TrafficAuth is powered by OmniTrust (formerly INTEGRITY Security Services)
TrafficAuth is powered by OmniTrust (formerly INTEGRITY Security Services)
TrafficAuth helps tolling agencies and system developers bring secure, standards-based V2X tolling to both Direct V2X and Network V2X environments — using SCMS certificates, trusted permissions, mobile applications, SDK integration, and interoperable message exchange.
Tolling is entering a new connected-vehicle era.
Today’s tolling systems rely heavily on RFID tags, license plate recognition, and gantry-based roadside infrastructure. These systems are proven and widely deployed, but they were built primarily for single-purpose identification and payment workflows.
V2X creates a new opportunity. With V2X tolling, vehicles can exchange secure, standards-based messages with tolling infrastructure using either Direct V2X communication or Network V2X services.
This can support frictionless tolling, managed lanes, road usage charging, digital payment experiences, and future mobility services — while preserving compatibility with broader safety and traffic management applications.
The Kapsch/Audi V2X tolling white paper describes V2X-based tolling as a path to reduce revenue leakage, improve collection efficiency, support road usage charging, and create more transparent in-vehicle payment experiences. It also notes that V2X tolling can coexist with safety and mobility applications instead of operating as a standalone tolling silo.
TrafficAuth provides the trust, mobile, and developer foundation needed to support this evolution
Tolling agencies are under pressure to modernize revenue collection while controlling infrastructure cost, improving customer experience, and preparing for connected and automated vehicles.
Traditional tolling approaches can create several challenges:
The Kapsch/Audi white paper reports that toll agencies experience revenue leakage and that license plate-based tolls for unregistered users may go unpaid at high rates, making more accurate, data-rich, connected tolling methods attractive for future deployments.
V2X tolling gives agencies a standards-based way to evolve from simple vehicle identification toward secure, bi-directional communication between tolling systems and connected vehicles.
V2X tolling is not just a replacement for a transponder.
It allows tolling to become part of a broader connected mobility environment where vehicles, roadside systems, cloud platforms, and transportation operators exchange trusted information.
A V2X tolling deployment can support:
The white paper describes SAE J3217 for V2X-based fee collection and J3217/R for road user charging. It explains that J3217 uses a Toll Advertisement Message to alert vehicles of an upcoming toll zone, followed by a vehicle Toll Usage Message and optional acknowledgment.
TrafficAuth helps enable the security and interoperability layer needed for these workflows.
TrafficAuth supports V2X tolling through four core capabilities:
TrafficAuth-SCMS
Provides V2X certificates and security permissions needed for tolling-related message exchange.
TrafficAuth-Mobile
Can act as a Network V2X onboard unit, allowing mobile devices to participate in V2X tolling workflows where supported.
TrafficAuth-SDK
Allows developers to integrate tolling capabilities into their own Android or iOS-based applications and products.
National Mobility Interchange, or NMI
Routes signed V2X messages between Network V2X applications, roadside infrastructure, and Direct V2X systems.
Together, these capabilities support a flexible tolling architecture that can work with existing roadside equipment, emerging connected vehicle platforms, and mobile-first Network V2X services.
Direct V2X tolling uses roadside and onboard equipment to exchange messages locally, typically over the 5.9 GHz safety spectrum.
In a Direct V2X tolling deployment, a roadside unit can broadcast tolling information to approaching equipped vehicles. An onboard unit can respond with the appropriate standardized tolling message. The transaction can then be processed by the tolling operator’s back-office system.
TrafficAuth-SCMS supports this model by providing the security certificates and permissions needed for participating devices.
Those permissions may include combinations of:
This allows tolling operators and DOTs to ensure that only authorized devices participate in tolling message exchange.
The white paper notes that SAE J3217 enables secure, interoperable tolling transactions using a single roadside unit per toll location, potentially reducing infrastructure compared with legacy 915 MHz systems that may require multiple transceivers per lane
Network V2X can extend tolling participation beyond vehicles equipped with dedicated onboard V2X radios.
With Network V2X, a mobile device, telematics system, or connected vehicle application can communicate with tolling services over cellular and cloud networks. This can reduce barriers to entry and support earlier adoption by fleets, mobile app users, and connected vehicle platforms.
The white paper describes V2N, or vehicle-to-network, as a model that can be implemented through mobile apps or in-vehicle telematics, and notes that SAE J3217-defined protocols can support common tolling use cases before widespread Direct V2X deployment.
TrafficAuth supports this model through TrafficAuth-Mobile, TrafficAuth-SDK, and NMI.
TrafficAuth-Mobile can support tolling by acting as a Network V2X onboard unit.
This allows an Android or iOS device to participate in tolling workflows using standards-based V2X messages routed through NMI. The app can acquire and manage SCMS certificates, sign messages, validate received messages, and support authorized tolling functions where enabled by the tolling operator.
This creates a practical deployment path for:
For tolling agencies, mobile participation can help test business rules, user experience, transaction flows, and interoperability before requiring embedded V2X equipment in every participating vehicle.
TrafficAuth-SDK allows developers to add secure V2X tolling capabilities to their own Android or iOS-based products.
This is useful for organizations that already operate:
The SDK abstracts the complex security operations required for V2X participation, including SCMS certificate handling, private key protection, message signing, message validation, and connection to NMI.
For developers, this makes it easier to build tolling functionality without becoming experts in the full V2X security stack.
NMI can route signed V2X messages between Network V2X applications and roadside infrastructure.
This is especially valuable for tolling systems that need to support both Direct and Network V2X participants. Existing roadside equipment that was built for Direct V2X can continue broadcasting standards-based messages locally, while the same message content can also be relayed over a network interface through NMI.
NMI uses MQTT as its default protocol and distributes authenticated, standards-compliant transportation messages over a publish/subscribe model. NMI documentation describes support for SAE J2735 message payloads, IEEE 1609.2 security wrappers, and digital signatures that enable authenticity and integrity validation.
For tolling agencies, this creates a bridge between legacy roadside investment, Direct V2X equipment, mobile apps, and cloud-connected vehicle services.
1. A Toll Zone Is Announced
A roadside system, virtual roadside unit, or network service publishes toll zone information using a standards-based tolling message.
In SAE J3217 terminology, this may include a Toll Advertisement Message, or TAM, which alerts approaching vehicles or applications that they are entering a tolling area.
2. The Vehicle or App Evaluates the Toll Zone
An equipped vehicle, TrafficAuth-Mobile app, or TrafficAuth-SDK-enabled application receives the tolling message and evaluates whether it is relevant to the current trip, vehicle, user, account, or tolling program.
3. A Secure Toll Usage Message Is Sent
The vehicle or application responds with a signed Toll Usage Message, or TUM, containing the information required by the tolling workflow.
The message is signed using IEEE 1609.2 security credentials issued by an authorized SCMS provider such as TrafficAuth-SCMS.
4. The Tolling System Validates Trust and Permissions
The receiving tolling system validates the message signature, certificate chain, PSID, SSP, and other security properties.
This ensures that the request came from an authorized participant and that the message was not altered.
5. The Transaction Is Processed
The tolling operator’s back-office system processes the transaction according to agency policy, account rules, pricing rules, vehicle class, managed lane rules, or road usage charging program requirements.
6. Optional Acknowledgment or Driver Feedback Is Provided
Where supported, the system can provide confirmation, toll amount, pricing information, or other feedback to the driver through an in-vehicle interface or mobile application.
V2X tolling can support more than one operating model.
Facility-Based Tolling
Direct V2X or Network V2X can support tolling at bridges, tunnels, express lanes, turnpikes, and managed corridors.
Managed Lanes
V2X can help support express lane pricing, vehicle classification, occupancy-related programs, and lane-specific tolling when combined with appropriate positioning and policy rules.
Road Usage Charging
J3217/R and related V2X approaches can support road usage charging and vehicle-miles-traveled programs, helping agencies explore alternatives to fuel-tax-based revenue models. The white paper identifies J3217/R as a standards-based framework for scalable, privacy-conscious road usage charging and VMT fee programs.
Digital Mobility Payments
The same connected vehicle platform can eventually support parking, charging, mobility hubs, and other transportation-related payments.
Standards-Based Interoperability
TrafficAuth supports V2X tolling built around standardized message exchange and certificate-based security, helping agencies avoid isolated proprietary systems.
Direct and Network V2X Support
Agencies can support Direct V2X tolling with RSUs and OBUs while also enabling Network V2X participation through mobile apps, SDK-enabled products, and NMI.
Reduced Infrastructure Burden
V2X tolling can reduce reliance on dense lane-by-lane tolling infrastructure by enabling secure, bi-directional communication through RSUs, connected vehicles, and network services.
Stronger Trust and Security
TrafficAuth-SCMS supports the PSIDs, SSPs, and certificate permissions needed to authorize tolling-capable devices and applications.
Mobile and Developer Access
TrafficAuth-Mobile and TrafficAuth-SDK allow tolling capabilities to be tested, piloted, and integrated into mobile-first systems.
Compatibility with Broader V2X Use Cases
The same infrastructure that supports tolling can also support safety alerts, traffic management, work-zone warnings, managed lanes, signal priority, and vulnerable road user protection.
Future Revenue Models
V2X tolling can support traditional tolls, managed lanes, congestion pricing, road usage charging, and other future transportation funding approaches.
TrafficAuth-SDK enables tolling functionality to be integrated into existing Android or iOS applications.
Avoid Low-Level SCMS Complexity
The SDK handles complex certificate and key management operations required for secure V2X message exchange.
Connect Through NMI
Applications can send and receive signed V2X tolling messages through NMI using Network V2X connectivity.
Support Secure User Experiences
Developers can build tolling, pricing, confirmation, and route-related user experiences while relying on TrafficAuth for the underlying trust framework.
V2X tolling depends on secure, interoperable communication.
A tolling system must trust that a vehicle or application is authorized. A driver must receive accurate information. A tolling agency must preserve transaction integrity. A developer must be able to integrate the service without rebuilding the V2X security stack.
TrafficAuth provides the foundation for that trust.
With TrafficAuth-SCMS, tolling agencies can issue certificates with the permissions required for tolling. With TrafficAuth-Mobile, connected vehicles can participate through a Network V2X app. With TrafficAuth-SDK, developers can integrate tolling into their own products. With NMI, signed V2X messages can be routed between roadside infrastructure, mobile applications, and cloud-connected systems.
The result is a practical path to V2X tolling: secure, standards-based, interoperable, and ready to support both Direct V2X and Network V2X deployments.
