Disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA can travel the Illinois Tollway for free, but the exemption isn’t automatic. You have to display a qualifying military license plate, hold an active I-PASS account, and apply for the Illinois Tollway’s Military Toll Waiver. The authority for the program sits in 605 ILCS 10/19, which lets the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority grant free passage to eligible veterans.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 605 ILCS 10/19 Once the waiver is active, every trip through an Illinois toll plaza posts to your account at zero dollars.
Who Qualifies
The eligibility bar is high. You need a total and permanent 100% service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A combined rating that reaches 100% through multiple partial disabilities counts, but individual unemployability (IU) and temporary total ratings may or may not satisfy the Tollway’s review of your VA Summary of Benefits letter. A rating of 90% or lower does not qualify, regardless of which plate you carry.
You also have to display one of three specialty plates from the Illinois Secretary of State: the Disabled Veteran plate, the Ex-POW plate, or the Medal of Honor plate.2Illinois Secretary of State. Military License Plates Standard veteran-themed plates and generic military support plates don’t trigger the exemption. Both the rating and the plate have to be in place before you apply.
Getting the Right Plates First
The Illinois Secretary of State issues the military plates. You’ll need your DD-214 or a current VA disability award letter showing the qualifying rating. Veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability can get their first set of military series plates at no charge.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Veterans Brochure Standard registration fees still apply unless separately waived.
The Secretary of State also issues a newer Disabled Veteran – Service-Connected (ISERVE) plate.2Illinois Secretary of State. Military License Plates If you’re applying for plates for the first time, confirm with the Secretary of State’s office that the plate you want is recognized by the Tollway’s waiver program. The office can be reached at 800-252-8980 within Illinois.
Applying for the Military Toll Waiver
With qualifying plates on your vehicle and an active I-PASS account, you can apply for the Military Toll Waiver through the Illinois Tollway. The application form is on the Tollway’s website and at any customer service center. You’ll submit:
- Your I-PASS account number. The waiver attaches to your transponder, so the account has to exist first.
- Your license plate number and registration, which the Tollway cross-references with Secretary of State records.
- Your VA Summary of Benefits letter showing a 100% total and permanent rating. A recent letter avoids verification delays.
- A valid mailing address and phone number for account correspondence.
If you don’t already have an I-PASS, the transponder requires a $10 deposit that converts to prepaid toll balance once you register the sticker tag.4Illinois Tollway. I-PASS Account The transponder has to be mounted and functional for the waiver to work.
Submission and Processing Time
Because the VA letter and plate verification involve sensitive records, the Tollway generally wants mailed or faxed documentation rather than a fully online submission. Send the completed packet to the address printed on the waiver form. Processing usually takes two to four weeks while staff verify your disability rating and plate eligibility.5Illinois Tollway. I-PASS Assist Program You can check your account status through the Tollway’s online portal while you wait.
During the processing window, your I-PASS will keep deducting tolls at the normal rate. Keep the prepaid balance funded so you don’t rack up unpaid-toll invoices or violation notices before the waiver activates.
How the Exemption Works Once Approved
After the Tollway adds your account to the exempt file, your transponder stays mounted but stops drawing down your balance. Each toll transaction posts at $0.00. Check your account statement for the first few trips to confirm the zero-dollar charges are showing up correctly.
The waiver only covers tolls from the activation date forward. It doesn’t erase prior toll debt. If your account carried a negative balance before approval, you’ll need to settle that first, and any outstanding violations stay your responsibility through the Tollway’s violation services portal.6Illinois Tollway. Violations
Keeping the Waiver Active
The exemption holds as long as you maintain the qualifying plate, current vehicle registration, and your I-PASS account. If any of those lapse, tolls start accruing again. A few events require you to contact the Tollway promptly:
- Switching vehicles. The waiver is tied to a specific plate and transponder, so you’ll need to transfer plates, update the I-PASS account, and notify the Tollway so the exemption follows the new vehicle.
- Replacing plates. If the Secretary of State issues you new plates for any reason, the Tollway needs the updated number on file.
- Change in disability rating. A VA re-evaluation that drops your rating below 100% ends your eligibility, and the Tollway may verify your status periodically.
Most veterans who run into trouble do so after a vehicle or plate change they didn’t report. The system doesn’t recognize the new plate as exempt, invoices start arriving, and unpaid invoices can escalate into violation notices with added fees.
Free Only on the Illinois Tollway
I-PASS is part of the E-ZPass network and works at toll plazas in 19 states.4Illinois Tollway. I-PASS Account Your transponder will be read in Indiana, Ohio, New York, and elsewhere, but the Illinois exemption only applies on Illinois Tollway roads. Drive through a toll plaza in another state and your I-PASS gets charged the full toll like any other driver’s.
Other states run their own veteran toll programs with their own rules. New York, for example, offers a Disabled Veteran Non-Revenue E-ZPass for free travel on the New York State Thruway, but that program doesn’t extend to other New York tolling facilities and requires a separate registration with the New York State DMV.7Thruway Authority. New York E-ZPass Discount Plans The same works in reverse: no other state’s veteran exemption will cover your Illinois tolls. If you regularly cross state lines on toll roads, plan to apply separately in each state.