A Port Authority toll policy may be charging thousands of E-ZPass users extra fees without their knowledge, depending on where they mount their transponder.
Drivers who place their E-ZPass tag in the upper-right corner of their windshield instead of directly behind the rearview mirror or in the center risk having the device fail to register. When a transponder is not read, the Port Authority automatically applies the "Mid-Tier" Toll rate - a charge that sits between the discounted E-ZPass rate and the higher Toll-by-Mail rate.
The policy applies to drivers using the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. While some motorists may expect their license plate to be matched to their E-ZPass account if the transponder isn't detected, the Port Authority instead charges the elevated Mid-Tier rate when it determines a properly mounted E-ZPass tag was not detected.
According to the Port Authority, incorrect transponder placement is a common cause of the problem. Tags placed in the upper-right corner or elsewhere outside the recommended position can prevent toll readers from detecting the device. The agency instructs drivers to mount standard interior E-ZPass tags near the top center of the windshield, just behind the rearview mirror.
The current Mid-Tier toll for a two-axle passenger vehicle at Port Authority crossings is $19.55, compared with the lower standard E-ZPass rate. Improperly mounted or unreadable E-ZPass tags account for roughly 9% of all crossings, according to Port Authority officials.
The Port Authority created the Mid-Tier category to recover administrative costs associated with processing plate images when an E-ZPass tag is not successfully scanned. The policy took effect in July 2025 as part of broader toll changes. Consumer advocates have noted that many drivers remain unaware that relocating their transponder could reduce their tolls.
Drivers with specialized windshields that interfere with radio signals may need an exterior license-plate-mounted transponder instead of the standard interior tag. The Port Authority advises motorists experiencing repeated misreads to contact E-ZPass customer service.