Illinois offers free tolls for disabled veterans who hold a 100% service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, drive a vehicle with a qualifying military license plate, and register an approved Military Toll Waiver on an active I-PASS account. The authority for the exemption 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 on the Illinois Tollway posts to your account at zero dollars.
Who Qualifies
Two things have to be true at the same time. First, your VA rating must be 100% service-connected, total and permanent. A combined rating that reaches 100% through multiple partial disabilities counts. Individual unemployability or temporary total ratings may not satisfy the requirement, depending on how the Tollway reads your Summary of Benefits letter. If your rating is 90% or lower, this specific exemption is not available, no matter which plate you carry.
Second, the vehicle has to display one of three specialty plates issued by 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 Generic veteran-themed or military support plates do not trigger the waiver. Both pieces — the rating and the specific plate — need to be in place before you apply.
Getting the Right Plates First
The Secretary of State handles all military plate applications. Bring your DD-214 or a current VA disability award letter showing the qualifying rating. Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50% or greater can receive their first set of military series plates at no charge, a one-time waiver of the plate manufacturing cost.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Veterans Brochure Standard registration fees still apply unless separately waived.
A newer option, the Disabled Veteran – Service-Connected (ISERVE) plate, is also issued by the Secretary of State.2Illinois Secretary of State. Military License Plates If you already have one of the three qualifying plates, there’s no need to switch. If you’re applying for the first time, confirm with the Secretary of State that the specific plate you’re requesting is recognized by the Tollway’s waiver program. The office answers at 800-252-8980 within Illinois.
How to Apply for the Toll Waiver
With qualifying plates on the vehicle and an active I-PASS account, you can apply for the Military Toll Waiver through the Illinois Tollway. The application form is available on the Tollway’s website or at any customer service center. You’ll need to supply:
- Your I-PASS account number, since the waiver attaches to your transponder.
- Your license plate number and registration, which the Tollway cross-references with Secretary of State records to confirm the plate qualifies.
- A VA Summary of Benefits letter showing a 100% total and permanent disability rating. A recent letter avoids verification delays.
- A valid mailing address and phone number for account correspondence.
Don’t have an I-PASS yet? The transponder requires a $10 deposit, which converts to prepaid toll balance once you register the sticker tag.4Illinois Tollway. I-PASS Account The transponder must be mounted and functional for the waiver to work.
The Tollway typically requires mailed or faxed documentation rather than a fully online submission, because the VA letter and plate verification involve sensitive records. Send the completed application package to the address printed on the waiver form. Processing generally runs two to four weeks while staff verify your disability status and plate eligibility.5Illinois Tollway. I-PASS Assist Program You can check your account status through the Tollway’s online portal while you wait.
Your I-PASS will keep deducting tolls normally until the waiver is activated. Keep the prepaid balance funded during the processing window so you don’t accumulate unpaid-toll invoices or violation notices.
How the Exemption Works Once Approved
After the Tollway adds your account to its exempt file, the transponder stays mounted in the vehicle but stops triggering balance deductions. Every plaza on the Illinois Tollway system posts the transaction at $0.00. Check your statement periodically to confirm the zero-dollar charges appear correctly.
The waiver applies going forward from the activation date. It doesn’t erase past toll debt. If your account carried a negative balance before approval, settle that first. Outstanding violations or unpaid invoices stay your responsibility and can be resolved through the Tollway’s violation services portal.6Illinois Tollway. Violations
Keeping the Waiver Active
The exemption stays in effect as long as you maintain the qualifying plate, current vehicle registration, and your I-PASS account. If any of those lapse, tolls resume. A few situations call for a prompt update to the Tollway:
- Switching vehicles. The waiver is tied to a specific plate and transponder, so a new car means transferring plates, updating the I-PASS account, and notifying the Tollway.
- Replacing plates. If the Secretary of State issues you new plates for any reason, the Tollway needs the updated number on file.
- A change in disability rating. A VA re-evaluation that drops your rating below 100% ends eligibility, and the Tollway may periodically verify status.
Missing these updates is where most veterans run into trouble. The system won’t recognize the new plate as exempt, and toll invoices can escalate into violation notices with added fees.
The Waiver Stops at the Illinois State Line
I-PASS is part of the E-ZPass consortium and is read at toll plazas in 19 states.4Illinois Tollway. I-PASS Account The toll exemption, though, applies only on Illinois Tollway roads. Drive through a plaza in Indiana, Ohio, New York, or anywhere else, and your I-PASS is charged the full toll like any other driver’s.
Other states run their own veteran programs on their own terms. New York, for instance, offers a Disabled Veteran Non-Revenue E-ZPass for free travel on the New York State Thruway, but that program does not extend to other tolling facilities and requires a separate New York State DMV registration.7Thruway Authority. New York E-ZPass Discount Plans The reverse is also true: no other state’s veteran exemption covers Illinois tolls. If you regularly drive toll roads across state lines, plan to apply in each state separately.