Dallas-Fort Worth: Travelling and Billing on North Texas Toll Roads (NTTA)

If you visit the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you could have the following options driving on its toll roads:

• Driving your own car
• Order a TollTag (i.e., either a sticker or a hardcase)  in advance 
• Pay by ZipCash later
• Renting a car
• Use the TollPass service provided by a car rental company
• For example, here is the information from one car rental company (note that this information may vary):
• $3.95 per usage day, not to exceed $19.75 per rental period
• Note that this is the administration fee which doesn't include your unpaid tolls
• Open a short-term Zip-Pass account with NTTA 
• By calling NTTA Customer Service at 972-818-NTTA (6882)
• Move your hardcase TollTag (not available to the sticker ones) temporarily to a rental car 

The reason is that some roads or toll stations in NTTA (North Texas Toll Roads) coverage area are "electronic payment only" and this may be the only way to pay your toll.  Alternatively, you can use the service roads alongside the toll roads (see map below; click to enlarge). Finally, read the toll enforcement policy from NTTA before you head out to its toll roads.

TollBag vs ZipCash

Differences	TollBag	ZipCash
What is it?	A prepaid account opened to cover the cost of tolls using a credit or debit card	The NTTA’s pay-by-invoice option: Developed to replace cash collection as the NTTA transitioned to all-electronic toll collection Designed for non-TollTag customers
How are you charged?	Tolls are automatically deducted from the account each time a vehicle with a TollTag passes through a tolling point.	Bills are sent by mail to the registered owner of the vehicle When a motorist without a TollTag drives through tolling points, high-speed cameras take digital images of the license plate, and the tolls are billed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Advantages / Disadvantages	May be used on any toll road in Texas, including area TEXpress Lanes Accounts opened with a credit or debit card also may be used for parking or pass-through at DFW International and Dallas Love Field airports	Rates for travel are at least 50 percent higher than TollTag rates. May incur NTTA fees and/or rental agency fines
How to open an account or pay for it?	Opening or managing a TollTag is just a click away at the Online Customer Service Center. Visit an NTTA TollTag in Plano, Iriving or Fort Worth, or call them at 972-272-(6882) or 817-731-(6882). NTTA also has Regional TollTag Partners such as local municipalities, grocery stores and more than 1,100 MoneyGram agents throughout the Metroplex. View a complete list of Regional TollTag Partners Customer Information Section.	ZipCash invoices can be paid: online by mail, by phone, in person with the NTTA Customer Service Center at a participating ACE Cash Express location at Regional TollTag Partner locations

If You Rent a Car

Rental Car Company's TollPass


Various rental car companies share vehicle information with the NTTA to offer toll road access to their customers, while others offer an optional toll road plan at the time of the rental. Before driving NTTA roadways in a rental vehicle, please ask your rental car company about its individual toll policy. If your rental agreement includes toll road usage, the vehicle may be used to travel on any NTTA road, and you will receive a ZipCash invoice referencing the rental car tollway use.

If NTTA does not have an agreement with a driver’s rental car company or the driver declines their rental company’s toll policy, then the driver may be subject to NTTA fees and rental agency fines upon use of toll roads.

NTTA's Zip-Pass

Rental car companies have varying toll payment methods, but NTTA’s Zip-Pass offers a consistent way to pay tolls accumulated while driving a rental vehicle during a visit to Dallas/Fort Worth. A Zip-Pass account is available as a short-term method for visitors to pay for tolls while driving in rental vehicles. A Zip-Pass account allows motorists to avoid added fines, fees and opt-in costs charged by rental car companies and assures tolls are paid on time while driving a rental car or visiting Dallas/Fort Worth in a personal vehicle. Customers must call NTTA Customer Service at 972-818-NTTA (6882) to open a Zip-Pass.

You also can ask your rental car company about its individual toll policy. If NTTA does not have an agreement with a driver’s rental car company or the driver chooses not to opt-in to their rental company’s toll policy, then the driver may be subject to NTTA administrative fees and rental agency fines upon use of toll roads.

If You Have a Hardcase TollTag

If you have a hardcase TollTag, you may temporarily move your TollTag to a rental car after updating your TollTag account with the rental vehicle’s information. You may update your information through Online Account Management or by contacting NTTA Customer Service at 972-818-(NTTA) 6882.

After using your hardcase TollTag in a rental car, you must update your TollTag account with your regular vehicle information to avoid administrative fees.

This option is not available to customers with sticker TollTags, since attempting to remove the sticker will damage the tag.

References

1. FAQ
2. NTTA (official) site
• The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) is the regional tollway authority and the only one in Texas. NTTA operates all toll roads in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. 
3. North Texas Tollway AuthoritySign and Traffic ControlDevice Guidelines
4. Free roadside safety services (NTTA.ORG)
• Call at 214-224-2203 or dial 911, if you need 
• Changing flat tires
• Jump starting vehicles
• Filling radiator water 
• Giving gas if you run out