Now you need that E-ZPass to pay your toll bill.

Retire the state's toll booths because Maryland motorists no longer need to dig for loose change or bills to pay on major roadways.

Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Transportation Authority announced Aug. 6 that safety measures originally intended to protect drivers from COVID-19 will now be permanently put into place across the state. This includes the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 as well as Baltimore Harbor Tunnel on I-895 and the Nice/Middleton Bridge on U.S. Hwy. 301.

“In addition to historic toll relief and record-breaking progress on critical infrastructure updates, permanent all-electronic tolling is the latest step we have taken to save motorists time and money,” Hogan said in a statement. “By combining innovation, safety, and savings, this truly is a win-win for the state government and for everyone who travels in our great state.”

Some state-operated roadways already have electronic, cashless tolling, including the Intercounty Connector on State Hwy. 200, the I-95 Express Toll Lanes in Baltimore, and the Key Bridge and Hatem bridges on I-695 and U.S. Hwy. 40, respectively. Cashless tolling was also made permanent at the Bay Bridge in May, according to the state.

Because this system is now permanent, motorists will need to sign up for a way to pay their toll bill electronically. The state says nearly 1.4 million drivers already us E-ZPass Maryland to auto-pay on tollways. Doing so saves motorists 25 percent over the standard toll rate. 

And everyone will soon be able to sign up for automatic billing based on their license plate. 

Learn how much each tollway costs using the state's tollway calculator or this interactive map.

What do you think of the cashless toll system? Do you already use E-ZPass? Tell us in the comments!