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If you want to get a tag but don't own a car, you can still sign up online. This is what the rep told me to do. Falsify info on your cars plates, make and model (for the plate# write the first two letters of your family name with the last 4 digits of your cell number, year: current year, make\model: choose any), and once you have an account just log in and remove that car from your profile.

For those travelling the Lakewood - Brooklyn route often:

Sign up for a NY EZpass from either the NYSTA (Thruway) or MTA to avoid the $1 monthly fee. NJ/NY Port Authority charges the monthly fee.
The point of getting the NY and not NJ is to make some frequently travelled tolls cheaper.  The Verrazano bridge will be $6.55 instead of $10.17, the battery tunnel will be $5.33 instead of $7.50, the discounts you will lose out on for not having the NJ pass are very minimal (a couple of cents on the NJTP during peak hours)

Add the following discount plans:
Port Authority Staten Island Bridges Plan (PASI), which makes all PA bridges (Outerbridge,Bayonne,Goethals) $5.25,when crossing 3 or more times a month. There is nothing to lose as if you don't travel 3 times they simply adjust it to charge you the regular

You have to add carpool to your plan but if you end up going less than 3 times in the 30 day period you pay the full price for the toll (a little cheaper cause your using ezpass). I believe it takes 24 hours from when you call for it to activate and its per 30 day period not monthly.

EZP rate.
Port Authority Carpool Plan, $5 if you have 3+ people in the car.

NOTE: Sometimes signing up for the EZP with carpool on the plan you initially order, can cause a Port Authority EZ Pass to arrive (which has a monthly fee). It's therefore suggested to order a standard plan, wait until you receive your EZP (hopefully the MTA or NY Thruway  EZP versions) and then tack on the Port Authority Carpool Plan afterwards.   

Edit 5/19/2014: You can add PACP and PASI yourself on the website (in case the phone hours aren't convenient or you just plain don't like calling in general). Log in and choose "Plans" from the links on the left side of the page.

Another plus to having MTA issuing authority is that you can use PPT. Under this plan, you can keep a $0 balance in your EZ Pass account, and have tolls deducted from your bank account at the end of each day (by ACH). Downside is no miles for paying tolls, credit card is only a backup for when the ACH fails. (And if ACH fails even once you lose PPT plan and have to keep a debit balance in your account, so you can't have the miles & PPT :) )

Edit 12/28/2015: In order to ensure that you are enrolled by the MTA agency (see above), when you sign up, you should give an address in NYC (not just NYS). If you don't live there, ask a friend who lives there to receive the tags for you, and use his address. Afterwards, you may change the address to your home address in NJ (or wherever), and add whichever plans you want. This was suggested to me by EZ Pass, and it works.

To return an extra tag for NY MTA Authority:

Please return your tag(s) to:
P.O. Box 149001
Staten Island, NY 10314
along with a letter that states your Name, signature and E-ZPass account number.
For further assistance please contact (800) 333-8655 to speak with a Customer Service Representative.
« Last edited by qooldude on May 16, 2022, 04:34:23 PM »

Author Topic: EZPass Newbie  (Read 182611 times)

Offline doctorman

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #200 on: August 02, 2014, 09:47:37 PM »
Thank You.
Just to make sure I understood, I should include a separate blank paper stating that I want a thruway ez pass? Otherwise they just give you whatever they want?

correct

add a front page to your fax..

1) FRONT PAge: ask for thruway
2) application  (with the plan  GREEN if you have hybrid)
3) a copy of your hybrid car registration (if you have one)

Offline AMZ450

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #201 on: August 04, 2014, 12:03:27 PM »
if I pay and pick up a tag at the rfk bridge-will that be an MTA ezpass-similar to the NYSTA or will that be PA?

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #202 on: August 04, 2014, 12:04:29 PM »
correct

add a front page to your fax..

1) FRONT PAge: ask for thruway
2) application  (with the plan  GREEN if you have hybrid)
3) a copy of your hybrid car registration (if you have one)
Is it better to register with a NY or NJ address?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline sammy n

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #203 on: August 04, 2014, 04:01:09 PM »
Depends we're you live and what you going to cross the most.

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #204 on: August 04, 2014, 04:04:07 PM »
Depends we're you live and what you going to cross the most.
live in passaic, commute to monsey, sometimes go to lakewood / the city.
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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #205 on: August 13, 2014, 09:56:37 PM »
Is it better to register with a NY or NJ address?
live in passaic, commute to monsey, sometimes go to lakewood / the city.
BUMP
Thanks!
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Offline doctorman

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #206 on: August 13, 2014, 10:20:31 PM »
Why dont you call ezpass and ask them?

to best of my knowledge you have to fax in your application with a cover page asking for the agency of your choice and has nothing to do with your address..
if you do not you might end up paying monthly fees

Offline zlt123

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #207 on: August 14, 2014, 08:41:13 AM »
if you register with a NJ add. you get hit a montly fee (i think $1). But if you travel a lot off peak hours on the GSP or the NJTP its worth it

Offline doctorman

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #208 on: August 14, 2014, 08:51:00 AM »
if you register with a NJ add. you get hit a montly fee (i think $1). But if you travel a lot off peak hours on the GSP or the NJTP its worth it

If you just apply.. yes they will give you watever plan, the PA plan has 1$ monthly fee

get the thruway account by asking for it when you FAX in your application.

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #209 on: August 14, 2014, 11:17:04 AM »
I'm confused. So the NJ one has discounts on the GSP and Turnpike, and the NY one has discounts to the city?
TIA
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Offline zlt123

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #210 on: August 14, 2014, 12:19:32 PM »
Yes NJ gets nj discount and NY gets ny discount so if drive alot on nj highway it pays to get both. The MTA EZPass has no montly fee

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #211 on: August 14, 2014, 12:38:33 PM »
Yes NJ gets nj discount and NY gets ny discount so if drive alot on nj highway it pays to get both. The MTA EZPass has no montly fee
Do you know what the disscounts are? and which one is MTA?
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Offline @Yehuda

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #212 on: October 24, 2014, 11:10:12 AM »
Do you know what the disscounts are? and which one is MTA?
etech, you ever make a decision. I just noticed now that I'm being hit with the $1 monthly fee from NJ but I live in NY now so was thinking of switching. Did you figure out what discounts you get with and NJ one?

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #213 on: October 24, 2014, 11:29:53 AM »
etech, you ever make a decision. I just noticed now that I'm being hit with the $1 monthly fee from NJ but I live in NY now so was thinking of switching. Did you figure out what discounts you get with and NJ one?
No, it's on my todo list :)

I have to go look up the discounts.

So you have a NJ EZ Pass? Does it always have a monthly fee?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #214 on: October 24, 2014, 11:32:20 AM »
No, it's on my todo list :)

I have to go look up the discounts.

So you have a NJ EZ Pass? Does it always have a monthly fee?
Yep and Yep.

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #215 on: October 24, 2014, 11:45:41 AM »
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #216 on: October 24, 2014, 12:11:58 PM »
Any discounts?
I have discounts at the state crossings as per this page: http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/tolls.html
Not sure if I'm actually getting a discount on the NJTP or GSP or on any NY-NY bridges/highways because I don't know what the normal costs of those roads are.

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #217 on: October 24, 2014, 12:19:52 PM »
I have discounts at the state crossings as per this page: http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/tolls.html
Not sure if I'm actually getting a discount on the NJTP or GSP or on any NY-NY bridges/highways because I don't know what the normal costs of those roads are.
Nice! Now we need the list of NY discounts.

AFAIK the GSP is $1.50 or $.50 (depends where). It's usually posted. You can check your EZ Pass to see if you are paying amounts like that, or if it's not round #s.
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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #218 on: October 24, 2014, 02:57:16 PM »
Nice! Now we need the list of NY discounts.

AFAIK the GSP is $1.50 or $.50 (depends where). It's usually posted. You can check your EZ Pass to see if you are paying amounts like that, or if it's not round #s.
I just had some time on my hands, so I was able to compile some information. I'm actually impressed with myself, so I'm giving myself a pat on the back.

Here goes:

It actually looks like both NJ and NY EZPass have a $1 monthly service fee. Here'sthe NY FAQ site and you can see in this image that there is a fee. CMIIW if you have NY and don't get charged a fee. Let's continue...


GSP:
All my GSP tolls for the last few months were either $1.50 or $.50 like you said. I believe if you check this site, you'll agree with me that there is no discount for EZPass on the GSP even at Off-Peak times, no matter if you have a NJ or NY EZPass.

NJTP:
Here's a chart of the NJTP toll rates. It has each exit that you get on and off at with 3 options: Cash Price, EZPass Price (which seems to always be the same as Cash), and then Off-Peak EZPass, which always seems to be cheaper. The bottom of the chart makes it clear that the discounts are only for NJ EZPass. It seems like you can make back your $1 monthly service fee pretty easily with even just 1 Off-Peak trip. For example, anything from Exit 1 - 14 going to the GWB will save over $1 on an Off-Peak trip.

NY-NJ Crossings:
I think we're all in agreement that the bridges and tunnels crossing the state lines get a discount with either NJ or NY EZPass.

NY Bridges
The same way NJ gets the benefit of NJTP Off-Peak discounts, NY gets the benefit of its tolls - namely, the bridges and tolls that are solely within NY. This site is a calculator to see what discount you would get at each bridge/tunnel. Most of them are $7.50 for Cash and just $5.33 with NY EZPass. Verrazano is $15 with Cash and just $10.66 with NY EZPass. Obviously, it depends on your travelling habits, but those savings can easily add up to more than the discounts on the NJTP and easily make back your $1 monthly service fee. The terms there make it clear that these prices are only for a NY EZPass.

Additionally, other bridges and random tolls have discount plans based on how often you go through (i.e. you can sign up for plans that say things like you get a discount if you cross the Goethals 3 times a month - just a made up example), and there are discounts for tolls in certain areas if you sign up from that area's zipcode (ex. I saw some random zipcodes in NJ that have this).

End of the day?
I think I might try to switch to NY. I cross the Whitestone, Throggs-Neck and RFK probably more than the $1-2 I'd save on the NJTP if I happen to take that route Off-Peak.

Offline 12HRS

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Re: EZPass Newbie
« Reply #219 on: October 24, 2014, 03:05:47 PM »
just glanced through my transaction list for the last 3 months and no $1 charges showing at all

NYezpass