I-405 Express Toll Lanes

The express toll lanes provide drivers a faster trip from Lynnwood to Bellevue and back.

With the I-405 express toll lanes, you have the choice to pay a toll for a faster trip when you need it. Toll rates adjust to keep traffic moving.

The express toll lanes operate from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and are free on weekends and overnight (from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.). Motorcycles and qualifying carpools can use the lanes for free with a Good To Go! pass.

How to pay

You have two options to pay a toll in the express toll lanes:

• Good To Go! account: With a Good To Go! account and pass installed in your vehicle, you pay the lowest toll rate and don't have to worry about waiting for a bill to arrive in the mail. Learn more about Good To Go! accounts and passes.
• Pay By Mail: If you don't have a Good To Go! account and you use the lanes, we’ll take a picture of your license plate and mail a bill to the address on your vehicle registration with the Department of Licensing. The Pay By Mail toll rate is $2 higher than the Good To Go! pass rate.
• Pay By Plate: Drivers who choose to register their license plate on a Good To Go! account without a pass, called Pay By Plate, pay an extra 25 cents per trip on top of the Good To Go! pass rate.

Toll rates

Toll rates change based on real-time traffic conditions, and range from $1 to $15 for drivers with a Good To Go! pass. Signs tell you the current toll rate. You lock in your rate when you enter, regardless if the rate changes while you are in the lane. You can view current toll rates by downloading the WSDOT mobile app.

Drivers without a Good To Go! pass or account can still use the lanes for the rate they see plus a $2 Pay By Mail charge.

Nights, weekends, and holidays

The lanes are free on weekends and overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. They are also free on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Carpools

Carpools with enough passengers can use the express toll lanes for free with a Flex Pass. The carpool occupancy requirement depend on the time of day:

You do not need to be in a carpool, or have a Good To Go! pass to drive for free on nights or weekends.

Watch a short video about how to read the signs
on the I-405 express toll lanes. ​​

How to use the express toll lanes

You enter and exit the I-405 express toll lanes at designated access points. Toll signs show up to three toll rates for different toll zones. The road names listed on the sign tell you where each toll zone ends.

Every time you pass one of the listed roads, you enter the next toll zone. Any express toll lane exit in that zone will be charged the same toll rate until you pass the next listed road and enter a new zone.

You only pay the toll rate for the zone where you exit the express toll lanes. You do not add up all the numbers on the sign, and you are not charged again when you pass the next sign.

Direct access ramps

There are two direct access ramps that HOVs and toll-paying drivers can use to enter and exit the express toll lanes directly. One access ramp is located at NE 6th Street in Bellevue and the other is located at NE 128th Street in Kirkland. Single occupancy drivers must pay a toll to use these ramps from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends and overnight (from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.), the ramps are restricted to HOV only.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles ride toll-free in the express toll lanes with a motorcycle pass.

Large Trucks and Trailers

Vehicles over 10,000 pounds, including tow trucks and trailers, are not allowed into the express toll lanes at any time, including nights or weekends. The weight restriction does not apply to emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles or buses.

Vanpools and transit

Registered vanpools and transit always drive toll-free in the express toll lanes with a pass.

How do tolls keep traffic moving?

Our traffic management computer system updates toll rates every few minutes based on how many cars are in the lanes and how fast they are going. When traffic is flowing smoothly and there is room for more vehicles, the price is low to encourage cars to get in. When the lanes start to fill up and slow down, the price goes up in order to discourage too many cars from getting in so that the lanes can keep flowing smoothly.

Reporting and Policy

To view financial statements, the Toll Division Annual Report or other policy-related documents, please visit our reporting page.