New York City’s congestion pricing program launched in 2025, making it the first in the United States. If you drive into Manhattan below 60th Street, you pay a toll — no exceptions for most drivers. The program is designed to reduce traffic in the most congested part of the city and fund the MTA.
This guide covers exactly what congestion pricing costs, who pays, who is exempt, how you get charged, and what your alternatives are if you want to avoid it.
The Honest Truth About NYC Congestion Pricing
Most passenger vehicles pay $9 per day to enter the congestion zone — Manhattan below 60th Street. You are charged once per day regardless of how many times you enter or exit the zone. Taxis and rideshares add a surcharge per trip. There is no easy way around it if you are driving into lower or midtown Manhattan.
What Does Congestion Pricing Cost?
| Vehicle Type | Toll Amount | When Charged |
| Passenger cars | $9 per day | Once per day entering the zone |
| Small trucks / vans | $14.40 per day | Once per day entering the zone |
| Large trucks | $21.60 per day | Once per day entering the zone |
| Motorcycles | $4.50 per day | Once per day entering the zone |
| Taxis (per trip) | $0.75 surcharge | Added to each taxi fare |
| Uber / Lyft (per trip) | $1.50 surcharge | Added to each rideshare fare |
| Uber / Lyft (shared rides) | $0.75 surcharge | Added to each shared ride fare |
Where Is the Congestion Zone?
The congestion pricing zone covers all of Manhattan south of and including 60th Street. This includes:
• Midtown Manhattan
• The Theater District and Times Square
• Chelsea, Gramercy, Murray Hill
• Lower Manhattan, the Financial District, Tribeca, SoHo
• The East Village, West Village, and Greenwich Village
If you are driving to any of these neighborhoods, you are in the zone and you will be charged.
How Are Drivers Charged?
Congestion pricing uses E-ZPass and license plate readers at entry points to the zone. You do not stop at a toll booth.
• E-ZPass holders are charged automatically to their account
• Drivers without E-ZPass are billed by mail using license plate recognition — at a higher rate in some cases
• You are charged once per day, not per crossing — multiple entries on the same day do not multiply the toll
Who Is Exempt From Congestion Pricing?
| Who | Exemption Status |
| Emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance) | Fully exempt |
| MTA buses | Fully exempt |
| School buses | Fully exempt |
| Vehicles transporting people with disabilities | Eligible for exemption — must apply |
| Residents of the zone earning under $60K/year | Tax credit available — not an exemption |
| Commuters from New Jersey via tunnel | No exemption — pay the tunnel toll AND congestion toll |
| Out-of-state drivers | No exemption — charged by plate if no E-ZPass |
How to Avoid the Congestion Toll
There are legitimate ways to avoid paying congestion pricing — they all involve not driving into the zone:
Park Outside the Zone and Subway In
The most practical strategy for most visitors and commuters. Park in one of these areas and take the subway into Midtown or lower Manhattan:
| Park Here | Subway Into Manhattan | Parking Cost | Travel Time |
| Long Island City, Queens | 7, E, M trains | $10–$20/day | 10–15 min |
| Astoria, Queens | N, W trains | $10–$15/day | 20–25 min |
| Hoboken, NJ | PATH train | $15–$25/day | 20–25 min |
| Jersey City, NJ | PATH train | $10–$20/day | 15–20 min |
| Bronx (south) | 4, 5, 6 trains | $10–$15/day | 20–30 min |
Take a Bus or Train Instead
NJ Transit, LIRR, Metro-North, and Amtrak all bring you directly into Manhattan without triggering the congestion toll. For regular commuters from the suburbs, the math almost always favors the train over driving plus tolls plus parking.
Does Congestion Pricing Apply 24/7?
Yes — congestion pricing applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There are no overnight exemptions or weekend discounts for passenger vehicles. The charge is the same whether you enter at 2pm on a Tuesday or 11pm on a Saturday.
Quick Reference: NYC Congestion Pricing
| Question | Answer |
| How much for a regular car? | $9 per day |
| How many times can I enter? | Unlimited — charged once per day |
| Do I need E-ZPass? | No — but you may pay more without it |
| Does it apply on weekends? | Yes — 24/7, 365 days a year |
| What if I just pass through? | You still pay if you enter the zone |
| Is there a discount for low income? | Tax credit available — not a toll reduction |
| Best way to avoid it? | Park outside the zone and take the subway in |
Congestion pricing is permanent and the tolls are expected to increase over time. If you drive into Manhattan regularly, now is the time to build a strategy around it — whether that is getting E-ZPass, shifting to transit, or parking outside the zone. The drivers who adapt earliest pay the least.
Toll amounts and exemption rules are subject to change. Always verify current rates at the MTA website before driving into the congestion zone.