Driving in New Jersey will cost more in the new year as toll increases take effect

Driving in New Jersey will cost more in the new year as toll increases take effect on some of the state’s busiest highways and river crossings.

Toll hikes approved for the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission will go into effect in the first week of 2026.

The increases are described as necessary to fund capital projects and keep pace with rising construction and labor costs, but some have disputed that.

“New Jersey residents are getting nickeled and dimed, as are small businesses,” said Audrey Lane, president of the conservative think tank Garden State Initiative, in an interview. “What we really have to do is take a look at cutting spending.”

Here is a breakdown of the changes:

NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND GARDEN STATE PARKWAY
Tolls will increase by 3% on Jan. 5, marking the fifth hike since March 2020. A full 117-mile trip on the Turnpike will rise from $21.35 to $22 for cash customers. For E-ZPass users during peak hours, the cost increases from $21.24 to $21.88.

On the Parkway, mainline toll plazas will charge $2.37 for cash, up from $2.30, while E-ZPass rates rise from $2.17 to $2.24. Various entry and exit ramp tolls will see proportional increases.

DELAWARE RIVER JOINT TOLL BRIDGE COMMISSION
Eight commission bridges, including the Trenton-Morrisville and I-78 crossings, will increase tolls on Jan. 1. The passenger car E-ZPass rate rises by 50 cents to $2. The toll-by-plate rate jumps to $5. The commission does not accept cash.

CROSSING INTO NEW YORK
Drivers entering New York via Port Authority of New York and New Jersey crossings—including the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln and Holland Tunnels—will see higher tolls starting Jan. 4. A 3% inflationary increase plus a 25-cent fee will apply.

Peak E-ZPass rates will rise to $16.79, while off-peak rates increase to $14.79. Toll-by-plate rates will be $23.30. All Port Authority crossings are cashless.

CROSSING INTO DELAWARE
Tolls are collected when entering Delaware. At the Delaware Memorial Bridge, passenger car E-ZPass rates are approximately $4.75, with cash tolls around $6. Other Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission crossings into Delaware have varying rates, with E-ZPass users receiving a significant discount. All crossings are cashless.

ATLANTIC CITY EXPRESSWAY
The expressway will convert to all-electronic toll collection on Jan. 5. A 3% toll increase also takes effect, raising the pay-by-plate toll at major plazas from $4.85 to $4.99. E-ZPass rates at those locations increase from $3.10 to $3.19.

In addition to tolls, New Jersey’s petroleum products gross receipts tax will increase by 4.2 cents per gallon on Jan. 1. The combined state tax will be 49.1 cents per gallon for gasoline and 56.1 cents for diesel. The taxes replenish the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, which is projected to raise $2.1 billion in 2026.

““This dedicated funding stream continues to provide billions of dollars across the state to support our critical transportation infrastructure needs,” New Jersey Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio said in a statement.