Using Bay Area Express Lanes

Getting In/Out
Enter and Exit lanes diagram

Learn more about "Restricted Access," "Mostly Open Access," and "Open Access"

Understanding Tolls

The price to use an express lane increases or decreases every few minutes depending on traffic. When traffic is heavier, the cost increases and when traffic is lighter, it decreases.

Learn how to read Express Lane pricing and signs.

Watch our two-minute video to learn how much Express Lanes cost.

Enforcement

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) performs enforcement for all Bay Area Express Lanes, including:

  • Carpool occupancy requirements
  • Clean air vehicle requirements
  • Proper mounting of valid license plates
  • Illegal lane and buffer crossing
  • Proper mounting of a valid FasTrak® toll tag
  • Proper switch position setting on a FasTrak Flex® toll tag

License plate cameras identify vehicles in the express lane that do not have a valid FasTrak® toll tag. The registered vehicle owner receives a violation notice for the toll amount plus a $10 penalty. If unpaid, a second notice is sent and an additional $20 penalty is assessed. 

Additional Resources

Find more information on Bay Area Express Lanes:

FAQs

Do children count as carpool occupants?

Yes, children count.

Does my CAV tag work on the Express Lanes?

The Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) program has ended on October 1st, 2025, and all FasTrak CAV transponders now function as regular FasTrak Flex toll tags. Set the tag based on the number of people in the vehicle.

How are carpool and other rules enforced?

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) issues violations for improperly declared vehicle occupancy and illegal double white line crossings. Overhead beacons show the vehicle occupancy declared on the FasTrak Flex toll tag of each passing vehicle. Officers compare the beacon with the observed occupancy.

How can I find a carpool or vanpool?

Visit carpool.511.org to find a carpool through the Bay Area Commuter Carpool Network. Visit vanpool.511.org to learn more about vanpooling. These web pages also have information about carpool rewards and vanpooling subsidies. 

What are express lanes?

Express Lanes are specially designated highway lanes that offer drivers a choice to save time by paying a toll while rewarding carpoolers with the same time savings at a lower cost. During operating hours, the toll price may change due to the number of drivers in the express lanes to manage demand. As demand increases, the price increases. As demand decreases, the price decreases. Express Lanes are free for all drivers outside of operating hours.     

Need more information? Watch our two-minute explanation video.

What do I do if I have questions or want to dispute my FasTrak bill or an express lane toll violation?

Call the FasTrak Customer Service Center at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655). 

What does "open to all" on pricing signs mean?

Outside of posted hours of operation, a sign may display a message like "OPEN TO ALL" instead of a price to indicate that you can use the lane at no charge and without FasTrak.

What happens if I don't pay my violation notice?

Drivers who do not pay their express lane tolls and penalty within 21 days of receipt will receive a second notice with an additional penalty of $20 ($30 total penalty). If the second toll notice goes unpaid, the driver may be unable to renew their annual vehicle registration sticker before paying off all tolls and violations.

What happens if I use express lanes without FasTrak®?

When a driver uses an express lane without FasTrak (or other electronic tolling account, like EZ Pass), an image of the license plate is used to identify the vehicle. The vehicle owner is mailed an invoice for the unpaid toll as well as a $10 penalty fee. If the driver does not pay the toll and penalty fee on time, the vehicle owner receives a second notice with an additional $20 penalty.

Who pays to use express lanes?

Solo drivers pay to use the express lanes and 2-person carpools pay half-price tolls to use the express lanes on I-80, I-880, US-101, and SR-237.

Who travels toll free or at a discount?

Toll-free Travelers:

  • 3+ person carpools with a FasTrak Flex tag set to 3+
  • Motorcycles with a FasTrak Flex tag set to 3+
  • Vanpools with a FasTrak Flex tag set to 3+
  • 2-person carpools on I-680 and I-580 with a FasTrak Flex tag set to 2
  • 2-person carpools in 2-seater vehicles with a FasTrak Flex tag set to 3+
  • Transit vehicles

50% Discounted Travelers:

  • 2-person carpools on I-80, I-880, US-101 and SR-237 with a FasTrak Flex tag set to 2
  • Income-qualified drivers using the I-80 or I-880 Express Lanes who are enrolled in the Express Lanes START (opens in a new window)program
What are the benefits of express lanes?

Express lanes provide solo drivers the choice to pay for faster trips when needed and reward carpoolers, vanpoolers, motorcycles and transit riders with faster trips at reduced or no cost.

Where and when can I use the express lanes?

You can use express lanes on the following highways during the times shown. Click the links for maps of each express lane or visit expresslanes.511.org for a regional map showing all Bay Area Express Lanes.

Where do cars enter and exit the express lanes?

Drivers can merge into or out of Bay Area Express Lanes by crossing dashed white lines that separate the express lane from the adjacent general purpose lane. In some locations, Bay Area Express Lanes are separated from adjacent lanes with double white lines. In these locations, access into or out of the express lane is illegal and drivers can be cited by the California Highway Patrol for crossing double white lines. Double white lines are strategically located to prevent merging that would negatively impact traffic flow.Learn more about getting in and out of Express Lanes.

How much does it cost to use express lanes?

The amount you pay depends on how far you drive in the express lane and how heavy traffic is. Tolls increase as traffic increases and decrease as traffic decreases. 

The express lanes are broken down into toll zones. For example, a 20-mile express lane could have 4 or 5 toll zones. Overhead signs show one or two destinations and the price to travel to each. You never have to add the two destinations on the pricing sign together. The cost for a single zone may range from $0.50 to $15.00 depending on traffic and location of the zone.

You are guaranteed that you won't pay more than the price you see on the toll sign at the time you enter the express lane, even if prices change while you are in the lane. If you exit and re-enter the lane, however, your price may change.

How are express lane tolls collected?

Tolls are collected electronically using FasTrak®. Electronic readers identify toll tags in vehicles and apply the appropriate tolls to the FasTrak account. When FasTrak Flex toll tags are set to the 2 or 3+ position, the appropriate discount is applied. Tolls are collected only during the express lane hours of operation.

When a vehicle does not have a toll tag, cameras capture the vehicle's license plate. The license plate is matched to a FasTrak account and the toll is applied. If the license plate does not match to a FasTrak account, the driver is mailed an invoice for the toll plus a penalty. Learn more about pricing and pricing signs.

Do I need FasTrak® to use the lanes?

Yes, FasTrak® is required on all Bay Area Express Lanes. Carpools, vanpools and motorcycles can only travel toll-free free or at half-price with FasTrak Flex toll tags set to 2 or 3+. Solo drivers must have a FasTrak account to pay express lane tolls. Drivers who use the lanes without FasTrak receive toll violations. Learn more about the express lanes FasTrak® requirements.

How do I get a FasTrak® or FasTrak Flex® toll tag?

New to FasTrak? Open an account and get a FasTrak Flex Toll Tag: 

  • Online
  • In Person at Costco or the FasTrak Walk-in Center
  • By Phone or Mail

Learn more about getting started with FasTrak®.

Already have a FasTrak account? Each FasTrak account may have up to 4 toll tags.

  • Sign in to your FasTrak account at bayareafastrak.org
  • Click "manage tags & vehicle"
  • Click "order a toll tag" 
How do I access FasTrak® information?

You can access additional information at the FasTrak® website.