EZ TAG

EZ TAG is an electronic toll collection system in Houston, Texas, United States, that allows motorists to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths. Motorists with the tags are allowed to use lanes reserved exclusively for them on all Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) roads. As of late 2003, the EZ TAG can also be used on all lanes of tolled roadways in Texas that accommodate electronic toll collection. To participate, a driver signs up through the EZ TAG website, via telephone, or at one of the store locations. Next, the customer receives a small, white radio frequency transponder which must be affixed to the inside of their windshield behind their rear view mirror. Finally, when passing through a toll plaza, the driver chooses lanes specially equipped with sensors that can read EZ TAG transmitters and deduct the appropriate amount from their accounts. Houston Transtar uses EZ TAG sensors, which are placed at numerous points across Greater Houston, for their Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) traffic monitoring system. By tracking the movement of individual transponder tags (EZ TAG user vehicles) over the city, the system can generate real time traffic information for use by the general public. The personal information about the EZ TAG customer is not compromised in this process because the EZ TAG database and the AVI system are not interconnected. In early 2026, the Harris County Toll Road Authority began issuing 6C toll transponders manufactured by Neology, replacing the TransCore-brand devices previously distributed to motorists.