Quick Summary:
- Open Google Maps, enable “Avoid tolls” and verify it applies.
- Switch route options to avoid express lanes, not only toll bridges.
- Confirm your phone’s region settings and offline maps before leaving.
- Ask the desk what toll products exist, then decline unneeded add-ons.
In California, toll roads are only part of the picture. Many metro areas also have express lanes where tolls vary by time and traffic. If you are collecting car hire at an airport or city location, taking five minutes in the car park to set Google Maps correctly can help you avoid routes that trigger toll charges and any confusion about toll products offered at the counter.
This guide is a pre-drive setup checklist focused on Google Maps. It also covers the common mismatch between “avoid tolls” and what drivers think it means, particularly around express lanes and bridges. Use it before you roll out of the California car-hire lot, while you still have a strong signal and time to adjust settings.
Before you start: know what “tolls” can mean in California
Google Maps can usually avoid toll roads when you enable the “Avoid tolls” setting. However, you may still see routes that include tolled facilities if you are not careful with route selection, lane choice, or when Maps offers alternative routes that are “faster”.
In California, toll charging can show up as:
Toll bridges, especially in the Bay Area.
Toll roads, such as certain corridors in Southern California.
Express lanes (often shown as “Express Lanes” or “HOT lanes”), which can be tolled depending on rules and occupancy.
For travellers picking up car hire at major airports, a default route from the terminal can easily funnel you onto a tolled bridge or an express lane on the way to a hotel or meeting. Getting the setting right before leaving helps you avoid last-minute lane changes or accidentally following voice prompts onto a tolled segment.
Step-by-step: set Google Maps to avoid toll roads
The menu labels can vary slightly by Android, iPhone, and app version, but the workflow is consistent.
1) Open Google Maps and start a test route
Before you drive away, enter a destination you are likely to visit first, such as your hotel or a central landmark. This matters because some route options appear only after you have selected a destination.
2) Tap route options and enable “Avoid tolls”
After you see route suggestions, open route options and enable “Avoid tolls”. If there is also an “Avoid highways” option, use it carefully, because in California it can push you onto slower surface streets and increase driving time significantly. For most drivers, “Avoid tolls” is the key setting.
3) Confirm the setting is applied to the current trip
Some users toggle the switch but do not notice that the route preview still shows a toll icon or a toll label. Re-check the displayed routes. If any route still includes a toll symbol, choose a different route option or adjust your destination slightly to force recalculation.
4) Turn on “Live traffic” and re-check alternatives
Traffic in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego can change quickly. Live traffic can influence whether Google suggests a tolled facility as the fastest option. Even with “Avoid tolls” enabled, you should review the alternative routes list and select the one that does not mention tolls or express lanes.
Express lanes: the most common “avoid tolls” surprise
Many drivers expect the toll toggle to prevent any paid lane. In practice, the biggest risk is not a full toll road, it is drifting into an express lane because the signage is frequent, the lane markings change, and voice guidance can sound like “keep right to take the express lanes” if your route is still calculated through them.
Use these checks:
Look for “Express Lanes” in the route description. If you see that wording, pick another route. If no alternatives exist, zoom in and see if your route is on general-purpose lanes alongside an express lane, then pay extra attention to lane guidance.
Keep “Avoid tolls” on, then choose a non-express route manually. Sometimes Google will show a toll-free option that is only a few minutes slower.
Do not assume carpool rules apply to you. Visitors often do not know the local occupancy rules, and in a rental you may not have the right transponder settings. It is easier to avoid the lanes entirely.
Pre-drive checklist in the car-hire lot (five minutes)
Use this checklist while parked, before you leave the lot.
1) Confirm Google Maps is using the right driving profile
Make sure Maps is in driving mode, not cycling or transit. This sounds obvious, but it changes routing logic and can hide or show toll-related options.
2) Download an offline map for your area
Airport car parks and freeway interchanges can be signal-poor. Download an offline map for your first driving area (for example, Greater Los Angeles or the Bay Area). Offline maps do not always carry the same live rerouting, but they help you avoid missing a critical turn, panicking, and following the next available ramp that leads onto a tolled segment.
3) Check your phone’s location accuracy and battery strategy
Turn on high accuracy location if available, and plug in power before you start moving. Poor GPS accuracy can cause late prompts, which can lead to sudden lane changes around express lanes and bridge approaches.
4) Run a “dry route” to the nearest major motorway
Set your destination and watch the first two or three instructions. Airports often have multiple exit ramps where one is tolled and one is not, especially in complex metro areas. If you see any toll indication, adjust route options now, not when you are already merging.
5) Verify what the rental company considers a toll charge
This is not about memorising every toll facility. It is about understanding how charges are processed for your car hire. Some toll products bundle administrative fees with toll payments, while others require you to pay tolls yourself. Ask the desk what happens if you drive on a toll road accidentally, and what charges apply, then decide whether you need any toll product at all.
If you are collecting from a major airport location, you may find it helpful to review the location details in advance. For example, travellers flying into Los Angeles often start here: car rental at LAX. Bay Area arrivals can compare pickup logistics here: car rental at SFO.
How to read Google Maps route labels so you can avoid tolls reliably
When you preview routes, train yourself to scan for these signals before you press Start:
Toll tag or toll icon. If any route shows a toll label, do not assume the “avoid tolls” toggle is on. Double-check route options.
Bridge names. In Northern California, bridges may be the tolled element even if the rest of the route is free. If you are crossing the Bay, confirm you are not being routed across a tolled crossing unless you have deliberately chosen it.
Express lane wording. Treat it like a toll warning, even when pricing is dynamic or rules are complex.
Time savings that seem too good. If one route is much faster during rush hour, it may be using a priced lane. Open details and confirm it is not.
Avoiding unwanted toll products: what to do at the counter
The simplest way to avoid surprise charges is to avoid toll facilities. The next layer is making sure your rental agreement does not add a toll option you do not want.
When discussing car hire terms, use clear language:
Ask what toll programme is attached by default. Some companies add toll coverage unless you opt out. Make sure you understand whether it is optional.
Ask how tolls are billed if you do nothing. The answer might be “we bill tolls plus an admin fee” or “you must pay tolls yourself”. Either way, you can make an informed choice.
Ask about express lane treatment. Express lane charges can be treated like tolls. Confirm how they are passed through if you accidentally use one.
Keep your route plan consistent with your choice. If you decline a toll product, be disciplined about avoiding routes that tempt you into using toll bridges or express lanes.
Different airports and suppliers can have different processes, so it helps to check the provider page for your arrival point. For UK travellers, these pages are useful references for comparing terms and pickup expectations: car hire Los Angeles LAX and Avis car hire San Diego.
On the road: habits that prevent accidental toll entry
Even with Google Maps set correctly, you can still accidentally enter a tolled facility if you follow road signs without checking lane markings. These habits reduce the risk:
Stay in general-purpose lanes early. As you approach interchanges, express lanes can split off with little notice. Avoid hugging the lane that typically feeds express entrances.
Listen for wording changes. If voice guidance mentions “express lanes” or “toll road”, cancel navigation, pull over safely, and re-check route options.
Do not chase last-second reroutes. When traffic worsens, Google may offer a faster alternative. Review it carefully before accepting, because time savings often come from tolled lanes.
Use a simple first destination. Setting the first destination to a well-known landmark can avoid obscure ramps that a more exact address might trigger, particularly around airport loops.
Common California scenarios and what to set before leaving
Leaving LAX: The first few miles are dense with interchanges. Run the route while still stationary, confirm “Avoid tolls” is enabled, then zoom in to see whether your route uses any labelled express lanes.
Leaving SFO: If you are heading into San Francisco or across the Bay, bridges become the key check. Confirm your chosen route does not include a tolled bridge unless you have planned for it.
Driving in San Diego: Express lanes can appear on certain corridors. Focus on route descriptions and lane guidance, because toll features may be less obvious than a standalone toll road.
FAQ
Q: Where is the “Avoid tolls” setting in Google Maps?
A: After you enter a destination and routes appear, open route options and toggle “Avoid tolls” on. Then confirm the displayed route no longer shows any toll label.
Q: If I switch on “Avoid tolls”, will Google Maps avoid express lanes too?
A: Often it helps, but not always in the way drivers expect. Always scan the route description for “Express Lanes” and choose an alternative route if it appears.
Q: What should I check before leaving the California car-hire lot?
A: Set “Avoid tolls”, preview the first instructions out of the airport, download an offline map for the area, and confirm how your car hire company processes tolls and fees.
Q: How do I know if my route includes a toll in Google Maps?
A: Look for a toll icon or a “tolls” note on the route card, and open route details for warnings about express lanes or tolled crossings.
Q: What if I accidentally drive on a toll road or into an express lane?
A: Keep going safely, do not stop suddenly to avoid it. Later, review your rental agreement to understand how tolls are billed, including any administrative fees.
