You’re cruising through the toll plaza, your E-ZPass stuck to the windshield where it’s been for years. Suddenly, you spot the dreaded message: “Go Toll Unpaid.” Your stomach drops. Did it charge you? Are you going to get fined? What just happened?
Don’t worry—this post breaks down exactly what that message means, why it happens, and what you should do right now to avoid those nasty $50 violation fees.
What “Go Toll Unpaid” Actually Means
Here’s the thing about that message: it’s giving you two instructions at once.
The first part—”Go”—is the most important. It’s telling you to keep driving. Don’t hit the brakes, don’t reverse, and definitely don’t try to back up to a toll collector. Stopping in an E-ZPass lane creates a serious safety hazard that could cause a rear-end collision.
The second part—”Toll Unpaid”—means your transponder didn’t complete the electronic handshake with the gantry. The system didn’t deduct the toll from your account in real-time.
But here’s the good news: you’re not automatically getting a violation. The toll plaza cameras captured your license plate, and the system will try to match it to your E-ZPass account. If your plate’s registered correctly, the toll gets deducted as a “Video Toll” without any penalty.
That’s the safety net—when it works.
The Three Main Reasons Your Tag Failed
Your Transponder Battery Died
This is the number one culprit. Your E-ZPass isn’t just a sticker—it’s an active device powered by an internal battery that typically lasts 8 to 10 years.
When that battery dies, it doesn’t give you much warning. There’s no flashing light or beeping (unless you have an E-ZPass Flex model with a low-battery buzzer). The tag just stops responding to the toll reader.
Cold weather makes this worse. Users report a spike in “Go Toll Unpaid” messages during winter because freezing temperatures increase the battery’s internal resistance. A dying battery that works fine in August might fail completely in January.
How to tell if it’s the battery: The failures happen consistently at multiple toll plazas, not just one location.
Your Windshield Is Blocking the Signal
Modern cars often have metallized windshields—glass with microscopic metal layers that block heat and UV rays. Great for your air conditioning bill, terrible for your E-ZPass.
These metal layers act like a Faraday cage, blocking the radio signal between your transponder and the toll reader. Specific vehicles are notorious for this problem:
Vehicles that commonly need exterior tags:
- Cadillac Deville and Seville (1992-2003)
- Ford Crown Victoria (1987-1994)
- Chevy Venture and Lumina vans (pre-2002)
- All Tesla models
- Volvo XC90 (2002-2005)
You’ll usually see a small area around your rearview mirror with a dotted pattern—that’s the “communication window” where manufacturers leave the metal coating off. Your tag needs to sit precisely in this zone, or it won’t read.
Your License Plate Isn’t Listed on Your Account
This is the silent killer. You bought a new car, got new plates, or you’re driving a rental—and you forgot to update your E-ZPass account.
When your tag fails, the system captures your plate and searches for a match. No match? You get mailed a violation notice with a $50 administrative fee instead of a simple toll deduction.
What Different Signs Actually Tell You
Not all E-ZPass messages mean the same thing. Here’s the decoder ring:
| Sign | What It Means | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| E-ZPass Paid | Everything worked perfectly | Nothing—enjoy your drive |
| Go Toll Unpaid | Tag didn’t read; using backup camera | Keep driving; check your account later |
| Call Service Center | Your account has a serious problem | Keep driving; call customer service ASAP |
| Paid Low Bal | Account balance is running low | Add money soon to avoid issues |
The “Call Service Center” message is particularly concerning. This usually indicates your account is suspended or flagged, possibly due to multiple payment failures or serious delinquency.
The One Exception: Staffed Lanes
If you get “Go Toll Unpaid” in a lane with an actual toll collector, the rules change completely.
In this situation, you must stop and pay the full cash toll to the attendant. Your electronic transaction is void. Pay with cash or card, and absolutely get a receipt.
Why the receipt? Because the system might still capture your plate photo. Without proof you paid cash, you could get double-charged—once by the attendant and again when the back-office system processes the image.
What to Do Right Now If You Saw This Message
Step 1: Log into your E-ZPass account immediately
Check three things:
- Is your balance positive?
- Is your current vehicle’s license plate listed exactly right (not a typo)?
- Is your transponder marked as “Active”?
If your plate’s missing, add it right away. Many systems check the database during processing (which happens days later), so adding it quickly can save the transaction retroactively.
Step 2: Watch for the toll to post
Within 2-5 days, check your transaction history. You should see a “Video Toll” or “V-Toll” entry for the toll you passed through. This means the system successfully matched your plate and deducted the toll—no violation, no fee.
Step 3: Order a replacement tag if needed
If your account and plates are fine, your transponder’s probably dead. Request a replacement—it’s usually free. They’ll mail you a new one, and you need to send the old one back in the foil bag they provide (or you’ll get hit with a non-return fee).
How to Fight a Violation Notice
Let’s say you did everything right, but you still got a violation notice in the mail with a $50 fee. Don’t panic—you can dispute it.
The dispute process:
- Flip the notice over and find “Section C” (the section for E-ZPass holders)
- Write your E-ZPass account number and transponder number
- Explain: “I have an active account, my plate was listed (or has been added), and my tag failed due to technical malfunction. Please deduct the toll and waive the fee.”
- Submit online through the agency’s violation portal, or mail the coupon with a check for the toll amount only—not the fee
Most agencies grant waivers for legitimate account holders who fix the underlying issue, especially if it’s your first dispute. They know tags die and windshields cause problems.
Pro tip: If you’re calling customer service, do it at 7 AM. Wait times can hit an hour during peak periods.
The Terrifying Math of Administrative Fees
Here’s what scares people: these fees stack up per occurrence.
You drive your regular commute through two tolls each day. Your tag’s dead, but you don’t know it yet. In one work week (10 trips), you trigger 10 separate “Go Toll Unpaid” events.
In New Jersey, that’s $500 in administrative fees (10 × $50) plus the tolls—all accruing silently before the first violation notice arrives in your mailbox.
Pennsylvania’s even more aggressive. Under Act 112, they can suspend your vehicle registration if you hit $250 in unpaid tolls or four unpaid invoices. That’s a shockingly low threshold.
First-Time Forgiveness Programs
The good news: many toll agencies have started offering amnesty for first-time offenders.
Virginia Express Lanes has a formalized program. If you contact them within 60 days of the first invoice and pay the tolls, they’ll waive all fees.
New York lets you “Resolve Toll Bill” online by linking the violation to your active E-ZPass account before it escalates to the full violation stage. This avoids the penalty entirely.
New Jersey doesn’t advertise it, but customer service reps have discretion to waive fees as a “one-time courtesy”—especially if you replaced a dead tag or corrected your plate info.
How Different Toll Agencies Handle This
The consequences of “Go Toll Unpaid” vary wildly depending on where you’re driving.
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
NJ recently implemented “courtesy checks” after legislative pressure. Before issuing a violation, they check if your plate’s linked to an E-ZPass account. If it is, they deduct the toll without the fee.
But this only works if your plate data’s correct in the system.
Pennsylvania Turnpike
PA doesn’t mess around. They define a “Habitual Offender” as anyone with $250 unpaid or four unpaid invoices. That triggers registration suspension under Act 112.
The “Go Toll Unpaid” message here is your early warning that you’re on a path toward losing your vehicle registration.
Port Authority (NY/NJ)
If you’re using the Carpool Discount Plan on the George Washington Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel, a failed tag read gets even more complicated. You might lose your entire carpool discount status if the system can’t verify your transaction properly.
New York State Thruway
The Thruway’s moving to completely cashless tolling. Here’s the scary part: they’re removing the “Go Toll Unpaid” signs from newer gantries.
You won’t know your tag’s dead until violation notices start piling up weeks later. If you’ve got issues, contact the Office of the Toll Payer Advocate—they’re an ombudsman specifically for these disputes.
Special Cases: Rental Cars and Multiple Vehicles
Rental cars: Most rental companies now include toll programs (like PlatePass). But if you stick your personal E-ZPass on a rental windshield, make absolutely sure you add that rental plate to your account first. Otherwise, the backup camera won’t find a match.
Multiple vehicles: You can link multiple license plates to a single E-ZPass account. Do this for every car you regularly drive—your spouse’s car, your kid’s car, the vehicle you borrow for weekend trips. It’s your safety net when the tag fails.
Watch Out for Scam Texts
A newer problem: smishing scams targeting toll anxiety.
You’ll get a text saying “You have an unpaid toll—pay now to avoid a $50 fee” with a sketchy link to “toll-service-ny.com” or something similar.
Red flags:
- Generic greeting (“Dear Customer” instead of your name)
- Urgent language demanding immediate payment
- Link to a domain that’s not the official E-ZPass site
- Request for payment via Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards
Real toll agencies communicate via official mail or email. They don’t send texts with payment links. If you’re worried, log directly into your official E-ZPass portal—never click links in texts.
