Tolls & e-Tag
How do tolls work with a rental car in Australia?
Australian tolls are entirely cashless. There are no cash booths: every toll is read electronically from an e-Tag or your number plate. Only Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland have toll roads at all, so many trips never meet one. Any tolls you do drive through are billed after your rental, and how that works is set out in your rate before you book.
The practical details
- There is no cash option and nothing to buy at a booth. Toll gantries read the number plate or an e-Tag as you pass, so you simply drive through at the normal speed.
- Toll roads exist only around Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland (Brisbane and the Gold Coast). Most regional and coastal driving, including popular routes like the Great Ocean Road, has no tolls at all.
- Any tolls on your car are billed to you after the trip, with a small administrative fee per toll. The exact arrangement for your car is shown with your rate, so there is no surprise at the counter.
- You do not need to arrange your own e-Tag for a short visit. The car's tolling arrangement is handled for you and explained before you book.
Common pitfalls
- Looking for a cash lane or a booth. There are none, so never stop or slow at a gantry.
- Assuming every city has tolls. Only Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland do.
- Worrying about missing a toll payment. You cannot pay at the road; tolls are reconciled to your booking afterwards.
Our recommendation
- Drive straight through any toll gantry at the normal speed; it is read automatically.
- Check your rate's tolling note so you know how tolls will be billed before you book.
- If your trip stays outside Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland, you will likely not meet a toll at all.
Related questions
Do Australian rental cars come with an e-Tag?
The tolling arrangement is handled for your car and explained before you book, so you do not need to buy your own e-Tag for a short visit.
Are there cash toll booths in Australia?
No. All tolls are cashless and read electronically from an e-Tag or your number plate, so you never stop to pay at the road.
Which Australian cities have toll roads?
Only Sydney, Melbourne and South-East Queensland (Brisbane and the Gold Coast). Most other driving has no tolls.
How am I charged for tolls on a rental?
Any tolls are billed after your trip with a small administrative fee per toll. The exact arrangement is shown with your rate before you book.
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