Golden Gate Bridge Toll History

Bridge opens May 28, 1937. Toll is 50 cents per car each direction, plus 5 cents per extra passenger. Round trip costs $1.00. Pedestrians walk free on opening day (Pedestrian Day, May 27), then pay 5 cents per crossing until 1970.

Toll remains unchanged through World War II and the postwar years. Traffic increases steadily. The bridge carries 3.3 million vehicles in 1938, growing to over 9 million by the late 1940s.

Toll is reduced from 50 to 40 cents, one of only two toll decreases in the bridge's history. The extra passenger charge is also eliminated. The reduction reflects strong traffic revenue that is ahead of bond repayment schedule.

Major change: tolls shift to one-direction collection (southbound only). The rate effectively doubles for commuters because the round-trip cost stays the same, but all of it is collected on the southbound trip. This eliminates the need for toll booths on the northbound side, reducing congestion.

Toll increases to 75 cents. This marks the beginning of a long series of increases driven by maintenance costs and bond obligations. The original 1937 bonds are nearing full repayment.

The original $35 million construction bonds are fully repaid, with interest. However, tolls continue because the bridge requires ongoing maintenance, painting, and earthquake retrofit work. Revenue now funds operations rather than debt service.

Toll reaches $1.00 for the first time. Inflation and rising maintenance costs drive the increase. The bridge district begins a comprehensive seismic study following advances in earthquake engineering.

Toll doubles to $2.00. The October 17 Loma Prieta earthquake (6.9 magnitude) strikes the Bay Area, damaging the Bay Bridge but leaving the Golden Gate Bridge structurally sound. The earthquake accelerates plans for a comprehensive seismic retrofit of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Toll increases to $3.00. Revenue funds the ongoing seismic retrofit program, which will ultimately cost over $400 million and take more than 20 years to complete. The retrofit involves replacing structural steel, adding new bracing, and strengthening the foundations.

Toll jumps to $5.00 after a $2 increase, the largest single increase at the time. FasTrak electronic toll collection is introduced, offering the same $5.00 rate but without stopping at a toll booth. Carpools with 3+ occupants pay $3.00. Cash payment still available.

A split pricing model is introduced for the first time. Cash customers pay $1 more than FasTrak users, creating an incentive to switch to electronic tolling. This is the beginning of the end for cash tolls on the bridge.

Both rates increase by $1. The bridge district accelerates its move away from cash collection, citing labor costs and traffic congestion at toll booths. The seismic retrofit continues as the largest ongoing project.

Historic moment: all cash toll collection is eliminated. The Golden Gate Bridge becomes one of the first major US bridges to go fully cashless. Toll booths are removed. Three payment methods remain: FasTrak ($6.00), pay-by-plate ($7.00 via license plate cameras), and carpool ($4.00 with FasTrak Flex).

Regional Measure 3 planning begins. The bridge district implements incremental increases to fund transit services and the completion of the seismic retrofit. FasTrak: $6.50, pay-by-plate: $7.50, carpool: $4.50.

Another 50-cent increase across the board. The seismic retrofit of the main suspension span is nearing completion. FasTrak: $7.00, pay-by-plate: $8.00, carpool: $5.00.

Toll increases to $7.50 FasTrak, $8.50 pay-by-plate. Carpool rate: $5.25. The Bay Area Toll Authority approves Regional Measure 3, a $3 toll increase for all Bay Area bridges (including $1 for the Golden Gate) to fund regional transit improvements.

First phase of Regional Measure 3 takes effect, adding 25 cents to base tolls. FasTrak: $7.75, pay-by-plate: $8.75, carpool: $5.25. Legal challenges to RM3 delay the remaining increases.

Toll increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite dramatically reduced traffic. FasTrak: $8.05, pay-by-plate: $9.05. Bridge traffic dropped as much as 70% during lockdowns but has since partially recovered.

Incremental increase continues. FasTrak: $8.40, pay-by-plate: $9.40, carpool: $5.60. Traffic volumes return close to pre-pandemic levels, though commute patterns have shifted with more remote work.

FasTrak: $8.60, pay-by-plate: $9.60, carpool: $5.60. The RM3 legal challenges are resolved, allowing the remaining toll increases to proceed on schedule.

Current rate as of 2026. FasTrak: $8.75, pay-by-plate: $9.75, carpool (3+ with FasTrak Flex): $5.75. This represents a 17,450% increase from the original 1937 toll of 50 cents per direction, or about 8,725% for the equivalent one-way crossing.