Ontario's Four Toll Roads: 407 ETR, 412, 418, and QEW Garden City Skyway

Ontario operates four tolled highway facilities — three 400-series highways and one bridge segment.

1. Highway 407 ETR (Express Toll Route)

• Route: 108 km (67 mi) east-west across top of Greater Toronto Area (Burlington → Pickering)
• Type: All-electronic, barrier-free (transponder / plate billing)
• Ownership: Private consortium (99-year lease from 1999)
• Rates: Dynamic by zone, time, vehicle class; ~$0.30–$0.60/km (car)
• Purpose: Bypass Toronto congestion (401, QEW)

2. Highway 412

• Route: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) connecting 401 to 407 ETR in Whitby
• Opened: 2016 (tolled); Tolls removed April 2022
• Status: Now toll-free (provincial decision)

3. Highway 418

• Route: 12.8 km (8 mi) connecting 401 to 407 ETR in Oshawa/Clarington
• Opened: 2019 (tolled); Tolls removed April 2022
• Status: Now toll-free

4. QEW Garden City Skyway (Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway)

• Route: Twin bridges carrying QEW across Burlington Bay (Lake Ontario)
• Length: 2.6 km (1.6 mi)
• Toll history: Original 1963 bridge tolled; 1985 twinning made toll-free
• Current status: Toll-free — but often listed historically as "toll facility"

Current Reality Check

As of 2024, only Highway 407 ERT actively charges tolls. Highways 412 and 418 were made toll-free in April 2022 by the Ontario government. The Garden City Skyway has been toll-free since 1985.

Payment on 407 ETR

• Transponder: Lease/purchase; lowest rates; auto-bill
• Plate billing: Camera capture; monthly invoice + video toll charge (~$4.00/trip)
• Rental cars: Rental company bills you (heavy markup)
• Out-of-province: Plate billing works; pay online

Controversy and Context

• 407 ETR lease criticized: high rates, aggressive collection, private profit on public land
• 412/418 toll removal: Election promise fulfilled; cost ~$1B foregone revenue
• No other 400-series highways tolled (400, 401, 403, 404, 406, 409, 410, 416, 417, 420, 427)

If you're driving the GTA, only the 407 ETR will charge you—and it's often worth it for time savings.