A visitor once asked me how much change to keep in the car for the tolls into Sydney. None, is the honest answer, Australia hasn’t had a toll booth that accepts cash since 2013. If you drive through one without the right setup, you don’t get stopped, you just quietly get charged more than you should have.
Quick answer: All Australian toll roads are 100% electronic, cameras and sensors bill you automatically, there’s no cash option anywhere. Tolls only exist in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. Driving without an E-TAG or account still works, but triggers extra “video matching” fees, so it’s cheaper to set up an account or casual pass before you drive.
Where Tolls Actually Exist
Toll roads operate in three states only: NSW (13+ roads, including the M2, M7, M5, and Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel), Victoria (CityLink and EastLink in Melbourne, note these are separate systems that don’t share a pass), and Queensland (including the Gateway Motorway and AirportlinkM7). Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the ACT have no toll roads at all.
How the System Actually Works
Overhead gantries with cameras and sensors scan your number plate or E-TAG transponder as you drive through, no stopping, no booths, no barriers. The toll is either deducted automatically from a linked account or, if you have no account, billed to you afterward via number plate recognition, at a noticeably higher rate.
The Real Cost of Not Having a Tag
This is the detail that catches visitors and rental drivers out. Driving through without a tag or account triggers a “video tolling” or “video matching” fee on top of the standard toll, in Queensland this can run around 35% more than the tagged rate. For a week of driving around Sydney without a tag, unnecessary extra charges can add up to $200 or more.
Your Options If You’re Only Driving Short-Term
- Casual pass: NSW offers an eMU Casual Pass covering up to 30 days of toll travel, aimed exactly at visitors and short-term drivers
- Casual (tagless) E-TAG account: available through Linkt for occasional users, your plate is linked to an account without needing a physical tag
- Rental car toll handling: most rental companies offer their own toll billing, but charge admin fees on top, commonly $3.30-$50 per day depending on the company, always check this before assuming it’s included
A Physical Tag From One State Usually Works Everywhere
Most modern E-TAG or Linkt tags work across NSW, Victoria, and Queensland toll networks, useful if you’re doing an interstate road trip. The main exception is Melbourne’s CityLink and EastLink, which are run as genuinely separate systems from each other, a CityLink pass doesn’t cover EastLink and vice versa.
What Changed in 2026
NSW’s $60 weekly toll cap didn’t expire in 2026, it became permanent. The scheme started as a two-year trial in January 2024, and from 1 January 2026 it was locked in as an ongoing measure, with a new $5,000 annual limit added to prevent misuse. Eligible NSW residents on private trips still get every dollar above $60 refunded each week, up to $340 per tag or plate, claimed quarterly through Service NSW. Administration fees on toll notices are also set to be scrapped from mid-2026. Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel tolls rose by around 3.25% from 1 July 2026, part of the regular annual price adjustments most toll operators apply.
Source: Service NSW – Lasting relief for motorists as ongoing $60 toll cap begins.
If You Don’t Pay: How It Escalates
Missing a toll doesn’t just mean a bigger bill next time. If a toll notice goes unpaid past its due date, you’ll get an overdue reminder, then it can be referred to Revenue NSW as a formal infringement, which adds a $190 fine on top of what you already owed. Ignore that too and Revenue NSW can suspend your licence or vehicle registration, or refer the debt to a collection agency, at which point it becomes a civil matter between you and the collector rather than the toll operator. If you’re on a short trip and forget to sort a toll notice before you fly home, it’s worth paying it online rather than assuming it’ll be forgotten, the debt follows the vehicle owner, not the border.
Source: NSW Government – What if I don’t pay a toll notice on time?.
Practical Advice Before You Drive
- If you’re renting a car, ask specifically how tolls are billed before you drive off the lot, don’t assume
- If you’re driving your own or a borrowed car regularly around Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, set up a casual pass or account before your trip, not after
- Check your toll activity through the relevant app (Linkt, E-Toll) rather than waiting for a surprise invoice
Final Thoughts
Toll roads in Australia are efficient once you understand there’s genuinely no cash option and no way to “just pay at the booth”, but the cost of not planning ahead is real, both in extra fees and the hassle of an unexpected invoice weeks later. Sort your tag or casual pass before you start driving, not after your first toll notice arrives. For broader driving requirements, see our guide on driving in Australia with an overseas licence.
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*This article is for general informational purposes only. Toll rates, caps, and rebate schemes change periodically, always confirm current pricing directly with the relevant toll operator (Linkt, E-Toll, or your state transport authority).*
Planning a longer drive? Our guide to the best road trips from Sydney and Melbourne covers routes worth knowing about — including which ones involve tolls.