How to Pay for Using a Sydney Toll Road

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 22, 2024 References

If you drive through Sydney, be prepared to pay tolls! There are many toll roads in the city, including the Harbour Bridge and the M7 Westlink. If you’re a frequent driver, invest in an automatic toll tag that you can attach to your car. If you’re just visiting the city, however, you can buy a 30-day pass, which doesn't require any special equipment. If you don't buy a tag or pass, you will receive a toll notice in the mail.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Purchasing a Tag

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1
Buy the tag from one of four providers online. You can get the pass online from E-Toll, Transurban Linkt, E-way, or Roam. Go to the website of the provider. Provide your name, driver’s licence, plate number, vehicle details, and email. You can pay by direct debit or credit card. It will take 3 business days to receive your tag. If you are ordering from abroad, it will take longer.^{[1]
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- Transurban Linkt: https://www.linkt.com.au/sydney/before-you-travel/tag-account
- E-way: https://www.tollpay.com.au/
- Roam: https://manage.roam.com.au/retailweb/openaccount/consumeretag/roam?
- You can buy a tag within 3 days of your first trip on the toll roads without being sent a toll notice. You may want to plan as far as a month ahead to make sure that your tag in time.
- If you buy the tag online, you may only need to pay a deposit, which may be anywhere between $15-40 AUD. Depending on the provider, this may cover the cost of the tag.
2
Buy the tag at a physical store to open the account immediately. You can also buy a tag at some petrol stations, service centres, or stores like 7-Eleven. If you do this, the cashier will set up the account for you. You can immediately use your tag.
- If you buy the tag at a retail outlet, you may need to pay a service fee in addition to the deposit. This can vary based on where you bought the tag from.
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3
Choose between automatic and manual payments. Your tag will will pay tolls with a prepaid balance. Automatic payments will refill a low balance automatically through direct debit or a credit card. If you do manual payments, you will top up the balance yourself using a credit card.
- You will make this decision when you first buy the tag. You can change this option at any time by going online to the provider’s website.
- Depending on the tag’s provider, you may need to pay a small monthly fee. This will usually be around $1-2 AUD every month.
4
Attach the tag to your window behind the rear-view mirror. It should be about 7 centimetres (2.8 in) from the top of the window on the inside of the car. Clean the area first with a damp towel and let it dry. Remove the adhesive strip. Hold the tag horizontally and press it to the window for 10 seconds to attach it.^{[2]
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- The temperature of the inside of the car should be at least 15 °C (59 °F) to attach it properly. You can measure the temperature with a thermometer, and use the car's heater to warm it up if necessary.
5
Drive through the toll points on the motorway. When you drive through, the tag will beep to note that you have successfully paid. One beep means that you have paid. A trill means that your account balance is low. Multiple beeps may mean that your account has been deactivated.
- If there is no sound or you mistakenly hear multiple beeps, call the provider that you bought the tag from. Follow their instructions for fixing it. If you do not call, you may be charged a toll in the mail.
A tag is good on any toll road in the country. You do not need to buy a new tag when you travel to a different state or city.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Setting up a Pass

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Get a pass up to 30 days before or 3 days after your first trip. It is usually best to buy the pass before using the toll roads. That said, if you used the toll roads, you have up to 3 days after the initial trip to buy a pass before a toll notice is issued.
- You can register your car plate from abroad using the online portal, but you will need to know the plate number that you will be using in Australia.
2
Buy the pass online from one of three providers. This may be a faster option for some people. You will need to provide your name, address, email, plate number, and a credit card for payment. This will automatically register your plate into the system. It costs $1.50 AUD to set up the pass online. The different passes available are:
- Transurban Linkt Sydney Pass: https://www.linkt.com.au/accounts-and-passes/buy-a-pass/sydney
- Roads and Maritime E-Toll eMU Pass: https://www.myetoll.transport.nsw.gov.au/emu-casual-pass
- Roam Visitor’s e-Pass: https://www.roam.com.au/before-you-travel/visitors-e-pass
3
Call a provider by phone if you can't access the internet. Follow the instructions on the recorded menu to buy a pass. Setting up a pass by phone costs $3.30 AUD. You will need to state your name, address, email, plate number, and a debit or credit card. The phone numbers for each provider are:
- E-toll (eMU pass): 13 18 65
- Transurban Linkt: 13 76 26
- Roam: 13 86 55
Some other retail outlets, like 7-Eleven or United Petroleum, may also carry passes. In this case, the cashier will enroll your plate into the system. It costs $5.95 AUD to do this.^{[3]
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Use any lane marked with an “E” while on the road. When you see a toll point, get into any of the “E” lanes. The point will photograph your plate and match it to the system. It will then charge your card.^{[4]
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- In some cases, your card will not be charged until you have reached $10 AUD in toll fees.
- If there is an error and you receive a toll notice in the mail, you can contest it. Call the provider listed on the notice and provide proof that you had bought a pass.
6
Use the pass on all New South Wales roads for up to 30 days. After 30 days, your plate automatically expires from the system. If you need a pass for longer than 30 days, you may want to buy a tag instead.
- Every time you go through a toll, you will be charged an extra 0.75c for using the pass.
- Transurban Linkt’s Sydney Pass is good on all Australian toll roads. All other passes are only good in the state of New South Wales.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Paying a Mailed Toll Notice

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1
Drive through the toll points to get a toll notice. When a toll point is coming near, you will see the words "TOLL E" on the lanes of the road. Drive through any lane. If you do not have a tag or pass, the toll point will take a picture of your licence plate and send a notice to the address registered with the plate.^{[5]
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- If you are driving a rental car, be aware that your rental service may charge you afterwards for any tolls they received in the mail.
2
Pay the toll within 14 days. You will receive a toll notice in the mail if you did not pay the toll with a pass or tag. You will have 14 days from the date it was issued to pay the toll.
- In addition to the toll, you will also have to pay $10 AUD in administration fees.
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Go online to immediately pay the toll. The toll notice will tell you which toll provider or website to visit. Enter the toll notice number, your plate number, and the road you were traveling on. Pay with a credit or debit card.^{[6]
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- Which provider you pay depends on which road you were travelling on. For example, if you were on Sydney Harbour Bridge or Tunnel, you will pay Roads and Maritime Services.
4
Take the notice to a participating newsagent. If you want to pay in person, you must owe at least $20 AUD in tolls. You can go to 7-Eleven, United Petroleum, or other participating newsagents. Take the notice to the counter and pay with cash or card.
- This $20 minimum includes the $10 in administration fees.
Follow the directions on the menu when you call. You may have to provide the notice number and your plate number. You can pay using a credit or debit card.

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Tips

You can calculate the cost of your toll ahead of time by using an online toll calculator.

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Some toll roads charge based on the time of day while others are based on how far you travel. Some just have a flat fee.

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