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If you enter Manhattan through a tolled tunnel, you receive a credit against the Congestion Relief Zone toll. This guide explains which crossings qualify, how credits differ for passenger cars versus for-hire vehicles, and what this means for car service passengers who never touch an E-ZPass.
One of the most common questions about NYC’s Congestion Relief Zone is whether drivers get double-charged: once for a tunnel toll into Manhattan and again for the congestion toll. The answer is no—the system includes credits that offset the CRZ toll for vehicles entering through certain tolled crossings. For car service clients, these credits are handled entirely by the operator. You never interact with the credit system. All tolls and credits are reflected in your quoted fare.
The credit system prevents double-tolling for vehicles entering Manhattan through paid crossings.
When a vehicle pays a toll to enter Manhattan through certain tunnels, the E-ZPass system records this payment. The CRZ tolling system then applies a credit that offsets all or part of the congestion toll. The goal is simple: you should not pay a tunnel toll and the full congestion toll for the same trip into the zone.
Four tolled crossings into Manhattan provide E-ZPass credits against the CRZ toll.
| Crossing | Credit? | Connects | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Tunnel | Yes | NJ (Weehawken) → Midtown West | EWR transfers, Hoboken, NJ commuters |
| Holland Tunnel | Yes | NJ (Jersey City) → Lower Manhattan | NJ to Downtown, Wall Street trips |
| Queens-Midtown Tunnel | Yes | Queens (LIC) → East Midtown | LGA transfers (optional route), Queens to Midtown |
| Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (Brooklyn-Battery) | Yes | Brooklyn (Red Hook) → Lower Manhattan | Brooklyn to FiDi, Brooklyn to Downtown |
These four crossings are all operated by the MTA (Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority)—the same entity that runs the CRZ. Because the MTA controls both the tunnel tolls and the congestion tolls, it can seamlessly apply credits. The Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, but an inter-agency agreement enables the credit system.
The key principle: if you already paid a toll to enter Manhattan through one of these crossings, the CRZ system recognizes that payment and reduces or eliminates the additional congestion charge.
The credit system works differently depending on vehicle type.
Passenger cars that enter Manhattan through a qualifying tunnel with E-ZPass receive a credit that offsets the $9.00 CRZ toll. Since the tunnel toll (approximately $11–$16 depending on the crossing) exceeds the $9.00 CRZ toll, the credit effectively eliminates the additional congestion charge. You pay the tunnel toll but not the CRZ toll on top of it.
FHVs pay a different CRZ structure: $0.75 per trip (not $9/day). Tunnel credits for FHVs work at the operator level. When an FHV crosses through a qualifying tunnel, the vehicle’s E-ZPass records the tunnel toll, and a proportional credit is applied against the CRZ surcharge. Because the FHV CRZ charge ($0.75) is much lower than the tunnel toll, the credit typically covers the entire CRZ surcharge.
As a car service passenger, here is what you need to know about E-ZPass credits.
All toll payments and credits are handled by the car service operator. The vehicle carries E-ZPass; the driver manages toll routes; the operator accounts for credits. As a passenger, you simply receive a quoted fare that includes everything—tunnel tolls, CRZ surcharges, and any applicable credits are all factored in.
The tunnel credit system is designed to prevent double-tolling at the vehicle level. For car service passengers, the practical impact is simple: your fare already accounts for all tolls. You do not need to understand the credit mechanics, choose specific routes for credit eligibility, or carry E-ZPass. True North VIP includes all tolls, surcharges, and credits in the quoted fare.
Which popular routes include tunnel credits and which do not.
| Route | Crossing Used | Tunnel Credit? | CRZ Surcharge? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWR → Midtown Manhattan | Lincoln Tunnel | Yes | $0.75 (FHV) |
| EWR → FiDi / Tribeca | Holland Tunnel | Yes | $0.75 (FHV) |
| Hoboken → Midtown | Lincoln Tunnel | Yes | $0.75 (FHV) |
| Jersey City → Downtown Manhattan | Holland Tunnel | Yes | $0.75 (FHV) |
| Brooklyn → FiDi | Hugh L. Carey Tunnel | Yes | $0.75 (FHV) |
| LGA → East Midtown | QM Tunnel (optional) | Yes (if tunnel) | $0.75 (FHV) |
| JFK → Midtown | No tunnel (bridges/expressway) | No | $0.75 (FHV) |
| Brooklyn → Midtown (via Brooklyn Bridge) | Brooklyn Bridge (free) | No | $0.75 (FHV) |
Important to understand which entries into the CRZ do not come with toll credits.
Several free bridges deliver traffic directly into the Congestion Relief Zone. Because no toll is paid to cross, there is no payment to credit against the CRZ toll.
The George Washington Bridge connects New Jersey (Fort Lee) to upper Manhattan (178th Street). Although it is tolled, it does not qualify for CRZ credits because it enters Manhattan well above 60th Street—outside the Congestion Relief Zone. Vehicles entering via the GW Bridge only trigger the CRZ toll if they subsequently drive south of 60th Street.
Vehicles entering the CRZ by driving south on any Manhattan avenue that crosses 60th Street (e.g., driving down Park Avenue from 72nd Street) do not have a toll to credit. There is no bridge or tunnel involved—the vehicle simply crosses the invisible 60th Street boundary. The full CRZ toll applies with no credit.
True North VIP handles all toll complexity so you do not have to.
Whether your trip goes through the Lincoln Tunnel (with credit) or across the Brooklyn Bridge (no credit), your quoted fare accounts for the full toll and surcharge picture. Book a Newark airport transfer, a New Jersey car service, or a Hoboken pickup—all tolls are included.
No. The E-ZPass credit system prevents double-tolling. If you enter Manhattan through a qualifying tunnel (Lincoln, Holland, Queens-Midtown, or Hugh L. Carey), a credit is applied against the CRZ toll. For passenger cars, this typically eliminates the CRZ charge entirely.
No. The car service vehicle carries E-ZPass, and all toll payments and credits are handled by the operator. Your quoted fare includes all tolls and surcharges. You do not interact with the toll system at all.
No. The GW Bridge enters Manhattan at 178th Street, well above the CRZ boundary (60th Street). It does not qualify for CRZ credits because the entry point is outside the congestion zone.
No. The Brooklyn Bridge is a free bridge with no toll. Since no toll is paid, there is nothing to credit against the CRZ charge. Vehicles entering the CRZ via the Brooklyn Bridge pay the full CRZ toll.
When an FHV crosses the Lincoln Tunnel from NJ to Manhattan, the vehicle pays the tunnel toll (approximately $16). The CRZ system recognizes this payment and applies a credit against the $0.75 FHV surcharge. The operator accounts for both the tunnel toll and the credit in the fare quote.
No. Tunnel credits require E-ZPass for automatic processing. Vehicles without E-ZPass pay the higher Tolls by Mail rate and do not receive CRZ credits. All True North VIP vehicles use E-ZPass.
You generally do not need to. Your chauffeur will choose the optimal route based on traffic, and the toll/credit accounting is handled by the operator. The credit does not reduce your quoted fare—it is factored into the pricing model.
Yes. All tunnel and bridge tolls, CRZ surcharges, and NY State surcharges are included in our quoted fares. Gratuity is the only additional cost.
Tunnel tolls, congestion pricing, E-ZPass credits—all included in one transparent fare. Vetted chauffeurs, premium vehicles, and no toll surprises.
Last updated: February 23, 2026
True North VIP is a New York City-based premium chauffeur and black car service. The company provides airport transfers to JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro, and Westchester County airports, along with hourly charters, corporate ground transportation, wedding and event service, and city-to-city travel. Service covers all five NYC boroughs, Northern New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester County, Long Island, and the Hamptons, with vetted professional chauffeurs and a fleet of executive sedans, luxury sedans, SUVs, and Sprinter vans available 24/7.
To book a ride, visit truenorthvip.com/book or call +1‑347‑321‑9929.
