It's a sign of the times when just about every major city in Australian today has road tolls in one shape or other, generally on the most useful roads & freeways. If you're an inter-state or overseas traveller with a hired car then paying for these tolls needs to be done within a certain time frame of travelling to avoid penalties, not only imposed by the Toll Service but also rental car provider.
A Quick Guide to Australian Road Tolls:
Service | Toll Charged | Toll Type |
Cross City Tunnel - Main tunnel | Both directions | Fixed fee |
Cross City Tunnel - Sir John Young Cres | North bound | Fixed fee |
Eastern Distributor | North bound | Fixed fee |
Lane Cove Tunnel | Both directions | Fixed fee |
M2 - North Ryde | Both directions | Fixed fee |
M2 - Pennant Hills Road | Both directions | Fixed fee |
M4 | Both directions | Fixed fee |
M5 | Both directions | Fixed fee |
M7 | Both directions | Distance travelled |
Military Road E-Ramps | Both directions | Fixed fee |
Sydney Harbour Bridge | South bound | Time of Day |
Sydney Harbour Tunnel | South bound | Time of Day |
You can register for a pass online at the NSW RTA website (www.rta.nsw.gov.au/myrta/myetoll/index.html), via phone on 13 18 65 or at any RTA Registry. Registration can either occur before or up to 48 hours after your trip.
When registering a hired car for an E-Toll pass ensure you advise the RTA of the rental company name and the expected start and end dates & times of your Toll trips. This is to eliminate any chance of you being charged by another renter using the vehicle on the same day.
To qualify for the E-Toll pass you need to travel in the designated ‘e’ pass lane when passing through the Toll Booths. Your number plate will be photographed and matched to your pass registration.
If you do not travel through the designated lane or travel without a Pass a Toll Notice will be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. This notice is the full Toll and includes an additional $10 administration charge. If the vehicle has been hired the Car Rental company will likely charge you its own administration fee ($50 is not unheard of) in addition to the RTA costs.
So, if you have picked up a rental car at Melbourne airport and are heading into the city or southern suburbs the likelihood of using CityLink is high. There are a number of different payment options for casual users which can be pre-purchased over the phone including a 24 hour, Weekend or 'Tulla' Pass.
Failure to pay within the specified time incurs a Late Toll Fee that is charged to the owner of the vehicle and in the case of a rental company you may incur additional administration fees from them.
Toll Services operate on the following and all operate under a fixed fee system:
Tolls for the CLEM7 and the Go Between Bridge connection will be published closer to the opening of the service in 2010.
On the Logan and Gateway Motorways tolls can be paid using the viavideo pass system (govia.com.au). Passes can be purchased by credit card or cash.
Credit Card – once pre-registered your credit card will be debited with tolls incurred during your nominated travel period (1 to 30 days). Alternatively you can pay up to 3 days after your trip.
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ChrisC DriveNow Partner and sometime Blog Contributor