What is NYC Congestion Pricing? A Simple Explanation (2025)
You may have heard a lot about “Congestion Pricing” in New York City. As of 2025, it’s a reality, and it’s important for anyone driving in Manhattan to understand. In simple terms, it’s a new toll for vehicles entering the busiest part of the city.
This guide explains the what, where, and why of congestion pricing. For a complete overview of all NYC transportation, please visit our main pillar page: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Around NYC (2025).
What is the Goal of Congestion Pricing?
The program has two main goals:
- Reduce Traffic: To decrease the crippling gridlock in Manhattan’s central business district, leading to less pollution, faster travel times for emergency vehicles, and more reliable bus service.
- Fund Public Transit: The billions of dollars raised from the tolls are legally dedicated to modernizing and improving the MTA’s subways, buses, and commuter rail lines.
Where is the Congestion Zone?
The Congestion Relief Zone covers the area of Manhattan **south of 60th Street**. If you drive into this zone, you will be charged the toll. Major highways like the FDR Drive and the West Side Highway are excluded, so you can drive along the edges of Manhattan without paying, but as soon as you exit into the local streets below 60th Street, the toll is triggered.
How Much Does It Cost and Who Pays?
The exact toll amount varies by the type of vehicle and the time of day, with higher fees during peak hours.
- Passenger Cars: Can expect to pay a significant daily toll for entering the zone.
- Trucks: Pay a higher rate than cars.
- Taxis and For-Hire Vehicles: Have a per-trip surcharge added to their fares for trips within the zone.
Payment is handled automatically via E-ZPass or by mail through license plate scanning. There are some discounts and exemptions available, for instance, for low-income residents and vehicles carrying people with disabilities, but most drivers entering the zone will pay.
The Bottom Line for You
For most visitors and many New Yorkers, the message is clear: **driving into Midtown and Downtown Manhattan is now significantly more expensive.** The program is designed to strongly encourage the use of public transportation—like the subway, bus, or train—for travel into the city’s core.
