Vehicles displaying U.S. government license plates also qualify. For any trip of more than 30 miles, a permit holder pays full fare for all travel beyond the first 30 miles with a minimum per trip charge of 15 cents. Return to the top of the page. Return to the table of contents for this page. In 1993, the Thruway implemented E-ZPass, an electronic toll collection system now available on the entire Thruway.
Customers prepay their tolls and receive an audio cassette-size electronic tag.
The tag, which contains a radio transmitter and computerized customer account information, is placed on the vehicle's inside windshield. Return to the top of the page. Return to the table of contents for this page. The New York State Thruway, the nation's longest toll highway system, was built as a toll facility so that it could be completed quickly, without increasing the tax burdens of New York State residents. The Authority receives no appropriations of tax money from the Legislature to meet the cost of any of its operations.