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 expired on 1 January 2026 and was replaced with a quarterly cashback rebate scheme for frequent toll users (up to $750 per year for drivers spending over $375 per quarter). Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel tolls also rose by around 3.25% from 1 July 2026, part of the ongoing annual price adjustments most toll operators apply.
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.
—
*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).*