Transportation & Mobility · Surprise rank #321
Drive Into Manhattan Often? Low-Income Drivers Get 50% Off Peak Congestion Tolls After Trip 10
The MTA Low-Income Discount Plan cuts the Congestion Relief Zone peak toll by 50% for eligible passenger vehicles after the first 10 trips in each calendar month.
Who
Vehicle owners with prior-year federal adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, or enrollment in a qualifying assistance program such as SNAP, WIC or TANF, who have a valid E-ZPass NY account.
Where: Congestion Relief Zone toll trips in Manhattan; eligible drivers may live anywhere.
What to do
Start here: Create or update an E-ZPass NY account, then complete the MTA Low-Income Discount Plan application and upload income or qualifying-benefit proof.
Eligibility: Income or qualifying-benefit documentation plus a valid E-ZPass NY account and an eligible passenger vehicle. Annual recertification is required.
What you get
Once enrolled, the first 10 monthly trips count toward the threshold; eligible peak-period trips after that receive a 50% congestion-toll discount.
Benefit: 50% off the applicable Congestion Relief Zone peak toll on eligible passenger-vehicle trips after the first 10 trips each calendar month.
Possible value: Half of each eligible peak toll after trip 10; monthly dollar savings depend on how often the vehicle enters the zone after crossing the threshold.
Good to know
Important: There is no discount on the first 10 trips in the month, and the 50% discount applies to eligible peak-period trips, not the already-discounted overnight toll. You do not have to live in NYC to qualify.
Availability: Active; applications and online recertification available.
Why people miss it: Many people hear “low-income discount” and assume it applies from the first toll or only to NYC residents; neither is true.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026