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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNew York City became the first U.S. city to implement congestion pricing when the MTA began charging vehicles entering Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone on January 5, 2025. The toll is operating according to current MTA and NYC DOT pages. For most passenger cars with a valid E-ZPass, the listed toll is $9 during peak hours and $2.25 overnight; the amount can change with vehicle type, time, payment method, and qualifying tunnel credits. Check the MTA’s current toll information before a trip.
What is the Congestion Relief Zone?
The MTA’s Central Business District Tolling Program, commonly called congestion pricing, charges vehicles that enter or remain in Manhattan south of and including 60th Street. It is designed to raise money for improvements and modernization across MTA subways, buses, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad, according to NYC DOT.
The toll does not apply to every road inside the geographic area. The MTA map identifies the West Side Highway, FDR Drive, and the surface roadway portion of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connection as excluded. Some local-street connections can still be tolled, so use the official zone map to check a specific route.
How much is the congestion relief zone toll?
For a vehicle with a valid E-ZPass, the MTA’s listed rates vary by class and time. 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 than the corresponding peak rates. The MTA lists the following rates:
| Vehicle category | Peak toll | Overnight toll |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger and small commercial vehicles | $9 | $2.25 |
| Motorcycles | $4.50 | $1.05 |
| Small trucks and some buses | $14.40 | $3.60 |
| Large trucks and tour buses | $21.60 | $5.40 |
These are the MTA’s listed E-ZPass rates; exemptions, payment method, and other rules can affect what a particular driver owes. Passenger and small commercial vehicles in this category are charged once per day. Use the MTA’s current rate schedule and toll calculator for a specific vehicle and trip.
Taxis and for-hire vehicles
NYC-licensed taxis, green cabs, black cars, and high-volume for-hire vehicles are charged per trip rather than the daily vehicle toll. The MTA lists $0.75 per trip for taxis, green cabs, and black cars, and $1.50 for high-volume for-hire vehicles. Eligible trucks and buses can be exempt under the MTA’s rules.
Tunnel crossing credits
Valid E-ZPass vehicles entering the zone during peak hours from the Lincoln, Holland, Queens-Midtown, and Hugh L. Carey tunnels may qualify for a crossing credit. The credit depends on vehicle class, and there are no overnight crossing credits. Check the MTA schedule to confirm eligibility and the applicable amount.
Scheduled rate increases
The MTA lists a phased schedule: the initial $9 peak passenger-car rate, a planned increase to $12 in 2028, and $15 in 2031. These are scheduled rates, not a guarantee that rates or implementation details will remain unchanged; verify the live MTA page close to travel.
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What did congestion pricing change in its first year?
In a January 2026 anniversary release, New York State reported 27 million fewer vehicles entering the zone and an 11% reduction in traffic in the program’s first year. The state also reported more than $550 million in net revenue. These are figures reported by the state, not independently established measures here. The stated revenue purpose is to fund MTA improvements and modernization.
Did congestion pricing improve air quality?
Not measurably at the monitored sites in the first-year evaluation. In an August 14, 2026 release, the NYC Health Department said its analysis found air quality stable or slightly improved during the first year, with no significant toll-attributable change at monitored sites in the zone and environmental-justice communities.
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The analysis compared measured pollution after tolling began with projected “business as usual” levels, using the Van Wyck Expressway as a control and adjusting for weather and longer-term and seasonal trends. The gradual decline observed in 2024–2025 continued a longer city trend. Vehicle traffic accounts for 14% of New York City PM2.5 emissions and 20% of NOx emissions, according to the department, but those figures describe traffic’s contribution—not reductions caused by the toll. The findings do not establish that congestion pricing cleaned the air citywide. Read the Health Department’s evaluation for its methods and results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the toll still in effect?
Current MTA and NYC DOT pages describe the program as operating and publish toll information. There has also been a federal dispute: in 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it was rescinding the federal Value Pricing Pilot Program agreement. USDOT argued that many drivers lacked a toll-free option and that the toll was set primarily to fund transit rather than at the level needed to reduce congestion. That was the department’s stated position; the announcement alone does not establish that the toll ended. Check current agency information for toll operations and a primary court record for any later legal developments.
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How to estimate what a trip will cost
- Check the route. Use the MTA’s zone map to see whether your route enters the zone or uses an excluded road.
- Identify the vehicle category. Passenger car, motorcycle, truck, bus, taxi, and for-hire rules differ.
- Check the day and entry time. Apply the MTA’s peak or overnight period for the day of travel.
- Confirm payment and credits. Check the current schedule for non-E-ZPass rates, qualifying tunnel credits, and any exemption or per-trip charge.
- Use the live toll calculator. Rates and rules can change, so rely on the MTA’s current calculation rather than an old estimate.
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