NC Approves Ferry Tolls Starting Jan. 1
The North Carolina Board of Transportation approved tolls for four coastal ferry routes, with collection set to begin January 1.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Trucks
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Do you think North Carolina should charge tolls on coastal ferry routes?
The North Carolina Board of Transportation approved tolls for four coastal ferry routes, and NCDOT will begin collecting them January 1. Each car pays $10 one-way on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry and $7 one-way on the Knotts Island and Neuse and Pamlico river ferries.
Why it matters
Lawmakers decided the tolls are a fair way to help pay to replace older ferry boats, affecting drivers who use the coastal crossings. Residents of 20 coastal counties may qualify for a $150 annual ferry pass.
Trucks and longer vehicles pay up to $30 on the Hatteras-Ocracoke crossing and up to $28 on the other approved routes. The state projects about $4.4 million in first-year toll revenue, with ridership effects still to be measured.
The players
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
The state agency responsible for operating the state ferry system and collecting the newly approved tolls.
North Carolina Board of Transportation
The state board that approved the toll rates for the four coastal ferry routes without dissent.
North Carolina General Assembly
The state legislature that enacted the 2026 bill requiring the tolls and has not acted on the board's request to delay the deadline.
The details
A 2026 state bill requires NCDOT to begin collecting tolls on the specified routes January 1, leaving rate-setting to NCDOT and the Board of Transportation. The board approved the tolls without dissent and unanimously passed a resolution asking the General Assembly to delay the deadline, which has not been changed. Tolls already paid on the Cape Fear River ferry between Southport and Fort Fisher, and on Pamlico Sound ferries between Ocracoke and Swan Quarter or Cedar Island, will not be altered.
Timeline
Jan. 1: NCDOT begins collecting ferry tolls on the approved routes.
Roadmap
The board's rate approval turns the 2026 state bill into concrete per-vehicle charges on the coastal ferry system. The tolls are part of the state's effort to fund replacement of older ferry boats.
Drivers crossing the affected routes will pay $7 to $10 per car one-way starting January 1, and trucks will pay up to $30. Eligible residents of 20 coastal counties can reduce costs with a $150 annual ferry pass.
The takeaway
Drivers who regularly use the coastal ferries should budget for per-crossing tolls starting January 1, and residents of eligible counties should compare the $150 annual pass against their typical crossings.
What happens next
NCDOT begins collecting ferry tolls on January 1, and will use the following year to assess ridership effects and whether rates could rise.
Further reading
Explore more Trucks coverage tied to North Carolina's coastal transportation changes.
Live Poll
Do you think North Carolina should charge tolls on coastal ferry routes?
