Quick Summary:
- Open Waze, go to Settings, Navigation, then enable Avoid toll roads.
- Recheck the setting after updates, it can reset unexpectedly.
- Compare ETAs with tolls on and off, especially for bridges.
- Plan airport exits early, some New York routes force toll crossings.
Setting up Waze to avoid toll roads before you collect your car hire in New York sounds simple, but the city’s bridges, tunnels, expressways, and airport access roads can turn a single toggle into a real routing strategy. Waze can usually keep you off tolled facilities, but there are trade-offs, and in a few cases the “no tolls” route is much longer or pushes you onto slower local streets.
This guide shows the exact Waze settings to avoid tolls, how to confirm it is working, and what to expect around New York’s major crossings and airports. If you are collecting from JFK or Newark, it is worth setting this up on WiFi before you leave the terminal so you are not changing settings in a busy pickup area. For airport pickup planning, you can also look at Hola Car Rentals location pages like car hire at New York JFK or car hire at Newark EWR to orient yourself.
Where the “avoid tolls” setting lives in Waze
On both iPhone and Android, Waze stores toll avoidance under Navigation settings. The wording can vary slightly by version, but the path is consistent.
Steps (iPhone and Android):
1) Open Waze.
2) Tap My Waze (or the magnifying glass/Search tab, depending on your layout).
3) Tap the Settings icon.
4) Tap Navigation.
5) Find Avoid toll roads and switch it On.
6) Back out of Settings to save, Waze applies changes immediately.
That is the core setup. Do it before you start moving, ideally before you pick up your car hire, because airport road systems around New York can require quick decisions and short exits.
Confirm it is actually avoiding tolls (quick checks)
After you enable Avoid toll roads, run two quick tests while you are still parked.
Check 1: Compare two routes to the same destination
Enter a destination that normally uses a tolled crossing from your pickup area. For example, from JFK to parts of Manhattan, many fastest routes may use tolled bridges or tunnels. With tolls avoided, Waze should either present a clearly longer ETA via non-tolled crossings, or route you via local roads to a free bridge further north.
Check 2: Look for toll indicators and warnings
Waze often displays a toll road indicator when a route includes tolls. If you still see toll markings after enabling avoidance, it can mean one of three things: the route has no practical alternative, the map data flags the segment differently, or a second setting is overriding the preference.
Also confirm you did not enable any feature that prioritises fastest route above all else. Waze typically respects avoidance settings, but heavy traffic or closures can trigger edge cases.
Common reasons Waze still sends you near tolls
1) The only realistic exit route is tolled
Some places around New York have limited non-toll alternatives. If you are leaving an airport area or crossing between boroughs, a toll-free option may exist but be so indirect that Waze considers it impractical, or it may require a sequence of local turns that is not attractive in heavy traffic.
2) You are being routed to a toll plaza by mistake
This can happen if the road classification in Waze is imperfect. If you notice a repeated problem, you can report it in-app, but for your trip, the fix is usually to add a stop or choose an alternate route option.
3) Your settings changed after an update or account switch
Waze settings sometimes reset after app updates, logging out, or changing devices. This is why it is smart to recheck the toggle right before you drive away from your car hire pickup point.
New York trade-offs, time, bridges, and tunnels
Avoiding tolls in New York is not just about saving money, it changes which bridges and tunnels you use, and that changes traffic patterns, neighbourhood streets, and sometimes driving stress. These are the most common trade-offs to expect.
Trade-off 1: Longer drive times, especially at peak hours
The no-toll route often takes longer because it favours local roads or free crossings that are further away. In practice, you may see an extra 10 to 45 minutes depending on time of day and where you are starting. If your plan includes tight arrival windows, compare the ETA with tolls enabled and disabled before you commit.
Trade-off 2: Free bridges can add complex city driving
Many toll-free alternatives require driving further north or using busy arterials. That can mean more junctions, more lane changes, and more stop-start traffic. For visitors collecting car hire in New York, this complexity can feel more demanding than paying a toll for a simpler, more direct crossing.
Trade-off 3: Tunnels and key crossings are frequently tolled
New York’s tunnels and several major crossings are typically tolled. If your route normally uses a tunnel into Manhattan, avoiding tolls may push you to a bridge route with different traffic patterns. It can also change your approach roads, which matters if you are unfamiliar with local signage and lane discipline.
Trade-off 4: “Avoid tolls” does not mean “avoid all charges”
Even with toll roads avoided, you can still face other driving costs such as parking, fuel, and, depending on where you drive, local restrictions. Waze’s toll avoidance is specifically about tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels flagged in its map data. It is not a full cost optimiser.
What to do before you leave the airport with car hire
Airport environments are the most important place to get this right, because the first few miles often determine whether you end up committed to a tolled crossing.
1) Set your preference while stationary
Do the settings change in the car park or pickup bay. If you are collecting at JFK, it may help to plan ahead using Hola’s pages such as car rental at New York JFK. If you are at Newark, you might reference National car rental at Newark EWR for general location context and timing.
2) Download an offline map alternative (optional)
Waze itself is not designed for full offline navigation. If you are worried about signal drops around parking structures, consider having a backup navigation app ready. Even if you stick with Waze, confirm your first few turns before pulling away.
3) Choose the route option that matches your priorities
When Waze shows multiple routes, pick the one that clearly avoids toll segments. If the fastest route still contains tolls, the alternatives may show a noticeably longer ETA. That is the core trade-off decision.
How to handle bridges and tunnels decisions in Waze
Waze is good at turn-by-turn driving, but it helps to think one step ahead around major crossings. Here are practical ways to reduce surprises.
Preview the route list before you start
Tap the route bar to view alternatives, then look for any note that indicates tolls. If a route says it has tolls, do not assume the Avoid tolls toggle will remove them mid-drive. Choose a toll-free route from the start.
Use a deliberate first stop
If Waze keeps pushing you towards a tolled crossing, set a first stop on a toll-free side of the city, such as a landmark or service station, then set your final destination once you are past the tolled decision point. This is not always necessary, but it can be effective in complex areas with multiple crossings.
Be cautious when traffic incidents occur
Accidents and closures can cause Waze to reroute aggressively. If you see a reroute pop-up while approaching a crossing, glance at the new route details before accepting. In heavy traffic, Waze may propose a shortcut that includes a tolled segment if it believes it is unavoidable or misclassified.
Car hire considerations: toll devices, billing, and settings
Even when you plan to avoid tolls, it is worth understanding how tolls would be handled with a car hire vehicle, because a wrong turn happens, especially around airports. Many hire vehicles in the New York area may be equipped for cashless tolling or have toll programmes that charge the toll plus an admin fee. Policies vary by provider and rental agreement.
If you are comparing vehicles or suppliers at pickup points, browsing provider-specific pages can help you understand what is available at each location, for example Hertz car rental at New York JFK. The key point is not to rely on toll programmes as a plan, use Waze settings to match your intended driving style, and treat toll billing as a backup for mistakes or unavoidable routes.
Best practice checklist for toll avoidance in New York
Recheck settings right before departure
Open Settings, Navigation, and confirm Avoid toll roads is on. Do this even if you set it earlier, because app updates and profile changes can revert preferences.
Run a quick ETA comparison
If the no-toll route adds a significant delay, decide consciously whether the savings are worth the extra time and complexity.
Stay alert near crossing approaches
The last minute lane changes before a bridge or tunnel can be stressful. If you are unsure, it can be safer to continue and pay the toll rather than make an unsafe manoeuvre. You can then adjust your plan for the next leg of the trip.
Do not confuse “avoid tolls” with “avoid highways”
These are separate settings. Avoiding highways can make routes far slower in New York and is not usually the best way to reduce costs. If your goal is toll savings, focus on toll avoidance first, then evaluate whether highways help you keep things simple.
FAQ
Q: Where exactly is the Waze setting to avoid toll roads?
A: In Waze, go to Settings, then Navigation, then switch on “Avoid toll roads”. Apply it before you start driving from your car hire pickup.
Q: Will Waze avoid toll bridges and tunnels in New York automatically?
A: Usually yes, if they are marked as toll facilities in Waze. However, some trips have limited practical alternatives, and incident reroutes can still create surprises, so preview routes before departing.
Q: Why did Waze route me onto a toll road even though I enabled avoidance?
A: Common reasons include the setting being reset, a temporary closure making alternatives unrealistic, or map data issues. Recheck the toggle, then choose an alternate route from the route list.
Q: Does avoiding tolls always save time or money when driving a hired car in New York?
A: It can save on toll charges, but it often costs time. Toll-free routes may require longer detours, slower local streets, and more complex junctions, especially around bridges and airport exits.
Q: Should I change Waze settings before or after I collect my car hire?
A: Before you set off in New York. Ideally, set and test the option while parked at the airport or pickup location, so your first route is planned around toll-free crossings.
