Department of Motor Vehicles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 7, 2018

Contacts:
Lisa Koumjian
[email protected]

THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS BENEFIT FROM E-ZPASS SALES AT DMV OFFICES
More than 34,000 customers purchased transponders in first year

One year after the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) began selling E-ZPass tags in its offices, strong sales numbers highlight the convenience and accessibility of this customer service option. As cashless tolling is being introduced on state highways, bridges and tunnels, obtaining an E-ZPass can save New Yorkers money and provide a fast, easy payment method for tolls.

“We are continuously looking for ways to improve the customer service we provide, and I’m glad that so many New Yorkers found this to be a useful option at their local DMV offices,” said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “As the summer travel season gets closer, I encourage our customers to take advantage of this service.  Having E-ZPass makes it much easier and more convenient for travelers using our roads, especially as cashless tolling becomes more prevalent.”

In April 2017, DMV began selling E-ZPass tags in all 27 state-operated DMV offices, which are located in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Albany and Onondaga counties. In the first year, 34,807 E-ZPass tags were sold at these locations. The DMV’s Coney Island office sold the most transponders with 5,363 in one year. The Bronx office had the second highest sales, selling 2,983 transponders.

As part of the transition to cashless tolling, the New York State Thruway Authority and Metropolitan Transportation Authority are encouraging all motorists to sign up for E-ZPass NY and save on tolls across the state, including a five percent discount along the entire 570-mile New York State Thruway. In addition, customers can visit MTA.info/E-ZPass to sign up and save 30 to 50 percent on MTA tolls, even if they do not own a car. 

“We would like to remind our customers that E-ZPass is simply the best way to travel through our facilities in a Cashless Tolling environment,” said Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels President Cedrick Fulton. "In partnership with the New York State DMV, we are making it more convenient for customers to get an E-ZPass tag, which saves 30 to 50 percent on tolls at all nine of our bridges and tunnels.”

“With record sales of Thruway E-ZPass On-The-Go last year, more people than ever before are taking advantage of the convenience and benefits of having E-ZPass,” Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said. “Sales of E-ZPass On-The-Go jumped 22 percent in 2017, thanks to our partnership with DMV and other retail locations across the state. We encourage every motorist to sign up to start enjoying the convenience of E-ZPass today and into the future as the Thruway will transition to cashless tolling system-wide by the end of 2020.”

E-ZPass On-the-Go tags can be purchased at 26 New York State Thruway Service Areas system-wide and nearly 800 locations across the state including select grocery and convenience stores, some county clerks’ offices and other government offices.  In 2017, a record 131,175 tags were sold at these locations.

Customers can also sign up for E-ZPass online.  There are a variety of payment options to fit the needs of every motorist including auto pay, pay-per-trip, and pay with cash using a Reload Card.  Several commuter and discount plans are also available. To learn more about Thruway Authority and MTA E-ZPass options, visit https://www.thruway.ny.gov/ezpass/index.html and https://new.mta.info/agency/bridges-and-tunnels.

E-ZPass customers can sign up for mobile alerts to get automatic notifications about their E-ZPass accounts. To sign up, go to the E-ZPass website, click on “Account Profile” and update the settings in the “Account Holder Information” section. Customers who opt into the alerts will receive important notifications such as low account balance, account payment notifications, changes in your replenishment amounts, or notice of credit card expiration.

Customers can visit the thruway authority website to learn how cashless tolling works and the many options of paying a toll bill and avoiding fines and violations.

###