Golden Gate Bridge
Toll Rates 2026

How Golden Gate Bridge Tolls Work

The Golden Gate Bridge toll is collected southbound only, when driving from Marin County into San Francisco. Northbound crossings from San Francisco into Marin, Sonoma, or Napa counties are always free. This one-way system has been in place since 1968, when the bridge authority eliminated the northbound toll to speed up the plaza.

The bridge went fully electronic in March 2013. There are no staffed toll booths and no cash is accepted. You pay via one of three methods: FasTrak transponder ($8.75), license-plate billing ($9.75), or the FasTrak Flex carpool rate ($5.75) with three or more occupants. The system reads your transponder or photographs your plate as you cross at highway speed.

The Golden Gate Bridge uses the California FasTrak system, not the East Coast E-ZPass. If you have an E-ZPass from another region, it will not be detected here and you will be billed at the higher pay-by-plate rate. Learn more about FasTrak.

FasTrak vs Pay-by-Plate: Which Should You Use?

FasTrak is the cheapest way to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. A standard passenger car with FasTrak pays $8.75 per crossing. Without FasTrak, the pay-by-plate rate is $9.75, a $1.00 difference per crossing, or $52 per year for a daily commuter making five round trips per week.

For occasional crossings, tourists, visitors, road trips, pay-by-plate is simpler. You don't need to set up an account. Just drive through; the cameras photograph your plate and a bill arrives within 21 days. Pay within 48 hours at bayareafastrak.org/paytoll and there's no penalty.

For anyone crossing 50+ times per year, FasTrak is worth the setup. Open a Bay Area FasTrak account free at 511.org. The transponder is free for FasTrak Flex (which also enables the carpool rate) or $25 for standard FasTrak, with the setup fee credited to your first crossings. See FasTrak sign-up steps or pay-by-plate details.

The $5.75 Carpool Discount

The Golden Gate Bridge carpool toll is $5.75 per crossing, a 34% discount off the standard FasTrak rate. To qualify you need a FasTrak Flex transponder (the switchable 1/2/3+ occupant device), three or more occupants in the vehicle at the time of crossing, and the transponder set to the “3+” position before entering the toll plaza.

The carpool rate applies at all times, unlike some Bay Area bridges, there are no peak-only carpool hours on the Golden Gate. Cameras and occupant-detection sensors verify the count at the plaza. If fewer than three occupants are detected while the transponder is set to 3+, you can be charged the standard rate plus a $25 violation penalty. The FasTrak Flex transponder itself is free when you sign up at 511.org. Full carpool program details.

For Tourists and Rental Cars

Most Golden Gate Bridge crossings by visitors happen in rental cars. Most rental companies automatically charge your credit card for the toll plus a convenience fee, typically $4.95 to $5.95 per day, capped around $34.65 per rental. On a week-long trip with one bridge crossing, you could pay $35 in fees for a $9.75 toll.

There are two ways to avoid the fee:

1. Pay within 48 hours at bayareafastrak.org/paytoll or by calling (877) BAY-TOLL. Most rental companies won't charge you if the toll is already paid.
2. Opt out at the counter. Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, and Budget all offer the option to decline their automatic toll program before you drive.

For a longer Bay Area trip with multiple bridge crossings (Bay Bridge, San Mateo, Dumbarton), the daily fee can be worth it. Otherwise, pay yourself.

Not driving? Walking or cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge is completely free. See the walking & biking guide for hours, routes, and tips. Full rental-car guide.