If you just drove across the Carquinez Strait and noticed your FasTrak statement looked a little heftier than usual, you aren't imagining things. Prices went up. Again. As of January 1, 2026, the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge toll has officially climbed to $8.50 for a standard two-axle car.
It feels like just yesterday we were talking about the $7 or $8 rates, but the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) has kicked off a new five-year plan that basically ensures we’ll be seeing these small hikes every single January until 2030. Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of, especially when you’re just trying to get to work without a headache.
What You’re Actually Paying Right Now
The most important thing to know is that the toll is only collected in one direction: eastbound (heading toward Vallejo). If you're heading westbound into Crockett, you get a free ride. It’s a bit of a weird quirk of the bridge’s history, but it’s a nice break for half of your commute.
Here is the current breakdown for 2026:
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- Standard 2-Axle Vehicle: $8.50
- Carpools (3+ people): $4.25
- Motorcycles: $4.25
- 3-Axle Vehicles: $19.50
- 5-Axle Trucks: $30.50
The carpool situation changed this year too. You now need three people in the car to get that half-price discount, which is a shift from the two-person rule some bridges used to have. Also, you must have a FasTrak Flex tag set to the "3" position to actually get the discount. If you just have a standard tag, the system will charge you the full $8.50 even if your car is packed with people.
Why did the price jump?
This 50-cent increase is the first of many. BATA is using the extra cash for what they call "maintenance and rehabilitation." Basically, old bridges are expensive to keep safe. This specific hike is separate from the Regional Measure 3 (RM3) increases we saw over the last few years. While RM3 was voted on by the public, this new series of annual increases was approved by the board to cover a $2 billion shortfall in bridge operations.
The "No Cash" Problem (And How to Pay)
Don't even bother looking for a toll booth. They're gone. The Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge is 100% cashless. If you don’t have a FasTrak tag glued to your windshield, the high-speed cameras will just snap a photo of your license plate and send you a bill in the mail.
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But here’s the kicker: starting next year (2027), they are going to start charging "convenience fees" for people who don't use FasTrak.
For 2026, the price is the same $8.50 whether you use FasTrak or get a bill in the mail. However, if you want to avoid future surcharges, you've got a few options:
- FasTrak Tag: The easiest way. It pulls money from your linked account.
- License Plate Account: You register your plate and a credit card, but you don't need the physical tag.
- One-Time Payment: If you’re just visiting, you can go to the FasTrak website and pay your toll up to 48 hours after you cross.
- Toll Invoice: If you do nothing, they’ll mail a bill to the address where your car is registered. Just make sure your DMV address is current, or those $8.50 charges will quickly turn into $30+ penalties.
Multibridge Discounts Are Real
If you’re a heavy commuter crossing multiple state-owned bridges in the same day—say you hit the Zampa and then the Richmond-San Rafael—you might actually save a buck. There is a $1 discount on your second bridge crossing of the day, provided it happens during peak hours (5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
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It’s not much, but over a month, that $20 or $30 stays in your pocket instead of the state's. You just have to make sure you're using the same FasTrak account for both crossings.
Looking Ahead to 2027-2030
BATA has already laid out the roadmap. It’s not a mystery. By 2030, a trip across the Zampa is going to cost $10.50 for FasTrak users and a whopping $11.50 if you wait for an invoice in the mail. They really want everyone on the electronic system to cut down on the administrative costs of mailing paper bills.
Basically, the "cheap" way to travel is going to be the FasTrak way.
Summary of What to Do Next
If you want to keep your commute as cheap as possible under these new rules, take these steps immediately.
- Check your FasTrak battery. If your tag is more than 5-7 years old, it might be dying. A dead tag means the camera has to work harder, and eventually, that will cost you more.
- Update your carpool status. If you have a vanpool or a big family, get the FasTrak Flex tag. The standard "set it and forget it" tags won't give you the $4.25 rate.
- Verify your DMV address. If you aren't using a tag, the invoice goes to your registered address. Missing one of these bills is the fastest way to get a registration hold on your car.
- Plan for the next hike. Mark your calendar for January 1, 2027, when the rate hits $9.00 and the tiered pricing starts to favor tag users even more.