IAVE stands for Identificación Automática de Vehículos or Automatic Vehicle Identification that allows you to pay tolls electronically.

Once enrolled, the IAVE office will give provide either a transponder or a sticker to attach to your windshield. The transponder is a plastic unit approximately the length and height of a credit card, but much thicker. As you approach the IAVE lane, the traffic light will be red and the arm will be down. The system will read your transponder to identify your vehicle and deduct the toll. Then the light will turn green and the arm will raise up so you may continue.

Near the toll booth, there are signs directing you to the dedicated IAVE lane. Between Tijuana and Ensenada, these lanes are to the right. The lanes are brightly painted and light up at night like a landing strip to be easily identified. There are other lanes that accept the IAVE as well, but they are not dedicated lanes.

There are currently three ways to pay for the IAVE. They are:

• Prepaid- you may charge any amount from $50 to $3,000 pesos to your Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card
• Monthly Automatic Payments- the minimum amount is $200 pesos, but higher amounts may be chosen ($500, $1,000, $2,000 and $2,500 pesos). A Visa/Mastercard credit or debit card is required.
• Postpaid-You may register a credit/debit card where any toll charges will automatically be applied. For American Express cards, only the toll amount will be charged. For Visa/Mastercards, an initial $200 peso deposit is required.

You may credit your IAVE card online or in person at one of the IAVE offices.

You may get one online at the IAVE website or you can physically go to an office.
There are two IAVE information offices along the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road:

• Playas de Tijuana - Near the old toll booth (located before the new toll booth). If you are driving South, it is on the left.
• Ensenada - Near the toll booth. If you are driving South, it is on the left.

In order to obtain an IAVE pass, bring the following with you:

• A valid ID (U.S. ID is OK)
• A credit or debit card

Yes. The IAVE is available at the majority of toll booths around the country. You may like to visit the IAVE website to view a map ("Mapa Carretera") of where the IAVE pass may be used. The site has other good information too, but only in Spanish.