U.S. Toll Costs Reach $755 Per Driver as 28 States Collect More Than $21 Billion

Key Highlights

• Drivers in 28 U.S. states collectively pay more than $21.3 billion in toll road fees annually, according to 2024 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data, while 22 states have no statewide toll roads at all.

• Delaware ranks 1st in the nation with an annual toll cost of $755.18 per driver, nearly 6 times the toll-state average of $129.59 and more than $350 higher than second-ranked New York ($397.54).

• Tennessee ranks last among the 28 toll states at just $0.01 per driver per year, while Texas ranks 11th at $151.72, costing Lone Star State drivers more than most states despite its massive road network.Every time an American driver merges onto a toll road, they are paying into a system that varies enormously from state to state. In some states, toll costs quietly add hundreds of dollars per year to the price of driving; in others, toll infrastructure barely registers on a household budget. Across the 28 states that operate toll roads, motorists collectively pay more than $21.3 billion annually, a massive figure that conceals wide disparities in how that financial burden falls on individual drivers.

An analysis by DeHoyos Accident Attorneys examined 2024 toll revenue data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), cross-referencing toll receipts (SF-1) with vehicle miles traveled (VM-2) and licensed driver counts (DL-22) to calculate the annual toll cost per driver in every state. The study reveals which states extract the most and least from their motorists through toll road fees.

Top 10 States With the Highest Annual Toll Cost Per Driver

States With the Highest Annual Toll Cost Per Driver Based on 2024 FHWA Data

Delaware leads at $755.18 per driver annually, followed by New York at $397.54 and New Jersey at $353.86. The top five states each exceed $190 per driver, while Texas ranks 11th at $151.72.

Top 10 States With the Lowest Annual Toll Cost Per Driver

States With the Lowest Annual Toll Cost Per Driver Among Toll States Based on 2024 FHWA Data

Tennessee has the lowest toll cost at $0.01 per driver, followed by Utah at $0.99 and South Carolina at $4.94. California ranks 19th at $31.94, while 22 states have no statewide toll roads and $0 in toll revenue.

Methodology

This study used 2024 data from three Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) tables: SF-1 (toll revenue by state), VM-2 (vehicle miles traveled by state), and DL-22 (licensed drivers by state). Annual toll cost per driver was calculated by dividing each state's total toll revenue by its total vehicle miles traveled to obtain a toll rate per 1,000 miles, then multiplying by the state's average miles driven per licensed driver per year. States with no toll revenue recorded in FHWA SF-1 were classified as non-toll states. All figures reflect the most recent 2024 FHWA reporting period.

Data Sources

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), SF-1, Toll Revenue by State:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2024/sf1.cfm

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), VM-2, Vehicle Miles Traveled:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2024/vm2.cfm

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DL-22, Licensed Drivers by State:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2024/dl22.cfm

• Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dO9FSdlEm0BxAy6he8Dbh2fd5Llh8OO-8D926Jrlwbo/edit?gid=0#gid=0

• Study By: https://www.dehoyosinjury.com/

About DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys is a Houston-based personal injury law firm that represents clients in vehicle collisions, slip-and-fall disputes, dog bites, and wrongful death cases. The firm, led by Ryan A. DeHoyos, prioritizes client care, aggressive advocacy, and maximizing compensation across Greater Houston. The firm uses data-driven research to inform public discussion and promote safer transportation systems across Texas.