Except as provided herein, all vehicles using a toll facility must pay the required toll. Vehicles crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge are required to pay a toll only in the eastbound direction. Additional exemptions for high occupancy vehicles apply on the SR 167 HOT lanes and I-405 express toll lanes as defined in WAC 468-270-105 and 468-270-115 respectively.

Only qualified vehicles may be exempted from paying tolls. Exempted vehicles must provide directly for the operation, maintenance, safety, and/or person-carrying capacity of the tolled roadway or for emergency response. The registered owner and operator of the qualified vehicle must comply with the requirements of the department to obtain the exemption as specified in WAC 468-270-095.

The following vehicles, as defined further in WAC 468-270-030, shall qualify for exemption:

(1) Highway and transit operating and maintenance vehicles, as authorized by the department;

(2) Tow trucks authorized by the Washington state patrol responding to clear vehicles from the toll facility;

(3) Authorized, on-duty emergency vehicles;

(4) Publicly owned or operated transit buses;

(5) Passenger motor vehicles licensed for ride-sharing as defined in RCW 46.18.285;

(6) School buses; and

(7) Privately owned and operated passenger buses meeting annual certification requirements of the department.