Toll roads

By the end of this topic you can

• You can recognise a toll road from its signs before you enter it.
• You can explain the difference between a tag account and a pass.
• You can pay for a trip you made without a tag within the allowed time.
• You can choose a toll-free route when you prefer to.

What you need to know and understand

• Toll roads are in NSW, Victoria and Queensland; WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT do not currently have them.
• All Australian toll roads are cashless: the toll is charged using an electronic tag in the car or by reading the number plate.
• The registered operator of the vehicle is responsible for the toll, so learners driving a family car should check what account the car uses. In NSW, owners can no longer nominate another driver for toll trips made from July 2026.
• If you travel without a tag or pass, you only have a short time to pay; in NSW you can set up a pass up to 72 hours (3 days) after the trip.
• Unpaid trips lead to a toll notice (in NSW a Toll Payment Demand) with an extra fee per trip, and continued non-payment can lead to a fine.
• There is no special toll rate for learners or P plate drivers; the vehicle type sets the price.

Tag, pass or pay later

Providers include Linkt (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane), E-Toll (NSW) and EastLink (Melbourne). Tags from Australian providers generally work on all toll roads, and Linkt is the only provider of passes that are valid in all states.

• Tag account: a small device stuck to the windscreen that beeps as you pass under a toll gantry, charged to a prepaid account.
• Pass: a short-term option for visitors or occasional drivers, bought for the vehicle's number plate.
• Pay after travel: possible for a short window, after which the trip goes to a toll notice.

Planning a route with tolls

1. Before you set off, check if your route uses a toll road, using signs or a navigation app.
2. Decide whether to use it or take a toll-free alternative.
3. If the car has no tag, buy a pass or note the trip so you can pay within the deadline.
4. Watch for the toll road signs before each entry ramp so you are not surprised.

Driving on the toll road itself

Toll roads are often motorways or tunnels with the same rules as any other freeway. Do not slow down or change lanes suddenly under the gantries; the system reads your tag or plate at full speed. In tunnels, keep your headlights on, keep your distance and follow lane control signs.

Common mistakes

• Driving a borrowed or hired car without checking its toll arrangements.
• Missing the payment window and paying extra fees on a toll notice.
• Braking hard at a toll gantry, which is unnecessary and dangerous.
• Following a navigation app onto a toll road you did not plan for.

Test yourself: Toll roads

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Toll Roads for New Drivers in Australia