefer a more organized approach, consider enrolling in a SunPass prepaid account. This allows you to pay tolls in advance and receive a discount on each toll charged. Discounts typically range from 10% to 35% depending on your account type and the specific expressway.

Key Takeaway: You can pay toll bills by mail, online through the expressway website, or by phone with a credit card. Pay promptly to avoid penalties and registration suspension.

Using SunPass to Reduce Your Toll Costs

SunPass is Florida's prepaid toll payment system that works with Pay By Plate tolls and other toll collection methods throughout the state. Rather than waiting for bills in the mail, you can enroll in SunPass, add money to an account, and receive discounts on every toll transaction. SunPass is available to both Florida residents and out-of-state visitors.

To use SunPass with Pay By Plate tolls, you link your vehicle's license plate to a SunPass account. When you drive through a toll plaza, the system recognizes your plate and charges your SunPass account instead of sending a separate bill. The toll is deducted immediately from your prepaid balance, and you can monitor your account online or through a mobile app.

The financial advantage of SunPass on Tampa expressways is significant. Drivers with SunPass accounts typically receive discounts of 10% to 35% on each toll transaction. For example, if a toll normally costs $1.00, SunPass users might pay $0.65 to $0.90 depending on their account type. Over time, these discounts add up considerably for frequent travelers. A driver using the Selmon Expressway twice daily for a month could save $20 to $40 with a SunPass account.

Setting up a SunPass account involves several steps. First, you visit the SunPass website or call their customer service line to open an account. You'll need to provide personal information including your name, address, email, and phone number. Next, you'll register your vehicle by providing the license plate number, vehicle make and model, and vehicle identification number (VIN). After completing the account setup, you add funds to your account by credit card, debit card, or electronic bank transfer.

SunPass offers different account types suited to different driving patterns: