GWB Toll for Buses
2-axle bus (32 ft or longer): $23.00 E-ZPass peak, $18.40 off-peak, $33.35 by mail. Mini-bus and 3-axle rates differ.
New bus classes effective 12 July 2026 | Rates verified 24 October 2026 | Source: Port Authority of NY and NJ
GWB Bus Toll Rates (2026)
| Bus type | E-ZPass Peak | E-ZPass Off-Peak | Toll-by-Mail |
|---|---|---|---|
2-axle mini-bus (under 32 ft) Class 8A | $21.00 | $16.80 | $30.45 |
2-axle bus (32 ft or longer) Class 8B | $23.00 | $18.40 | $33.35 |
3-axle bus (any length) Class 9 | $25.00 | $20.00 | $36.25 |
Peak: weekdays 6-10 AM and 4-8 PM, weekends 11 AM-9 PM. All other times off-peak. Tolled eastbound into New York only; westbound is free. Rates effective 12 July 2026.
Which Class Is My Bus?
The Port Authority toll for a bus is set by two things: how many axles the bus has, and, for 2-axle buses, whether it is under 32 feet or 32 feet and longer. The overhead sensors at the toll gantry count axles automatically as the bus passes, so a coach running with its tag axle down is read as a 3-axle bus.
- Class 8A, mini-bus under 32 ft ($21.00 peak): Cutaway shuttle bus, Sprinter minibus, short (Type A) school bus, airport/hotel shuttle.
- Class 8B, 2-axle bus 32 ft or longer ($23.00 peak): Standard 40 ft transit bus, full-size (Type C/D) school bus, 2-axle motorcoach.
- Class 9, 3-axle bus ($25.00 peak): 45 ft motorcoach with a tag axle, 60 ft articulated transit bus, double-decker coach.
Vehicle length and axle count come from your bus, not from a booking, so a full-size 45 ft motorcoach with a tag axle is billed the 3-axle rate even when it is carrying only a handful of passengers. Make sure the vehicle class on your E-ZPass account matches the bus, or the system may issue a violation notice for the difference.
What Changed on 12 July 2026
Until 12 July 2026 every bus paid the same $18.00 E-ZPass peak rate. On that date the Port Authority divided the 2-axle bus category by length and priced each class on its own. Mini-buses under 32 feet became Class 8A at $21.00, the longer 2-axle buses became Class 8B at $23.00, and 3-axle buses in Class 9 went from $18.00 to $25.00 (all E-ZPass peak). The same July 2026 schedule also carried the passenger-car rates forward unchanged from the 4 January 2026 tariff ($16.79 E-ZPass peak).
Peak, Off-Peak, and Toll-by-Mail
Buses get the same E-ZPass discount structure as other vehicles. Off-peak saves $2.00 to $5.00 per crossing depending on class, and Toll-by-Mail (no E-ZPass, billed to the registered owner by license-plate camera) costs $7.45 to $11.25 more per crossing than the peak E-ZPass rate. A charter operator crossing off-peak with E-ZPass on a 2-axle coach pays $18.40 instead of $33.35 by mail, a saving of $14.95 every crossing.
Upper-Level Routing for Buses
Buses must use the upper level. Both levels carry the same published 13 ft 6 in height limit, so the rule is about vehicle type, not clearance. New Jersey approach signage sends buses and trucks to the upper-level lanes well ahead of the deck, and the E-ZPass gantry reads transponders at highway speed, so a scheduled coach never has to stop to pay.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the George Washington Bridge toll for a bus?
It depends on the bus size and axle count. A standard 2-axle bus 32 ft or longer (Class 8B) pays $23.00 with E-ZPass during peak hours, $18.40 off-peak, and $33.35 by Toll-by-Mail. A 2-axle mini-bus under 32 ft (Class 8A) pays $21.00 peak / $16.80 off-peak / $30.45 by mail. A 3-axle bus (Class 9) pays $25.00 peak / $20.00 off-peak / $36.25 by mail. These rates took effect 12 July 2026.
What changed for bus tolls on 12 July 2026?
Before 12 July 2026 every bus paid the same $18.00 E-ZPass peak rate, whatever its length or axle count. Effective 12 July 2026 the Port Authority split the 2-axle bus category by length and priced each class separately: mini-buses under 32 ft (Class 8A) pay $21.00, 2-axle buses 32 ft or longer (Class 8B) pay $23.00, and 3-axle buses (Class 9) pay $25.00 at the E-ZPass peak rate. The Port Authority says the change better aligns toll rates with vehicle size and operating characteristics. Its approved schedule raises all three classes again each January from 2027.
What class is a full-size charter or coach bus?
A motorcoach 40 ft or longer with 2 axles is a Class 8B bus ($23.00 E-ZPass peak). Most 45 ft motorcoaches (MCI, Prevost, Van Hool) carry a third tag axle, which makes them Class 9 buses ($25.00 E-ZPass peak). The overhead sensors at the toll gantry count axles automatically, so a coach with its tag axle down is billed the 3-axle rate. Confirm your E-ZPass account lists the correct vehicle class to avoid a violation notice.
What class is a school bus on the GWB?
A full-size Type C or Type D school bus (typically 35 ft to 40 ft, 2 axles) is a Class 8B bus at $23.00 E-ZPass peak. A short Type A school bus or activity bus under 32 ft is a Class 8A mini-bus at $21.00 E-ZPass peak. Buses pay the toll eastbound into New York only; the westbound trip back into New Jersey is free.
Do buses pay the toll both ways on the GWB?
No. Like all Port Authority Hudson River crossings, the George Washington Bridge tolls only eastbound into New York. A bus entering New York pays the toll; the return trip westbound into New Jersey is free. A round trip therefore costs one toll.
Can a bus use the GWB lower level?
No. Buses must use the upper level. Height is not the reason: the Port Authority's Truckers' Guide (April 2026) publishes the same 13 ft 6 in limit for both levels. Approach signage on the New Jersey side directs buses and trucks to the upper-level lanes. The toll is the same on either level.