FAQs

The 95 and 395 Express Lanes are now part of one continuous system. That means that all drivers, whether or not they are HOV-3 can continue on the 395 Express Lanes. The Lanes are tolled 24/7 and all drivers (except motorcyclists) need an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex to use them.

These signs help manage traffic if something is wrong on the road ahead. If there is a green arrow above your lane, you’re good to go. A red X above your lane means you should change lanes. Drive the speed posted on the digital speed limit sign if it’s different from the regular speed of 65. The speed limit may be lower to help get customers safety around an accident down the road.

The Seminary Road ramp facing south opened to all customers in summer 2022.

Yes, the Express Lanes run around the clock. You just need an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex to pay for your trip. Learn more about how to use the Lanes here.

Yes, you can. If you exit the northbound 395 Express Lanes at Eads Street to drop off slugs at the Pentagon or Pentagon City, you can get back on the Lanes at Eads Street and go to D.C. for free, even if it’s just you in the car. But, you have to get right back on the Lanes and remember to put your Flex in toll mode so a Virginia State Police trooper doesn’t stop you. Even though your Flex will be in toll mode, we’ll know you carpooled to Eads Street. You won’t be charged to finish your trip to the city.

With the construction of the 395 Express Lanes, the northbound exit ramp around the Eads Street interchange has been expanded to two ramps. The ramp to the left exits to the Pentagon, while the right ramp takes you to Pentagon City.

Yes, you sure can but drivers traveling north from Eads Street or the regular lanes near Pentagon City to the 395 Express Lanes need an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass Flex®.

Yes, we have information about the 395 Express Lanes in both Spanish/Español and Korean/한국어.

Based on Virginia law, customers can’t travel toll-free solely because they drive a hybrid car. As HOT lanes, we run differently from HOV Lanes, so we follow a different statute.

Want to know more about the HOT statute? Head here and read sections 33.1-56.5 to learn more.

As a motorcycle rider, enjoy toll-free travel on the Express Lanes. You don’t need an E-ZPass® either. But if you already have an E-ZPass® on your motorcycle, feel free to leave it in place when you travel on the Express Lanes knowing you won’t be charged.

Slugging is a way to carpool that's been around the D.C. area for decades. At least 2 riders, or slugs, meets drivers in Park and Ride lots and jump in their cars for the morning commute. In the evening, slug lines pop up in spots around the city where drivers pick them up for the trip back to the Park and Ride lots. Drivers get to use the Lanes for free and riders get a quick trip. 

For more information on how to slug in Northern Virginia, check out slug-lines.com for more info. 

Enjoy fast, predictable and toll-free travel when you have 3 or more people in the car and an E-ZPass® Flex set to HOV ON.

We welcome buses of any size to use the Express Lanes for free. All they need is an E-ZPass®.

Law enforcement may travel the Express Lanes for free if they’re:

• Responding to an emergency
• Patrolling HOT lanes based on an agreement we have with them
• Performing a time-sensitive investigation
• In pursuit of persons known or suspected to be engaged in or with knowledge of criminal activity
• Performing active surveillance

If your team needs to travel on the Express Lanes to perform law enforcement duties, please email us so we can ensure you’re not charged for these trips.

Otherwise, the only way to travel the Express Lanes toll-free is with 3 or more people in the vehicle and your E-ZPass® Flex set to HOV ON.

Commercial trucks with two axles can travel along the Express Lanes with an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex. On the other hand, trucks with more than two axles can’t use the Express Lanes.

No, you can’t tow boats or trailers on the Express Lanes.

Taxi drivers can use the Express Lanes at any time with an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex to pay for tolls.

Yes, but you should first check with the rental company or your rental agreement about coverage, policies and charges related to tolls and E-ZPass®. Companies may add additional fees for E-ZPass® transactions or unpaid toll invoices. Even if you don’t see an E-ZPass® in the rental vehicle, the license plate might be linked with the rental company’s E-ZPass® account.

Please contact us before visiting our “Make a payment” page to see if there’s a trip you need to pay for from traveling the Lanes in a rental car.

Yes, all out-of-towners are welcome to use the Express Lanes. Just make sure you’re traveling with an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex to pay for tolls. If you already have an E-ZPass®, even from another state, it’ll work on the Express Lanes. Want to learn more about our Lanes before hitting the road? Visit our Learn the Lanes page.

Toll prices change based on our dynamic pricing system. Keep in mind, unusually heavy congestion or a specific event like a traffic accident or lane closure(s) can raise rates a little higher than normal.

Our dynamic pricing changes based on real-time traffic conditions. There are sensors placed alongside the road to monitor traffic levels and speed. Depending on the flow of the roads, toll prices will go up or down accordingly, so our customers can enjoy a steady drive along the Express Lanes.

Tolls must be paid with an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex. There are no toll booths or options to pay cash on the Express Lanes. Learn more about riding with E-ZPass® on the Express Lanes.

You’ll see 2 pricing signs before all entrances to the Express Lanes. The pricing signs show the cost to travel to a maximum of 3 upcoming exits. Don’t see your exit? It might fall between the exits listed on the sign or you might see it on another pricing sign later during your trip. The displayed prices change dynamically to reflect current toll prices.

When you’re traveling on the 95 or 395 Express Lanes, you might see overhead pricing signs. These signs display the costs to travel to exits farther down the Lanes. Learn more about pricing signage on the Express Lanes.

You can also download the Express Lanes mobile app or visit our Map your trip webpage to estimate the cost of your trip before hitting the road.

No, but tolls run differently between the 495 Express Lanes and the 95 and 395 Express Lanes.

On the 495 Express Lanes, your toll rate is locked in when you enter the Lanes and pass under the first toll point.

On the 95 and 395 Express Lanes, you might need to pay more than one toll during your trip because the Lanes are much longer than the 495 Express Lanes. If you see another pricing sign during your trip on the 95 Express Lanes, you’ll lock in your rate for the next stretch of your trip after you pass under this second toll point.

Learn more about pricing on the Express Lanes.

Before all Express Lanes entrances, you’ll see 2 pricing signs displaying the latest toll prices to travel to up to 3 destinations. Don’t see your exit? It might fall between the exits listed on the sign or you might see it on another pricing sign later during your trip.

On the 495 Express Lanes, the first 2 destinations listed on the pricing sign are the most popular destinations from your entry point. The third destination is the furthest distance you can travel on the Lanes from your entry point. If your exit isn’t listed on the sign, the toll price will fall between the listed exits.

The 95 and 395 Express Lanes include many opportunities for drivers to enter directly from the regular lanes, which is why the pricing signs show upcoming exit points.

Read more about signage on the Express Lanes.

The 95 and 395 Express Lanes corridor is much longer than the 495 Express Lanes. There are several points where drivers can enter and exit the 95 and 395 Express Lanes from the regular lanes. Because of this, we show the 3 upcoming exit points on the 95 and 395 Express Lanes pricing signs to keep drivers in the loop on pricing for exits along the Lanes.

Download the Express Lanes mobile app or head over to our Map your trip webpage to get real-time toll rates for your route before hitting the road.

Express Lanes tolls are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even if there’s a technical issue with the dynamic pricing signs. If you notice a glitch with these signs, please contact us as soon as you safely can.

Larger rides like box trucks can weigh a lot more than regular passenger vehicles. Those extra pounds do more damage to the road that we maintain. To help make sure we can continue to give all our customers a great travel experience, we charge larger vehicles a different rate. The vast majority of customers drive personal passenger vehicles that pay the standard toll.

You can use one of the following options to drive on the Express Lanes: an E-ZPass®, E-ZPass® Flex or the GoToll app. Smart Tag, SunPass and Peach Pass toll-payment transponders will also work to pay tolls. To find out how to properly use your E-ZPass®, check out our toll payment choices page. If you want more information about GoToll go to their website to learn more.

Yes, the standard E-ZPass® will work.

On the other hand, looking into an E-ZPass® Flex is a great idea if you find yourself traveling with 3 or more people in your car. As long as you have at least 3 people in your car and an E-ZPass® Flex set to HOV ONe, you can use the Express Lanes for free. This option is not available with the standard E-ZPass®.

Yes, Smart Tag, SunPass and Peach Pass can pay for tolls on the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes.

Carpools, vanpools or other HOV-3+ travelers need an E-ZPass® Flex to travel toll-free on the Express Lanes. Simply switch your E-ZPass® Flex to HOV mode so you can travel for free.

Yes, Smart Tags can pay for tolls on the Express Lanes.

Head on over to the Virginia or Maryland E-ZPass® websites. To get an E-ZPass®, you’ll need your:

• Driver’s license number
• License plate number
• Credit card information

Live in Virginia? You can also get an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex at:

• AAA Mid-Atlantic locations
• Select Wegmans locations
• Select Giant Food Stores
• Select DMVs
• Tysons Corner Center

Here are a couple of ways to swap a standard E-ZPass® for an E-ZPass® Flex:

• Head over to www.EZPassVA.com and log into your account. Click on the “Transponders” tab to choose which E-ZPass® you want to exchange
• Call the Virginia E-ZPass® Customer Service team at 877-762-7824
• Visit one of the E-ZPass® Customer Service Centers nearest you

The beep lets you know your E-ZPass® Flex is set to HOV ON. Make sure you have a final headcount of 3 or more people in your car to travel toll-free on the Express Lanes in HOV ON.

The E-ZPass® Flex is not available for bumper-mounted transponders.

To travel toll-free with a bumper-mounted transponder, simply call us at 1-855-495-9777 at least 30 minutes before your trip and up to one week in advance. You can register for periods of up to 7 days for toll-free travel.

Please have this information handy when you call us so we can honor your trip:

• E-ZPass® number
• License plate number
• Approximate time of your trip

It takes about 5-7 days for your Express Lanes trip to post to your E-ZPass® account.

Your E-ZPass®  Flex has two settings – HOV ON and HOV OFF. You should only set your Flex to HOV ON to get a free ride on the Express Lanes if you have 3 or more people in the car. If you don’t have 3, you have to pay a toll. Depending on the type of E-ZPass®  Flex you have, set your Flex so HOV ON is covered or the line connects to HOV OFF. 

Technology on the Lanes may have identified that you did not have 3 people in the car even though your Flex was set to HOV ON. If that happens, you may be charged the toll. If we made a mistake, please give us a call at 1-855-495-9777.

The Express Lanes use on-road technology that can spot the difference between HOV and toll-paying customers by reading your E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex. We also partner with Virginia State Police to make sure our drivers are playing fair by the HOV rules.

Missing a toll happens to the best of us. That’s why we offer our customers a 5-day window to pay for a missed toll before we send an invoice. If you get an invoice from us in the mail, it’ll include the toll for your trip and an administrative fee. It’s best to pay your invoice quickly so you don’t run the risk of increasing fines and penalties.

If this is your first time missing a toll or receiving an invoice for unpaid tolls, call us at 1-855-495-9777 to see if you qualify to have fees waived through our First-Time Forgiveness program. Otherwise, head over to our payment page to pay for your missed toll.

Please remember to double check that your E-ZPass® Flex is in the correct travel mode before hitting the road. Traveling in HOV mode when you don’t have 3 or more people in your car may result in a ticket from a State Trooper or being charged for the toll.

The Virginia State Police are on the Express Lanes to make sure our customers are meeting the HOV-3+ requirement and following other traffic laws at all times.

We offer 3 simple ways to pay for your toll invoice:

• Pay online through our Make a payment webpage
• Give us a call at 1-855-495-9777 to pay via credit card
• Mail your check and payment stub to P.O. Box 28148, New York, NY 10087

Missing a toll isn’t a big deal, but if left unpaid, it can become one. It’s best to act quickly before time and money add up. Here’s what happens if you don’t pay for your missed toll*:

• Missed toll (within 5 days of trip) - $1.50 fee per trip
• First invoice (6-35 days after trip) - $12.50 fee per trip
• Second invoice (45-74 days after trip) - $25.00 fee per trip
• Collections (90+ days after trip) - $100.00 fee per trip
• Court (180+ days after trip) - $100, plus court fees and civil penalties set by Virginia law

*As the operator, we don’t and cannot, by law, profit from administrative fees and civil penalties related to toll enforcement. Any administrative fees assessed for collection purposes are outlined by Virginia law and judges enforce the Virginia code and impose civil penalties.

We spend time and effort to locate and contact drivers about the missed tolls they need to pay. Administrative fees cover these costs. If we send you multiple invoices, the fees will increase. And, if we get returned mail from the address we received from the DMV, your information may be sent to a debt collection agency and you’ll need to work directly with them.

You can avoid increasing fees by paying for your missed toll within 5 days of your trip. Simply visit our Make a payment page and submit your payment through the Missed a toll form before we mail you an invoice.

The due date for your payment can be found on your invoice.

If you don’t pay your invoice, you’ll face increasing fines and penalties. This can go as far as state-mandated civil penalties or other fees if left unpaid.

There are 2 ways to help avoid future invoices:

• Make sure your E-ZPass® has funds on it and is properly mounted in your car
• Sign up for our missed toll email alerts to stay on top of any unpaid tolls

You can dispute an invoice after entering your information in the “Received an invoice?” form on our website or call us at 1-855-495-9777. Weren't the one in the driver's seat? Submit our affidavit form and tell us who was.

If you have an HOV-3+ violation, you can follow the instructions on the summons and appear in court to dispute the violation.

If you don’t like the outcome of a toll dispute, please contact our customer service center at 1-855-495-9777.

We use DMV records to find the address where we should send the toll invoice. If we get returned mail from the address we received from the DMV, your information is sent to a debt collection agency. To make sure that toll invoices are sent to the right address, double check that your information is up to date with the DMV.

Our team is here to help. Please call our customer service center at 1-855-495-9777.

If you received a court summons, our Customer Care team is a call away at 1-855-495-9777. Please call us Monday through Friday, between 7am–7pm.

You received a court summons because we see that your car traveled along the Express Lanes without paying the toll, and you’ve been identified as the registered owner of the vehicle by the DMV. After a minimum of 120 days in debt collections with no payment received, a court summons is sent.

For more information, please contact Customer Care at 1-855-495-9777, between 7am–7pm, Monday through Friday.

The civil penalties are:

• $50 for a first offense
• $100 for a second offense within one year of the first offense
• $250 for a third offense within a period of 2 years of the second offense
• $500 for a fourth and subsequent offenses within a period of 3 years of the second offense

Yes, you can prepay by contacting us at least 2 business days before the court date listed on your summons. Give our Customer Care team a call at 1-855-495-9777, between 7am–7pm, Monday through Friday.

Your court fees will be listed on your court summons. Under Virginia law (§33.2-503 of the Virginia Code), civil penalties and court costs can be assessed to drivers of unpaid tolls in addition to the amount of the unpaid tolls and administrative fees.

No, you don’t need a lawyer for your court date because it’s a civil hearing. Keep in mind, you have the right to seek legal counsel.

If you need to reschedule your court date in Fairfax court, please contact the court at 703-246-2815 or visit the Fairfax County website.

If you need to reschedule your court date in Prince William court, please contact the court at 703-792-6010.

Thanks to our officers patrolling the Express Lanes, you can feel safe knowing that help is never far behind.

We also have a close eye on the Lanes at all times with cameras and traffic sensors monitoring and alerting our team of incidents within approximately 30 seconds. Express Assist, our incident response crew, is here to lend a helping hand to our customers along with first responders and emergency service providers.

Our Express Assist crew helps get you back on your way if you run into any minor mechanical bumps along the Express Lanes. We’ll lend you a helping hand free-of-charge when you:

• Get a flat tire
• Run out of fuel
• Need to jump start your battery

Express Assist can also alert fire rescue or police in the event of an emergency. While Express Assist vehicles can’t provide towing services, we can contact a towing company for disabled drivers.

Keep in mind that if you prefer to call a different roadside emergency service for help, you may be responsible for covering any toll costs they need to pay to reach you on the Express Lanes.

On the 495 Express Lanes, please safely pull over to the left shoulder and stay in your car. On the 95 and 395 Express Lanes, pull over to the closest shoulder and stay in your car until help arrives.

If you run into a medical emergency along the Lanes, always call 911 first.

You should not get out of your vehicle unless it’s an emergency. In that case, please move safely away from your vehicle and wait until help arrives.

We want your Express Lanes trip to be as smooth and safe as possible, so we stay on top of making improvements along the Lanes. Some of these activities include:

• Replacing channelizing posts
• Clearing debris
• Repainting lane markings
• Changing light bulbs