Windsor–Detroit border tolls: Gordie Howe vs. Ambassador Bridge vs. Tunnel
Every Windsor–Detroit crossing charges a toll in both directions, and the cheapest one depends on which way you are going, what you drive and how you pay. Here are the current car, trailer and truck tolls at the Gordie Howe Bridge, the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel, with the discount accounts that cut them.
The short version
- Cheapest for most car trips: the Gordie Howe Bridge at CAD $8.00 / USD $5.75 each way, or CAD $6.00 / USD $4.35 with a free Breakaway account.
- Most expensive: the Ambassador Bridge at USD $10.00 by card or CAD $14.00 in Canadian cash, unless you have its USD $5.50 Premier tag.
- The Tunnel charges CAD $8.25 into Detroit and USD $9.00 into Windsor, takes no cash at either end, and is cheapest into Detroit with NEXPRESS at CAD $5.90.
- E-ZPass is not accepted at the Tunnel or listed at the Gordie Howe; the Ambassador Bridge says it is coming in fall 2026.
Car tolls at a glance
| Crossing | Windsor → Detroit | Detroit → Windsor | With a discount account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe Bridge | CAD $8.00 or USD $5.75 | CAD $8.00 or USD $5.75 | Breakaway: CAD $6.00 / USD $4.35 |
| Ambassador Bridge | USD $10.00 (CAD $14.00 cash) | USD $10.00 (CAD $14.00 cash) | Premier tag: USD $5.50 |
| Detroit–Windsor Tunnel | CAD $8.25 | USD $9.00 | NEXPRESS: CAD $5.90 to Detroit, USD $6.75 to Windsor |
Cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups. At the Gordie Howe the car rate applies under 2.3 m (7.5 ft) tall; at the Tunnel, under 8 ft (2.45 m). Motorcycles pay the car rate on both bridges and cannot use the Tunnel. Cash and card details are in the payment table below.
Gordie Howe Bridge toll
| Vehicle | Toll | With Breakaway |
|---|---|---|
| Car, SUV, pickup or motorcycle under 2.3 m (7.5 ft) | CAD $8.00 / USD $5.75 | CAD $6.00 / USD $4.35 |
| Standard-hitch trailer | One more car toll per trailer | Discounted |
| RV, bus, 5th-wheel trailer, truck, or anything 2.3 m or taller | CAD $12.00 / USD $8.75 per axle | CAD $9.60 / USD $6.90 per axle |
The toll is the same in both directions and is collected at the plaza on the Canadian side, so drivers coming from Detroit pay after the bridge. Staffed lanes take Canadian or U.S. cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, debit and Apple, Google or Samsung Pay; cards and digital wallets are charged in Canadian dollars. E-ZPass is not listed as a payment option.
Breakaway is the bridge’s own toll account. The account and transponder are free, a personal account needs a $50 prepaid opening balance and covers up to four vehicles, and you choose a Canadian- or U.S.-dollar account when you open it (you cannot switch later). Pay with the windshield tag, the Breakaway app’s code, or a NEXUS card linked to the account. Sign up through the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority; Breakaway support is 1-855-200-3299, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
Ambassador Bridge toll
| Vehicle | Card or U.S. cash | Canadian cash | Premier tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, motorcycle or bus | USD $10.00 | CAD $14.00 | USD $5.50 (cars) |
| Vehicle with trailer | USD $20.00 | CAD $28.00 | – |
| Commercial truck | USD $12.00 per axle | Not published | A-PASS account: USD $9.00 or less per axle |
Car tolls have been USD $10.00 since January 1, 2026; the bridge’s current rate sheet is dated August 1, 2026. You can pay by credit card or in U.S. or Canadian cash. Premier is the bridge’s prepaid tag for cars and A-PASS is its account for commercial trucks. The August rate sheet says E-ZPass will be accepted beginning in fall 2026, but the bridge’s FAQ still says it is not, so do not count on it yet. Rates: cars and commercial.
Detroit–Windsor Tunnel toll
| Direction | Credit or debit | NEXPRESS | Tunnel app (USD round trips) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor → Detroit | CAD $8.25 | CAD $5.90 or USD $4.70 | USD $5.00 |
| Detroit → Windsor | USD $9.00 | USD $6.75 or CAD $9.25 | USD $8.50 |
The Tunnel is cashless at both ends and every lane is unattended: pay by credit or debit card, a NEXPRESS transponder or the tunnel app. E-ZPass is not accepted. You pay in the currency of the country you are leaving. Buses pay USD $14.00 / CAD $11.75. Vehicles 8 ft (2.45 m) or taller and vehicles towing trailers pay by axle count, and the two operators’ rate sheets currently differ, so check the Detroit-side rates and the Windsor-side operator before you tow anything through. Motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, transport trucks and hazardous materials are not allowed, and the height limit is 12 ft 8 in (3.8 m).
Cash, cards, E-ZPass and NEXUS cards
| Crossing | Cash | Cards | Own account or tag | E-ZPass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe Bridge | Yes, staffed lanes | Credit, debit, phone wallets (in CAD) | Breakaway, or a NEXUS card linked to it | Not listed |
| Ambassador Bridge | USD or CAD | Credit | Premier (cars), A-PASS (trucks) | Announced for fall 2026, not confirmed |
| Detroit–Windsor Tunnel | No | Credit, debit | NEXPRESS, tunnel app | No |
A NEXUS card gets you into the NEXUS lane at customs, but it only pays a toll at the Gordie Howe Bridge, and only when it is linked to a Breakaway account. See NEXUS lane wait times and, for trucks, commercial wait times and truck rules.
So which crossing should you take?
Toll differences are a few dollars; a long line costs more. Downtown-to-downtown trips usually go fastest through the Tunnel, the Gordie Howe is quickest for the airport, Ann Arbor and Ohio, and the Ambassador Bridge suits Mexicantown and I-96. Check the live waits before you choose:
| Crossing | To Detroit (CBP) | To Windsor (CBSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe Bridge | No delay | No delay |
| Ambassador Bridge | No delay | No delay |
| Detroit-Windsor Tunnel | No delay | No delay |
Official figures as of 4:07 AM ET. They refresh every few minutes on the live page, which also has driver reports.
Common questions
How much is the Ambassador Bridge toll?
USD $10.00 each way for a car, motorcycle or bus, paid by credit card or in U.S. cash, or CAD $14.00 in Canadian cash. Cars with the bridge’s Premier prepaid tag pay USD $5.50. A vehicle towing a trailer pays USD $20.00 / CAD $28.00, and trucks pay USD $12.00 per axle.
How much is the Gordie Howe Bridge toll?
CAD $8.00 or USD $5.75 per crossing for a car, SUV, pickup or motorcycle under 2.3 m (7.5 ft) tall, the same in both directions. With a Breakaway account it is CAD $6.00 or USD $4.35. Taller vehicles, buses, RVs and trucks pay CAD $12.00 / USD $8.75 per axle.
How much is the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel toll?
CAD $8.25 from Windsor to Detroit and USD $9.00 from Detroit to Windsor for a car, by credit or debit card. NEXPRESS transponders pay CAD $5.90 to Detroit and USD $6.75 to Windsor, and the tunnel app sells USD round trips at $5.00 to Detroit and $8.50 to Windsor.
Which Windsor-Detroit crossing is cheapest?
For a car, the Gordie Howe Bridge: CAD $8.00 / USD $5.75 each way, or CAD $6.00 / USD $4.35 with Breakaway. Going into Detroit with a NEXPRESS transponder, the Tunnel is slightly cheaper at CAD $5.90. The Ambassador Bridge is the most expensive at USD $10.00 unless you have its USD $5.50 Premier tag.
Do you pay the toll both ways?
Yes, at all three crossings. The Gordie Howe Bridge charges the same toll in each direction and collects it on the Canadian side. The Tunnel charges in the currency of the country you are leaving. The Ambassador Bridge charges each way.
Does the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel take cash?
No. Both sides of the Tunnel are cashless: pay by credit or debit card, NEXPRESS transponder or the tunnel app. The Gordie Howe Bridge takes cash in its staffed lanes and the Ambassador Bridge takes U.S. and Canadian cash.
Can I use E-ZPass to cross to Canada?
Not reliably yet. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel says it does not accept E-ZPass, and the Gordie Howe Bridge does not list it as a payment option. The Ambassador Bridge’s August 2026 rate sheet says it will accept E-ZPass beginning in fall 2026, but its FAQ still says it does not.
What is Breakaway?
Breakaway is the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s toll account. The account and transponder are free, a personal account needs a $50 prepaid opening balance, and it cuts the car toll to CAD $6.00 / USD $4.35. You can pay with the transponder, the Breakaway app or a NEXUS card linked to the account.
Official sources
- Gordie Howe Bridge and Breakaway: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (toll rates and toll FAQ)
- Ambassador Bridge: auto toll rates and commercial toll rates
- Detroit–Windsor Tunnel: toll rates (Detroit side)
- Windsor Detroit Borderlink: Tunnel tolls and NEXPRESS (Windsor side)
This page is independent and is not affiliated with any bridge or tunnel operator. Tolls change without notice; the operator’s posted rate at the booth is what you pay. Spot something out of date? Tell us.