With the toll booths getting busier, the IAVE pass is a great way to get through the toll booth faster. Passholders enjoy short lines, dedicated lanes, automated payment and discounted toll rates.
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:
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:
In order to obtain an IAVE pass, bring the following with you:
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.