Toll Tips for Visitors — Out-of-State and
Out-of-Country
For travelers crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in vehicles with license plates from out-of-state or another country, there are several ways to pay your toll electronically. Please note that if you are in a rental car, that you must check with your rental car company about their tolling program, if one is offered. Learn more about rental vehicles here.
Tolls for the Golden Gate Bridge are collected only in one direction – when you are travelling south towards the city of San Francisco.
Suggestions for Short-Term Visitors
If you’re a visitor with out-of-state or out-of-country license plates staying in the San Francisco Bay Area and plan on crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (southbound), your best toll payment choice is to use the Pay-By-Plate option and make a One-Time Payment or you may also consider opening a limited duration License Plate Account.
The One-Time Payment option is exactly what it sounds like: make a toll payment, one payment at a time. One-Time Payments can be made up to 30 days before or 48 hours after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. One-Time Payments are valid for 30 days and are non-refundable. They may be made (1) using a credit card (click "Make a One-Time Payment" link below) or (2) using a credit card by calling toll free in California 1-877-229-8655 or out-of-state 415-486-8655. Also, for a vehicle with an out-of-state license plate, you may pay in person using cash at one of our many Cash Payment Locations or pay in person at the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center in San Francsico. For a vehicle with an out-of-country license plate, you may pay in person at the Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center in San Francsico.
You may also consider a limited duration License Plate Account. Open the account online, with a credit card, and enter the ending date of your stay as the account closure date. There is nothing more to do as the credit card on file with your account is charged the appropriate toll each time you cross the Bridge. If you prefer to fund a License Plate Account using cash, you must maintain a small toll balance equivalent to one toll payment ($6 for a two-axle vehicle).
Open a License Plate AccountSuggestions for Extended Stay Visitors
If you’re a visitor with out-of-state or out-of-country license plates staying in the San Francisco Bay Area and plan on crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (southbound), your best toll payment choice is to either open a License Plate Account ($6 toll for 2-axles) or a FasTrak Account ($5 toll for 2-axles).
FasTrak is the most convenient toll payment method for any driver who uses any of the Bay Area toll bridges, Express Lanes, or toll roads in Southern California more than once per year. Setting up a FasTrak Account can be done easily online or over the phone using a credit card. A prepaid balance is required. Using FasTrak is the only way to receive a discounted toll ($5 per crossing for two-axle vehicles) on the Golden Gate Bridge.
You may also consider a License Plate Account. Open the account online, with a credit card. There is nothing more to do as the credit card on file with your account is charged the appropriate toll each time you cross the Bridge. If you prefer to fund a License Plate Account using cash, you must maintain a small toll balance equivalent to one toll payment ($6 for a two-axle vehicle).
Open a License Plate Account