Illinois Tollway Rates Calculator

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Illinois Tollway Trip Cost Estimator

Use this calculator to estimate the cost of a trip on the Illinois Tollway system based on your vehicle type and payment method. See the significant savings offered by using an I-PASS or E-ZPass transponder versus paying by invoice (Pay By Plate).

Passenger Auto / Motorcycle (Class 1) Small Truck (2 Axles, 6 Tires) (Class 2) Medium Truck (3-4 Axles) (Class 3) Large Truck / Trailer (5+ Axles) (Class 4)
I-PASS / E-ZPass (Discounted Rate) Pay By Plate (Invoice Rate)
Enter the approximate number of mainline toll plazas on your route.
function calculateTollCost() { var vehicleClassSelect = document.getElementById("vehicleClass"); var vehicleClass = parseInt(vehicleClassSelect.options[vehicleClassSelect.selectedIndex].value); var paymentMethodSelect = document.getElementById("paymentMethod"); var paymentMethod = paymentMethodSelect.options[paymentMethodSelect.selectedIndex].value; var numTollPlazasInput = document.getElementById("numTollPlazas").value; var numTolls = parseInt(numTollPlazasInput); var resultDiv = document.getElementById("tollResult"); if (isNaN(numTolls) || numTolls < 1) { resultDiv.style.display = "block"; resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number of mainline tolls (at least 1)."; return; } // Average representative mainline rates for estimation (these vary by specific plaza in reality) // Using representative averages: Class 1 ~$1.50, Class 2 ~$3.00, Class 3 ~$6.00, Class 4 ~$12.00 (I-PASS rates) var baseRateAvg = 0; var className = ""; switch (vehicleClass) { case 1: baseRateAvg = 1.50; className = "Passenger Auto / Motorcycle"; break; case 2: baseRateAvg = 3.00; className = "Small Truck"; break; case 3: baseRateAvg = 6.00; className = "Medium Truck"; break; case 4: baseRateAvg = 12.00; className = "Large Truck / Trailer"; break; default: baseRateAvg = 1.50; } var finalRatePerToll = 0; var rateMultiplier = 1; var methodName = ""; // Pay By Plate is generally 2x the I-PASS rate for passenger vehicles, sometimes higher for trucks. // Using a 2x multiplier for simpler estimation across board for this tool. if (paymentMethod === "paybyplate") { rateMultiplier = 2; methodName = "Pay By Plate"; } else { rateMultiplier = 1; methodName = "I-PASS / E-ZPass"; } finalRatePerToll = baseRateAvg * rateMultiplier; var totalEstimatedCost = finalRatePerToll * numTolls; // Calculate potential savings if they used the other method var alternateMultiplier = (rateMultiplier === 1) ? 2 : 1; var alternateCost = (baseRateAvg * alternateMultiplier) * numTolls; var savings = Math.abs(alternateCost – totalEstimatedCost); var resultHTML = "

Estimated Trip Cost

"; resultHTML += "Vehicle: " + className + ""; resultHTML += "Payment Method: " + methodName + ""; resultHTML += "Tolls Passed: " + numTolls + ""; resultHTML += "Total Estimated Cost: $" + totalEstimatedCost.toFixed(2) + ""; if (paymentMethod === "paybyplate") { resultHTML += "You could save roughly $" + savings.toFixed(2) + " on this trip by using an I-PASS!"; } else { resultHTML += "You are saving roughly $" + savings.toFixed(2) + " compared to the Pay By Plate rate!"; } resultHTML += "*Note: This is an estimation based on average mainline toll costs. Actual rates vary specifically by plaza location and exact vehicle axle count."; resultDiv.style.display = "block"; resultDiv.innerHTML = resultHTML; }

Understanding Illinois Tollway Rates

The Illinois Tollway system, covering major routes like I-90, I-88, I-294, I-355, and I-390, utilizes an all-electronic tolling system. The cost of your trip depends heavily on two main factors: the type of vehicle you are driving and how you choose to pay.

Vehicle Classes matter

Tolls are graduated based on the impact a vehicle has on the road structure.

  • Class 1 (Passenger): Includes standard automobiles, motorcycles, and SUVs. These pay the lowest rates.
  • Classes 2-4 (Trucks & Trailers): Larger vehicles are categorized by the number of axles and tires. A small box truck pays less than an 18-wheeler semi-truck. Rates increase significantly as the vehicle size increases.

The I-PASS Advantage vs. Pay By Plate

The most critical factor in calculating your Illinois tollway rate is your payment method. The Illinois Tollway heavily incentivizes the use of transponders.

  • I-PASS or E-ZPass: If you have a transponder properly mounted in your vehicle, you pay the discounted rate. This is the lowest possible rate available.
  • Pay By Plate: If you drive through a toll plaza without a transponder, cameras capture your license plate. You have 14 days to pay the toll online. However, the Pay By Plate rate for passenger vehicles is currently double the I-PASS rate. For commercial vehicles, the markup can also be substantial.

For example, a typical mainline toll plaza might cost $1.50 for an I-PASS user but $3.00 for a Pay By Plate user in a standard passenger car. Over a long trip with multiple plazas, this difference adds up quickly, as demonstrated by the calculator above.

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