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CA_Traveler's avatar
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Mar 01, 2014

FasTrak – Golden Gate and Bay Area Bridges

The CA Golden Gate Bridge only accepts FasTrak (prepaid device on the vehicle) for payment or you prepay or drive through and pay later. There are no toll collectors on the bridge and you cannot pay with cash, etc. Since I could not find any information on their website for payment with a MH (or trailer) I called and got the following information.

We are going to use the option of purchasing the device and opening an account which allows them to transfer money from our CC account as needed. On the account we will register both out of state license plates (we are not CA residents). We can then use the device with either vehicle alone or combined. The number of axles will be counted, license plate pictures taken and the account charged.

We were also advised that the device has become a theft item and we could leave in hidden until we drive through. Just hold the card up near the window as we drive through.

The device is unique to the Bay Area. A friend also told us that his non CA FasTrak works in every state but CA.

You can also pay by registering your license plate (no device) and no FasTrak discount. Or drive through and then find a pay station. Or they will mail you a notice to the address registered for the license plate. In this case you only have a few days to pay or they will turn it over to a collection agency and this would not be acceptable to us for several reasons including it's typically several weeks before we typically get home and our 2 vehicles are registered in different states, so where would the snail mail notice be sent?

Apparently one time users that won’t be home in a few days can pre or post pay after they find a pay station. This process saves money by eliminating all toll collectors. All other bay bridges have cash lanes with toll collectors AFAIK.
Roads and Routes
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 10, 2014
    isa wrote:
    Can someone tell me what happens to us tourists with out of states / country licence plates ?
    You can find a cash payment station and pre pay for each vehicle or towing combination. Or you can post pay at a cash payment station (two day limit). Or you can wait until you receive the violation notice at home and send in the payment – note that you only have 30 days to pay before penalties are added. I'm assuming that the process is the same for Canadian plates as for US plates. You pay south bound only.

    Since we use the bay area bridges several times a year we decided to get the FasTrak device, set up an account and register our vehicles.

    Someone noticed that unhooking a toad and driving both would cost less. However I'm not aware of any good/safe areas near the bridge to unhook or hook. Perhaps use a exit before the bridge and then hook back up in Golden Gate Park.
  • Litch's avatar
    Litch
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2014
    isa wrote:
    Can someone tell me what happens to us tourists with out of states / country licence plates ?


    Probably better to read it here on the official site than take it second hand from someone who is guessing.

    http://goldengate.org/tolls/tolltipsforvisitors.php
  • isa's avatar
    isa
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    Can someone tell me what happens to us tourists with out of states / country licence plates ?
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Mar 03, 2014
    Actually I just checked the bridge toll website and all the tolls are based on the number of axles. So a two axle motorhome pays the same as a car anyway. But a two axle motorhome towing a two axle car (or two axle trailer) would pay $20 to cross. So disconnecting the toad would cost $10 for both vehicles, put leaving the toad hooked up costs $20 for both vehicles.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 03, 2014
    An Arizona man regularly drove over 100 MPH through speed cameras with his face and plates covered. Apparently he was making a statement. And the state made their statement when he was caught.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 03, 2014
    There are probably a number of illegal alternatives given the current technology.

    Here's another option which covers paying less than the intended toll:

    It is a violation of the toll evasion statutes under California Vehicle Code Section 23302 et seq. and Streets and Highways Code Section 30843 if you fail to pay the established bridge toll. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 40250 et seq., toll evasion violations shall be enforced by the issuance of notices of toll evasion, delinquent toll evasion and the imposition of civil penalties. The following is a schedule of toll evasion penalties:


    First Notice Issued:


    Toll plus $25 penalty

    Second Notice Issued:


    Toll plus $70 ($25 penalty plus $45 late fee). If toll is paid within
    15 days, penalty is reduced to $25
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Mar 03, 2014
    In looking at the Wikipedia page, it says they have a sensor that counts axles. So if I put my Fastrak in the RV and drive it through I think I'd get charged $5 unless somebody actually reviewed the video and saw it was an RV. Although you're supposed to register the vehicles you use the Fastrak in, I have brought it along while in a friends car and we crossed and I got billed the $5 and never heard anything about it. I think the main reason you have to register your car is because if the Fastrak doesn't read for some reason, then before you get the ticket in the mail they check to see if the car is registered on Fasttrak and if it is they just bill your account. If you have an account and have your cars on it, you don't even have to have the Fastrak device in your car. They will debit your account from your license plate.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 03, 2014
    msmith1199 wrote:
    CA Traveler wrote:
    This Wikipedia article provides a lot of answers about how the system works. Among other explanations is a treadle device that counts the number of axles.


    My motorhome is two axles and my toad is two axels so I could get a Fastrak for each and cross for $10 instead of $20. But I rarely cross in the motorhome anyway. I only need to when camping at Pacifica or Half Moon Bay and we don't go there often.
    Are you suggesting that if you register your MH as RV-Other which is the only RV option you'll be charged like a car? Interesting idea that I'd like to know the answer.

    I don't recall any good place to unhook within several miles of the bridge but being unhooked for the trip through SF might be a good idea. Driving a shorter rig through the city streets could be beneficial.

    For the casual reader: Many years ago SF told Caltrans to take a hike when they wanted to complete 101 through SF and as a result there are no good options to transit SF. In the meantime elevated roads in both SF and Oakland are history and the Loma Prieta earthquake was certainly a factor. Our preferred route is GG, 19th Ave to 280 midday and about 7 miles of city streets.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Mar 02, 2014
    CA Traveler wrote:
    This Wikipedia article provides a lot of answers about how the system works. Among other explanations is a treadle device that counts the number of axles.


    My motorhome is two axles and my toad is two axels so I could get a Fastrak for each and cross for $10 instead of $20. But I rarely cross in the motorhome anyway. I only need to when camping at Pacifica or Half Moon Bay and we don't go there often.

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