By Eli Chavez
PayByCar Lets Drivers Pay for Gas Using E-ZPass
Sometimes being stuck in traffic sparks innovation. For Kevin Condon, founder and CEO of PayByCar, a traffic jam on the Northeast Expressway inspired a service that allows drivers to pay for gas using their E-ZPass.
The system works two ways: a device installed on gas station canopies reads your E-ZPass and texts you to authorize payment, or you can send a text to a designated number to approve the charge. Unlike toll booths, the device won’t automatically charge you if you’re just stopping for snacks.
Launched in 2022, PayByCar partnered with Waltham-based Global Partners, deploying the technology at 22 gas stations. After two emails through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, over 30,000 people signed up, according to Condon.
The company is now expanding to 130 gas stations across New England, aiming for a total of 336 locations by the end of 2025. The full hardware-enabled system, with E-ZPass readers installed on canopies, is expected to be in place at all participating stations within six months. Currently, 30 stations are fully equipped.
As part of the “early access” program, drivers text “GAS,” tap a link, select their pump, confirm their location, and begin fueling. Participants’ phone numbers also allow PayByCar to notify them of partnered stations along their route.
While the immediate focus is on the New England rollout, Condon sees potential for national expansion once major brands adopt the technology. “This expansion to 130 stations is significant, but the bigger opportunity comes when national brands start putting muscle behind us,” he said.