Express lanes are specially designated highway lanes that offer a new and faster commute option for highway drivers. For solo drivers who cannot use the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane (also called a "carpool lane"), express lanes give the option to pay a per-use toll to use the lane.

Express lanes utilize additional HOV/carpool lane capacity, encourage carpools and vanpools and provide more reliable travel times. Express lanes are free to carpools, motorcycles, vanpools and other eligible vehicles during the designated hours of operation provided the correct toll tag setting is used. Learn more about toll tag settings. Outside the hours of operation, the express lanes are free and open to regular traffic.

Express lanes use FasTrak for the electronic collection of tolls. Overhead electronic pricing signs display the toll rate to use the express lanes to specific destinations.

There are no tollbooths or traffic gates, and you don't need to slow down or stop to provide a toll payment. Only a valid FasTrak account and a properly mounted and set toll tag are required to use the express lanes.

The toll system is fully electronic. Roadside equipment recognizes the FasTrak tag, records the transaction and transmits the information to the FasTrak Customer Service Center to automatically deduct the toll from the account holder's prepaid balance.

Tolls are only collected during the posted express lane hours of operation. Outside of the hours of operation, the overhead signage will display "OPEN TO PUBLIC." Any vehicle may use the lane toll free during these times, regardless of whether they have a FasTrak account.

Express lane tolls change depending on traffic conditions. The tolls are higher as traffic congestion increases and lower as traffic congestion decreases. Toll rates are set by the express lane operator. Toll rates are shown on overhead electronic pricing signs.

In open-access express lanes—where drivers can freely enter and exit the express lanes where they choose—the overhead signs display the toll rate for successive destinations. FasTrak will charge you the first amount that you see for the trip you take.

Yes. There are express lanes throughout the Bay Area, and more are planned.

Express lanes are currently open on I-680 southbound over the Sunol Grade and on I-580 eastbound and westbound through Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore. These express lanes are operated by the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC).

In the southern part of the Bay Area, express lanes on SR-237 eastbound and westbound are operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).

I-880 has northbound and southbound express lanes between Oakland and Milpitas. The I-680 Contra Costa express lanes run northbound and southbound between Walnut Creek and San Ramon. Both are operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

Depending on which express lane you're using, there are two ways you can enter and exit the express lanes: open access or limited access (or a mix of the two). In open access lanes, drivers can freely enter and exit the express lanes wherever they choose, just like today's high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes (also called "carpool lanes") in the Bay Area. Limited access lanes have specific entry and exit points.

Currently, the SR-237 express lanes have certain parts with limited access, but have multiple locations to enter and exit.

The I-680 Sunol express lane is limited access but has multiple locations to enter and exit.

The I-680 Contra Costa express lanes are open access.

The I-580 and I-880 express lanes have some limited access sections but, for the most part, are open access.

Hours of operation are posted on signage alongside the roadway. These hours vary by express lane location and mirror the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane (also called a "carpool lane") hours of operation.

Solo drivers can choose to pay to use an express lane. Here's how:

1. Mount a valid FasTrak toll tag properly on your vehicle's windshield.
2. When driving, check the posted toll rate on the overhead signage.
3. Enter the express lane at the designated entry points.
4. Enjoy the convenience of the express lane.
5. Exit the express lane at the designated exit points.
6. Review your trip details and tolls on your FasTrak statement.

If you qualify as a carpool, California Vehicle Code allows you to use Bay Area express lanes toll free or at a discount (depending on the lane location).

Find others to carpool with by registering with Merge (opens in a new window). You will be matched with others along your route, can agree on days to carpool and can keep that same carpool partner as long as you like. There are no built-in charges to register or use the service.

I-880 and SR-237 Express Lanes

Solo drivers in eligible clean air vehicles (CAVs) must pay a toll in the I-880 and SR-237 express lanes. Drivers using a FasTrak CAV toll tag will receive a 50% discount off the toll when driving alone. Apply for a FasTrak CAV toll tag.

Carpools of two people receive a 50% discount on the toll. Carpools with 3+ people, motorcycles, 2-seater vehicles carrying 2 people and vanpools may travel toll free. To receive the discounted toll, vehicles must use a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag and set the switch on the face of the tag to match the number of people in the vehicle (motorcycles and 2-seater vehicles carrying 2 people should set the switch to 3+).

I-580 Express Lanes

Use a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag for toll-free travel. To travel toll free, set the switch on the face of the tag to position 2 or position 3+ so that the roadside equipment can register the vehicle as toll free. Use position 2 if there are two people in the vehicle. Use position 3+ if there are three or more people in the vehicle. Vanpools, motorcycles and eligible clean air vehicles should also use the position 3+.

I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes

Solo drivers in eligible clean air vehicles (CAVs) must pay a toll in the I-680 Contra Costa express lanes. Drivers using a FasTrak CAV toll tag will receive a 50% discount off the toll when driving alone. Apply for a FasTrak CAV toll tag.

Carpools (2+ people), vanpools, motorcycles, and other toll-exempt vehicles may travel toll free with a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag. To travel toll free, set the switch on the face of the tag to match the number of people in the vehicle (motorcycles should set the switch to 3+).

I-680 Sunol Express Lanes

If you have a FasTrak Standard toll tag, put it in the Mylar® bag that it came with to avoid the roadside equipment charging you a toll. After your toll-free trip, take it out of the bag and re-install it onto your windshield.

If you have a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag, set the switch on the face of the tag to position 2 or position 3+ prior to starting your trip. Learn more about and order FasTrak Flex and FasTrak CAV toll tags.

If you are a vanpool, you may use Bay Area Express Lanes toll free.

I-680 Sunol Express Lanes

A FasTrak toll tag is not required. If you have a FasTrak toll tag, put it in the Mylar® bag that came with the tag to travel toll free. If you have a FasTrak Flex toll tag, set it to position 3+ prior to starting your trip.

I-880, I-580, I-680 Contra Costa and SR-237 Express Lanes

A FasTrak Flex toll tag is required for vanpools to travel toll free in these express lanes. Set the switch on the face of the tag to position 3+ prior to starting your trip to travel toll free. For more information about toll tag requirements for vanpools, go to rideshare.511.org(opens in a new window) .

To use Bay Area Express Lanes toll free or at a discount, your clean air vehicle (CAV) must have a properly displayed orange, red or purple CAV decal. You’ll also need a FasTrak CAV or FasTrak Flex toll tag. Learn more about using FasTrak with clean air vehicles.

I-880 and SR-237 Express Lanes

Eligible CAVs should use a FasTrak CAV toll tag in the I-880 and SR-237 express lanes.

Solo drivers in eligible CAVs do not qualify as a carpool and must pay a toll. If using a FasTrak CAV toll tag, set the switch on the face of the tag to position 1 to receive a 50% discount off the toll. The FasTrak CAV toll tag is the only tag that will communicate the discounted toll to roadside equipment, If you have a FasTrak Flex toll tag, set the switch to position 1. You will be charged the full toll.

CAVs with two occupants can travel at a 50% discount and toll free with 3+ occupants when using a FasTrak CAV or FasTrak Flex toll tag. Set the switch to match the number of people in the vehicle.

I-680 Sunol Express Lanes

A FasTrak toll tag is not required for eligible clean air vehicles. If you have a FasTrak Standard toll tag, put it in the Mylar® bag that came with the tag to avoid detection. If you have a FasTrak Flex toll tag, set the switch on the face of the tag to position 3+ prior to starting your trip. If you have a FasTrak CAV toll tag, set the switch to match the number of occupants.

I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes

Use either a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag to travel toll free. If you are using a FasTrak Flex toll tag, set the switch on the face of the tag to position 2 if there are two people in the vehicle and position 3+ if there are three or more people in the vehicle. If you are using a FasTrak CAV toll tag, set the switch to match the number of occupants in the vehicle.

I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes

Eligible CAVs should use a FasTrak CAV toll tag in the I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes.

Solo drivers in eligible clean air vehicles (CAVs) no longer qualify as a carpool in the I-680 Contra Costa express lanes and must pay a toll. If using a FasTrak CAV toll tag, set the switch on the face of the tag to position 1 to receive a 50% discount off the toll. The FasTrak CAV toll tag is the only tag that will communicate the discounted toll to roadside equipment. If you have a FasTrak Flex toll tag, set the switch to position 1. You will be charged the full toll.

CAVs with two or more occupants can travel toll free as a carpool with either a FasTrak CAV or FasTrak Flex toll tag. Set the switch on the face of the tag to match the number of people in the vehicle.

If you are riding a motorcycle, you may ride in Bay Area Express Lanes toll free.

I-680 Sunol Express Lanes

There are no special instructions or requirements to use express lanes if you are riding a motorcycle. If you have a FasTrak toll tag, put it in the Mylar® bag that came with the tag to avoid detection and toll collection. If you have a FasTrak Flex toll tag, set it to position 3+ prior to starting your trip.

I-580, I-680 Contra Costa and SR-237 Express Lanes

A FasTrak Flex toll tag is required for motorcycles to travel toll free in these express lanes. Set the switch on the face of the tag to position 3+ prior to starting your trip to travel toll free.

Anyone with a mailing address in the United States can sign up for a FasTrak account. Simply purchase a toll tag at a local retail store and activate it through the new account enrollment process. It’s free to open and maintain a FasTrak account; you only pay for your tolls. A security deposit may be required for the tag, but it will be fully refunded to you if you return the toll tag to FasTrak.

Even for short visits to the Bay Area, signing up for a FasTrak account has its benefits. FasTrak allows you to use express lanes, qualify for carpool and bridge toll discounts, cross toll bridges without having to stop at the tollbooth and even pay for parking at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

FasTrak is recognized statewide. Your FasTrak toll tag can be used anywhere you see the FasTrak logo displayed, including the toll roads in Southern California.