The Kentucky E-ZPass Discount program cuts toll costs by about 50% for drivers who use a transponder on the Louisville-area Ohio River bridges. The savings come through RiverLink, the all-electronic toll system that operates the Kennedy, Lincoln, and Lewis and Clark bridges between Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Drivers who open an E-ZPass Kentucky account pay roughly $2.68 per passenger vehicle crossing instead of the $5.36 Pay By Plate rate, and frequent commuters can earn a 50% credit after 40 crossings in a single month.
How the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount Works
RiverLink is the joint tolling authority created by Kentucky and Indiana to manage the Louisville bridge crossings. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet oversees the Kentucky side of the system, while the Indiana Department of Transportation oversees the Indiana side. E-ZPass Kentucky, often called E-ZPassKY, is the local transponder account that works on those bridges. Out-of-state E-ZPass accounts work on RiverLink bridges, but only E-ZPassKY accounts qualify for the Frequent User Discount.
The Kentucky E-ZPass Discount has two parts:
- Base Transponder Discount — automatic 50% savings on every crossing with a working transponder.
- Frequent User Discount — 50% credit on the first 40 trips in a month, plus 50% off any extra trips that same month.
Bridges Covered by the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount
Three tolled bridges connect Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana through the RiverLink system. NY Plans Resources Each bridge charges the same rate, and the discount applies to all three crossings.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge
The Kennedy Bridge carries Interstate 65 South traffic across the Ohio River. It is the oldest of the three crossings and handles heavy daily commuter traffic between downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Abraham Lincoln Bridge
The Lincoln Bridge carries Interstate 65 North traffic. It opened in 2016 as part of the Ohio River Bridges Project and serves as the northbound counterpart to the Kennedy Bridge.
Lewis and Clark Bridge (East End Crossing)
The Lewis and Clark Bridge connects the Gene Snyder Freeway in Kentucky with State Road 265 in Indiana. It serves drivers in eastern Jefferson County and Clark County, Indiana, and offers a faster route around downtown Louisville.
Toll Rate Comparison: E-ZPass vs. Pay By Plate
The table below shows the standard 2-axle passenger vehicle rates on RiverLink bridges for the current toll schedule.
| Payment Method | Per Crossing (Passenger Vehicle) | Savings vs. Pay By Plate |
|---|---|---|
| E-ZPass Kentucky Transponder | $2.68 | 50% |
| Out-of-State E-ZPass Transponder | $2.68 | 50% |
| Pay By Plate (Registered Account) | $5.36 | 0% |
| Pay By Plate (Unregistered, Video Toll) | $5.36 plus $2.50 admin fee per invoice | Negative |
Frequent User Discount Rules
The Frequent User Discount is the largest Kentucky E-ZPass Discount available to passenger vehicle drivers. It works like this:
- Make 40 crossings in a single calendar month using one E-ZPassKY transponder.
- RiverLink credits 50% of those 40 trips back to the account.
- Any additional trips that month receive 50% off.
- The credit posts to the account within the first 15 days of the following month.
A driver who crosses twice a workday hits 40 trips in roughly two and a half weeks. At the $2.68 transponder rate, 40 trips cost $107.20. The 50% credit returns $53.60, which equals about $643 in annual savings for a year-round commuter.
The trips are tracked by transponder, not by account. Splitting trips across multiple transponders can prevent a driver from reaching the 40-trip threshold.
How to Get a Kentucky E-ZPass Discount
Opening an account takes about 10 minutes. Get info on Maine Sign Up The fastest path to start saving follows the steps below.
Step 1: Open an E-ZPassKY Account
Open a new E-ZPassKY account at www.e-zpassky.com and click the open account link. Drivers need a name, address, email, license plate number, and a payment method. The minimum opening balance is $20.
Step 2: Mount the Transponder
Attach the E-ZPassKY transponder to the inside of the windshield, about one inch below the rearview mirror. Keep it at least three inches from metal, window tint, or defroster lines. A poor mount is the most common reason a transponder fails to read and triggers a Video Toll charge.
Step 3: Turn On Auto-Replenish
Auto-replenish keeps the account balance funded. RiverLink automatically charges the linked credit card or bank account when the balance drops below a set level. Drivers who skip auto-replenish risk an inactive account and full Pay By Plate charges. Account holders can view the E-ZPass monthly statement Kentucky through the online portal to track every toll and credit.
Pay By Plate vs. E-ZPass Kentucky Cost
Pay By Plate cameras photograph license plates and send a bill to the registered owner. Drivers who register a plate on the RiverLink site but do not carry a working transponder still pay the full $5.36 rate. Drivers who do not register at all pay $5.36 plus a $2.50 administrative fee on each invoice.
Over a year, a daily commuter using Pay By Plate spends about $2,678 compared with $1,339 using an E-ZPass Kentucky transponder. The transponder pays for itself in the first month.
E-ZPass Toll Calculator and Rate Lookup
RiverLink publishes current toll rates on the official website. Drivers can use the E-ZPass toll calculator Kentucky page to check the exact charge for a specific bridge, vehicle class, and time of day before driving. This helps commuters plan routes and confirm the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount is being applied to every crossing.
Adding Rental, Borrowed, or Temporary Vehicles
RiverLink charges the toll to the registered plate owner. Drivers can avoid rental company service fees by adding a temporary plate to their E-ZPassKY account before crossing.
- Rental cars: Log into the E-ZPassKY account, add the rental plate, and remove it when the rental ends.
- Borrowed cars: Add the plate before driving. If the owner has their own transponder, ask them to remove it so only one is read.
- Motorcycles: Motorcycles count as Class 1 vehicles. The driver can add a motorcycle plate and use a motorcycle transponder, mounted according to the kit instructions.
Fee Forgiveness Program for New Accounts
Drivers with unpaid tolls or violation fees can open a new E-ZPassKY account and request fee forgiveness. The program rolls back the unpaid tolls to the $2.68 transponder rate and waives administrative fees. Each license plate qualifies for the program one time. This is the fastest way to clear a backlog and start earning the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount right away.
E-ZPass Interoperability in Kentucky
RiverLink accepts any E-ZPass transponder from a member agency, including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and other Midwest states. Out-of-state accounts receive the Base Transponder Discount on every crossing. The Frequent User Discount, however, only applies to accounts opened with E-ZPass Kentucky. Drivers passing through can use the same E-ZPass tag Kentucky drivers carry in any other toll state without a second account.
Kentucky E-ZPass Customer Service
Customer service handles account setup, transponder replacement, plate updates, payment questions, E-ZPass reimbursement Kentucky requests, and refund claims. Drivers can reach support by phone, online chat, or in person at the walk-in center in Louisville.
Phone: 1-855-748-5465 (RIV-LINK)
Online Account Portal: www.e-zpassky.com
Walk-in Center: 401 South 4th Street, Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40202
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Delaware Scam Alert Help Eastern Time
Mistakes That Cost Drivers the Discount
- Mounting the transponder near tint strips or defroster lines.
- Letting the account balance drop below zero and forgetting to refill.
- Driving a borrowed or rental car without adding the plate to the account.
- Opening an out-of-state E-ZPass account and expecting the Frequent User Discount.
- Ignoring a Pay By Plate invoice, which adds administrative fees.
The fastest way to lock in the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount is to open an E-ZPassKY account, mount the transponder correctly, and turn on auto-replenish. Once those three steps are in place, every crossing costs about half the Pay By Plate rate, and frequent commuters can recover up to half of their monthly tolls through the Frequent User Discount.
Kentucky E-ZPass Discount FAQ
Drivers across Kentucky, Indiana, and nearby states ask the same set of questions before opening an E-ZPass Kentucky account. Visit Maryland Dispute The answers below reflect the current RiverLink tolling rules, account setup process, and discount structure. Each answer is written to solve a specific decision point for new and existing account holders.
What is the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount?
The Kentucky E-ZPass Discount is the savings a driver receives by using an E-ZPass Kentucky transponder on RiverLink tolled bridges. The Base Transponder Discount cuts the per-crossing rate from $5.36 to $2.68 for passenger vehicles, a 50% reduction. Frequent users who cross 40 times in a month receive a 50% credit on those trips and any additional crossings that same month. The discount is automatic once the transponder is mounted and the account stays funded.
Do out-of-state E-ZPass transponders get the same discount?
Out-of-state E-ZPass transponders from member agencies receive the Base Transponder Discount of $2.68 per crossing. They do not qualify for the Frequent User Discount, which is limited to E-ZPassKY accounts. Drivers who want the monthly 50% credit must open an E-ZPass Kentucky account and use a Kentucky-issued transponder to track trips toward the threshold.
How do I enroll in the Kentucky E-ZPass Discount?
Enrollment requires opening an E-ZPassKY account on the official website, providing vehicle and payment details, funding the account with at least $20, and mounting the transponder on the windshield. Auto-replenish should be turned on to keep the account in good standing. The entire process takes about 10 minutes and the transponder arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
What is the RiverLink Fee Forgiveness program?
Fee Forgiveness rolls back unpaid tolls to the $2.68 transponder rate and waives administrative fees for drivers who open a new E-ZPassKY account. The offer is available one time per license plate and applies to tolls and fees already on the account before enrollment. Drivers with a large unpaid balance can clear it for a fraction of the original cost.
Can I use my E-ZPass Kentucky transponder in other states?
Yes. E-ZPass interoperability allows the same transponder to work in more than 17 states across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Drivers pay the toll rate charged by the state where they are driving, not the Kentucky rate. The account balance covers tolls from any member state, and the E-ZPass monthly statement Kentucky lists each one separately.
What happens if my transponder does not read?
If the transponder fails to read, RiverLink charges the toll to the license plate on file. A driver with a registered plate pays the $5.36 Pay By Plate rate. A driver with no plate on file pays $5.36 plus a $2.50 administrative fee. The Frequent User Discount only credits trips recorded through the transponder, so a failing tag can cost the discount for the month.
How long does it take to receive the Frequent User Discount credit?
The credit posts to the E-ZPassKY account within the first 15 days of the month following the qualifying 40-trip month. Drivers see the credit as a negative balance adjustment on their online statement. The Kentucky E-ZPass Discount credit does not require a claim form and applies automatically to passenger vehicles on personal accounts.