How to save money on tolls

If you pay road tolls regularly, you know how pricey they have become. greenslips.com.au has been calculating the cost of five trips in Sydney for over 6 years. In that time, toll charges for those trips have gone up by 25%, and doubled if a trip included the M5 East. Fortunately, there are ways you can save money on tolls.

Toll increases far outpace inflation

greenslips.com.au has been calculating the cost of five trips in Sydney for over 6 years. The average increase in toll charges for those trips was 25%. For trips involving the M5 East (which used to be free but now costs $7.98), charges have nearly doubled.

These toll increases far outpace inflation.

Many regular trips across Sydney include more than one tollroad with various ways of increasing tolls. Prices go up each quarter or each year, based on the CPI. In nearly all cases, the increase is the greater of CPI or other percentage. This means prices can rise whether inflation is high or low.

The table below shows how much tolls for these five trips have leapt up since 2017.

Tolls for five trips (Oct 2023 prices)

*Skewed by the initial M5 East toll of $7.23, which had been free since it opened in 2001.

People living in Western Sydney and in the Blue Mountains have been disproportionately hit by high toll charges. However, 40% toll rebates, multi-concessions and future $60 caps are designed to help them save money on tolls.

Toll relief cap

Nearly three quarters of a million motorists could benefit from the new $60 per week toll cap, starting from 1 January 2024. Service NSW will send out refunds for excess tolls paid every quarter. Transport for NSW forecasts a motorist in, say, Glendenning, could claim an average of $540 cashback each quarter.

Eligible motorists can save money on tolls and still claim the toll relief rebate.

Toll relief rebate

You can claim a 40% rebate on paying tolls once a quarter, if you spent:

• Over $375 up to $750, year to 30 June 2023.
• Over $402 up to $802, year to 30 June 2024.

The closing date for claims is 12 months after year end.

Note: The toll rebate does not include tolls paid interstate, tolls paid by your employer, or any paid without a personal toll account. It can’t be used with M5 Southwest Cashback.

M5 Southwest Cashback

The M5 Southwest Cashback is for drivers who have paid their M5 Southwest tolls using an electronic tag and used their vehicle for personal use only. You need to be registered with your toll tag provider and make claims once a quarter within 12 months of receiving your toll statement.

Large towed vehicle toll rebate

Owners of a caravan, boat or horse float who have paid Class B tolls can claim the large towed vehicle rebate. The rebate is the difference between Class A and Class B toll fees for up to 8 tolled trips each month. You need to register for the scheme through your toll tag provider and claim within 12 months of receiving your toll statement to save money on tolls.

This rebate does not apply to motorhomes.

Another way to save money on tolls

Trips on WestConnex are capped after 16 kms of continuous travel. Your trip is handled as a single toll transaction, no matter how many WestConnex motorways you use. Currently the WestConnex toll is capped at $11.11.

Note: The toll relief scheme used to offer discounts on 12 month rego if you spent at least $877 up to $1,462 a year on tolls in the 12 months to 30 June 2023. This no longer applies.

Did you know tolls on Sydney Harbour crossings went up on 29 Oct 2023, the first time for 14 years? Also see What next for the Sydney Harbour tolls?

For more on costs, see How much does it cost to run a car in Sydney?