A little-known Port Authority toll policy may be costing thousands of E-ZPass users extra money every time they cross into New York—and many drivers have no idea it’s happening.

Motorists who mount their E-ZPass transponder in the upper-right corner of their windshield instead of directly behind the rearview mirror or in the center, as instructed, risk having their tag fail to register. When that happens, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey automatically charges what’s known as the “Mid-Tier” toll rate—a price that falls between the discounted E-ZPass rate and the much higher Toll-by-Mail rate.

The policy affects drivers using the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. While many motorists assume their license plate will simply be matched to their E-ZPass account if the transponder isn’t read, the Port Authority instead applies the higher Mid-Tier rate whenever it determines a properly mounted E-ZPass tag was not detected.

According to the Port Authority, the problem often stems from incorrectly mounted transponders. Drivers who place the tag in the upper-right corner of the windshield—a common location on many vehicles—or anywhere other than the recommended mounting position may inadvertently prevent toll readers from detecting the device. The agency instructs motorists to mount standard interior E-ZPass tags near the top center of the windshield, just behind the rearview mirror, where they can be read most reliably.

The financial impact can add up quickly. For a standard passenger vehicle, the Mid-Tier rate is several dollars higher than the regular E-ZPass toll but still lower than Toll-by-Mail. For example, the current Mid-Tier toll for a two-axle passenger vehicle at Port Authority crossings is $19.55, compared with the lower standard E-ZPass rate available to drivers whose transponders are read correctly.

Port Authority officials say the Mid-Tier category was created to recover the added administrative costs associated with processing plate images and matching accounts when an E-ZPass tag is not successfully scanned. Agency officials have estimated that improperly mounted or unreadable E-ZPass tags account for roughly 9% of all crossings, making the issue far more common than many motorists realize.

The policy first took effect in July 2025 as part of a broader package of toll changes approved by the Port Authority. Since then, consumer advocates have argued that many drivers remain unaware that simply relocating their transponder could save them money on every trip.

Drivers can avoid the higher charge by making sure their E-ZPass transponder is mounted exactly where the agency recommends. Vehicles with specialized windshields that interfere with radio signals may require an exterior license-plate-mounted transponder instead of the standard interior tag. The Port Authority advises motorists who are experiencing repeated misreads to contact E-ZPass customer service to verify that they have the proper transponder for their vehicle.