You’re driving down the Garden State Parkway, the sun is out, and your E-ZPass chirps—or maybe it doesn’t. Then, two weeks later, you open your mailbox to find that dreaded yellow or white envelope. It’s a violation notice. Suddenly, a $1.50 toll has ballooned into a $51.50 headache thanks to a "processing fee."
Honestly, it feels like a scam. But before you throw it in the trash or just blindly pay the "extortion," you should know that the NJ E-ZPass dispute process is actually winnable. Most people just do it the wrong way.
Why You Got That Violation in the First Place
It isn’t always about "skipping" the toll. Most NJ E-ZPass disputes stem from technical glitches that aren't even your fault.
The most common culprit? A dead battery. Those little white transponders don't last forever. Usually, after 8 to 10 years, the internal lithium battery just quits. When that happens, the overhead reader at the toll plaza can't "see" you. The camera takes a photo of your plate, and since the system doesn't immediately find a matching tag, it flags you as a violator.
Then there's the "V-Toll" issue. This happens when your tag is mounted poorly—maybe it’s in your cup holder or hidden behind the tinted part of your windshield. As of July 2025, new policies actually increased fees for "improper mounting" at Port Authority crossings like the George Washington Bridge. If your tag isn't exactly where they want it (usually one inch below the tint, right of the mirror), you might get hit with the full cash rate instead of the discount, or a straight-up violation.
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How to Handle an NJ E-ZPass Dispute Without Losing Your Mind
If you have an active account with a balance, you should never pay the $25 to $50 administrative fee. Seriously. Don't do it.
1. The Online Route (The Path of Least Resistance)
The fastest way to start your NJ E-ZPass dispute is via the official website, ezpassnj.com. You’ll need the violation number (it’s on the notice) and your license plate.
When you get to the "Dispute Type" dropdown, look for "Section C: E-ZPass Customer." If you were a valid customer at the time of the toll, they will usually waive the administrative fee and just deduct the base toll from your account. It takes about five minutes. Just make sure you take a screenshot of the confirmation page because their system is notoriously glitchy.
2. The Phone Call (For the Patient Only)
If the online portal is giving you errors—which happens more than it should—you’ll have to call 1-888-AUTO-TOLL (1-888-288-6865).
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Fair warning: you're going to be on hold. Probably for an hour.
Expert Tip: To reach a human faster, some users suggest staying silent when the automated system asks for your account number. Eventually, it might give up and put you in the queue for a real person. Once you get someone, be polite. The person on the other end hears people screaming all day. If you explain that you have a valid account and the tag just didn't read, they are almost always authorized to wipe the fees on the spot.
3. Snail Mail (The "Paper Trail" Method)
On the back of the violation notice, there is a dispute section. Fill it out, check the box that says you’re an E-ZPass holder, and provide your account number. Mail it to:
E-ZPass Violations Processing Center
P.O. Box 4971
Trenton, NJ 08650
The "Invisible" Trap: Plate Mismatches
Here is something that trips up a lot of people. You get a new car, you move your tag over, and you forget to update your account with the new license plate.
E-ZPass uses a "Plate-to-Account" matching system as a backup. If your tag fails, they scan your plate. If that plate isn't registered on your account, you get a violation. If it is on your account, they just charge you the toll and move on.
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Check your account profile right now. If your current car isn't listed, you're basically begging for a violation notice the next time your tag has a "hiccup."
What if You Don't Even Have E-ZPass?
If you got a notice but don't have an account, you're likely dealing with "Toll-by-Plate." This isn't technically a violation yet; it's just a bill. However, if you ignore it, it becomes a violation with those massive fees.
If you think the camera misread your plate (like a "D" looking like an "O"), you can dispute it by providing a copy of your vehicle registration. They compare the car in the photo to the car on your registration. If they don't match, the dispute is usually granted pretty quickly.
The 120-Day Rule
You can't wait forever. You generally have 120 days from the date of the notice to file an NJ E-ZPass dispute. If you let it go past that, it might get sent to a collection agency like Alliance One or PMT Solutions. Once it’s in collections, the E-ZPass customer service reps often lose the ability to help you, and you’ll have to deal with the debt collectors directly, which is a whole different nightmare.
Practical Steps to Avoid Future Disputes
- Check your "Auto-Replenish": If your credit card on file expired, your account will hit a $0 balance. Once it's negative, your tag is "blacklisted" and every toll you pass will trigger a violation.
- Replace your tag every 7 years: Even if it's still working, the battery is a ticking time bomb. You can request a new one for free through the website.
- Mount it right: Stop holding it up to the glass with your hand. Use the 3M Dual Lock strips. If you don't want it on your glass, get a "license plate mount" version of the tag.
- Check your statement monthly: Don't wait for a yellow envelope. If you see a "V-Toll" (Violation Toll) on your statement, it means your tag didn't read and they had to use your plate. Too many of these and they might start charging you "administrative" penalties even without a formal violation notice.
Dealing with an NJ E-ZPass dispute is a rite of passage for anyone living in the Tri-State area. It’s annoying, but as long as you have your account info ready and don't ignore the mail, you can usually get those "fees" dropped down to the original toll amount.
Log in to the E-ZPass NJ portal and verify that your current vehicle's license plate and your credit card expiration date are both up to date. This simple two-minute check is the most effective way to ensure you never have to deal with the dispute center again.