Since 2012, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has waived tolls for eligible veterans to support those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
The program serves veterans in vehicles registered with the state of Texas and displaying a qualified specialty license plate. Qualifying Texas license plates are for recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross (Legion of Valor), Distinguished Service Cross (Legion of Valor), Army Distinguished Service Cross (Legion of Valor), Navy Cross (Legion of Valor), and Purple Heart, and disabled veterans who qualify and meet the requirements for a disabled veteran license plate.
Eligible veterans in vehicles with qualifying license plates may drive the following TxDOT toll roads free of charge.
Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) – Austin Metro Area
- SH 130 (Segments 1-4), from I-35 in north Austin to US 183
- SH 45 North
- Loop 1, from the non-tolled portion of Loop 1 at Parmer Lane north to SH 45N
- SH 45 Southeast
Grand Parkway (SH 99) – Houston Metro Area
- Segments E, F-1, F-2, G, H and I-1 from I-10W to I-10E, and a small portion of Segment D near I-10W
- Segment I-2 near Baytown, from I-10 south to SH 146 in Chambers County
SH 249 – Houston Area
- Segment 1 (Sections 1A and 1B), from FM 1774 in Pinehurst to FM 1774 north of Todd Mission in Plantersville
TEXpress Lanes – Dallas/Fort Worth Area
In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, only TEXpress Lanes managed by TxDOT offer the discount.
- SH 183 TEXpress Lanes - Euless to Dallas
- Loop 12 TEXpress Lanes - Dallas
- SH 114 TEXpress Lanes - Grapevine to Dallas
- I-635E TEXpress Lanes - US 75 to I-30
- I-30 TEXpress Lanes - Dallas to Arlington
- I-35E TEXpress Lanes - Denton County to Dallas County
For information about other toll roads in Texas and if they offer a similar toll discount program for veterans, please visit the following websites:
Brownsville: Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority
Dallas/Fort Worth: North Texas Tollway Authority
Houston area: Harris County Toll Road Authority and Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority
Tyler area: North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I eligible for the veteran toll waiver program?
To find out if you are eligible for one of the qualifying specialty license plates, visit the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website, txdmv.gov. To qualify for a disabled veteran license plate, you must be certified by the Veterans Administration to have a 50 percent service-related disability, or 40 percent due to amputation of a lower extremity. Any problems or discrepancies with vehicle registrations or with specialty license plates must be resolved between the vehicle owner and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Are there certain toll lanes I must use?
No. Eligible vehicles included in the Veteran Discount Program may use any toll lane on a TxDOT-managed toll road.
What if I’m a veteran but do not have a qualifying veteran license plate?
Tolls will only be waived for vehicles registered with the state of Texas and displaying a qualifying specialty license plate.
I received an invoice for travel on TxDOT toll roads with qualifying license plates. How do I dispute these charges?
Please contact the tolling agency who sent the invoice. For TxDOT toll roads in the Austin and Houston regions, please contact the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) at hctra.org or 281-875-EASY (3279). For TxDOT roads in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, please contact the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) at ntta.org or 972-818-NTTA (6882).