Quick answer: At the posted rates, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is cheaper than the Ambassador Bridge for a five-axle tractor-trailer. With an account at each bridge, the truck pays US$34.50 at Gordie Howe with Breakaway versus US$45.00 or less at the Ambassador with A-PASS or E-ZPass, a saving of up to US$10.50 per crossing. Without an account, it pays US$43.75 versus US$60.00, a saving of US$16.25 per crossing.
Both bridges connect Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, and the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been open to traffic since July 27, 2026, so for most freight the routing is interchangeable and the toll is the deciding factor. Price your exact configuration with the Gordie Howe Bridge toll calculator.
The per-axle comparison
| Crossing | Per axle (USD) | 5-axle truck (USD) | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe (Breakaway) | ~$6.90 | ~$34.50 | Prepaid business account |
| Gordie Howe (standard) | ~$8.75 | ~$43.75 | Pay-as-you-go |
| Ambassador Bridge (account) | $9.00 or less | $45.00 or less | A-PASS or E-ZPass account |
| Ambassador Bridge (no account) | $12.00 | $60.00 | No account |
The Gordie Howe standard rate is $12.00 CAD ($8.75 USD) per axle; the Breakaway prepaid rate is $9.60 CAD ($6.90 USD) per axle. The US-dollar rates apply to cash and to Breakaway accounts held in US dollars; debit and credit cards are charged the Canadian rate at the bank's exchange rate. The Ambassador Bridge, a privately owned crossing, has charged commercial vehicles US$12.00 per axle without an account and US$9.00 or less per axle with an A-PASS or E-ZPass account since August 1, 2026.
Compared like for like, Gordie Howe is up to US$2.10 per axle cheaper with an account (up to US$10.50 on five axles) and US$3.25 per axle cheaper without one (US$16.25 on five axles). The gap nearly closes for a truck with an Ambassador account but no Breakaway account: it pays US$43.75 at Gordie Howe versus US$45.00 or less at the Ambassador. For the other Ontario border crossings and Highway 407, see our guide to tolls in Toronto, Ontario and Canada.
What the gap is worth over a year
Toll differences look small per crossing and add up over a year. A truck making one Windsor–Detroit round trip a day, five days a week, makes roughly 500 crossings a year. At the posted rates, Gordie Howe saves that truck up to US$5,250 a year with accounts at both bridges (up to US$10.50 per crossing), or US$8,125 a year with no account at either (US$16.25 per crossing). Across a ten-truck cross-border operation, that is up to US$52,500 a year with accounts, or US$81,250 without. Fleets expecting more than 150 Ambassador crossings a month should also price the Ambassador's A-PASS subscription accounts, which have fixed monthly rates.
Beyond price: what else to weigh
Toll cost is the biggest lever, but not the only one:
- Routing and connections. The Gordie Howe Bridge ties directly into Highway 401 and I-75 with freeway-to-freeway ramps, avoiding the Ambassador Bridge's city-street approach along Huron Church Road in Windsor. For many lanes that is a time saving on top of the toll saving.
- Customs and appointments. Confirm your broker, FAST lane eligibility and any customer delivery-appointment requirements work with your chosen crossing.
- eManifest is identical. Both bridges require the same electronic manifest: a CBP ACE eManifest into the US, a CBSA ACI eManifest into Canada. Switching bridges does not change your filing obligation. See eManifest, ACE & ACI requirements for the Gordie Howe Bridge.
The bottom line
For price-sensitive Windsor–Detroit freight, the Gordie Howe Bridge is the cheaper crossing for trucks at the posted rates, and a Breakaway account is what keeps it clearly ahead of an Ambassador account. Price your axle count and rate program at Gordie Howe with the Gordie Howe Bridge toll calculator, and compare the result with the Ambassador's per-axle rates above.
Sources were checked on October 10, 2026. Ambassador Bridge figures are the commercial tolls in effect since August 1, 2026, from the Ambassador Bridge commercial toll rates page. Gordie Howe figures are from the official Gordie Howe toll rates page. All rates are subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for trucks, Gordie Howe or Ambassador Bridge?
Gordie Howe is cheaper at the posted rates. With an account at each bridge, a five-axle tractor-trailer pays US$34.50 at Gordie Howe with Breakaway versus US$45.00 or less at the Ambassador Bridge with A-PASS or E-ZPass, a saving of up to US$10.50 per crossing. Without an account, it pays US$43.75 at Gordie Howe versus US$60.00 at the Ambassador, a saving of US$16.25. The Ambassador rates have applied since August 1, 2026.
How much does the Ambassador Bridge cost for a 5-axle truck?
Since August 1, 2026, the Ambassador Bridge has charged commercial vehicles US$12.00 per axle without an account, or US$9.00 or less per axle with an A-PASS or E-ZPass account. A five-axle tractor-trailer therefore pays US$60.00 without an account, or US$45.00 or less with one. Commercial customers expecting more than 150 crossings a month can apply for A-PASS subscription accounts with fixed monthly rates.
Should my fleet switch to the Gordie Howe Bridge?
For price-sensitive Windsor–Detroit lanes, it is often worth it. At the posted rates, a five-axle truck making 500 crossings a year saves up to US$5,250 with accounts at both bridges, or US$8,125 with no account at either. A fleet that already has an Ambassador account needs Breakaway to save much: without it, Gordie Howe costs about the same (US$43.75 versus US$45.00 or less). Confirm the crossing fits your customs, routing and appointment requirements, and remember the eManifest requirement is identical on both bridges.