Tolls

[Aoraki97]

Looking to travel from Sydney to Darwin, via Melbourne, Adelaide , Perth etc and wondering how to approach the issue of road tolls when entering and exiting major cities?

[Warin]

I don't 'like' toll roads... I think they should be identified by their 'reference number' .. things like M2, M5 etc should be T2, T5 ... T for Toll.

I do use them where I need to avoid lots of confusing turns with traffic lights and traffic. Usual this occurs in places I am not familiar with. However there days they tend to use automatic payment systems centered around etags .. these are not helpful for a visitor! They have telephone numbers to call and pay that way .. Some of them are free for motorcycles - at least some in Melbourne in particular.

If you have a GPS these can be programed to "avoid toll roads"! They also help getting into and out of towns. I know both Melbourne and Sydney have toll roads .. Darwin none, don't know about the others

[Senno]

Never used a toll road in my life, on principle. I guess I'll gave to some day but as far as possible I avoid them. Funny how non toll roads are usually more interesting

[Squily]

Originally Posted by Warin

If you have a GPS these can be programed to "avoid toll roads"! They also help getting into and out of towns. I know both Melbourne and Sydney have toll roads .. Darwin none, don't know about the others

What Warin said

To add: No toll roads in NT, SA and WA (as of yet!!)

There is a number you can call- I think you have 48 hours to call and register after using the road without paying a fine (and a lookup fee). But you need a credit card. In some cities (like Melbourne), the difference between using the toll vs not using it (in the city) is an hour or more. Last time I was there, the toll roads int eh city was free, but I think i saw something in the news a few weeks back saying we have to pay now to

FYI: Toll roads in Australia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Kradmelder]

E-tag Tolls?

Haven't paid one yet. Tolls are for cagers.

[Squily]

Originally Posted by Kradmelder

E-tag Tolls?

Haven't paid one yet. Tolls are for cagers.

Ahhh yes, well- GP is for Gangster's Paradise if I remember correctly

Over 'ere you won't get far with any 'obscured' or dirty numberplate

[misterpaul]

For Sydney all tolls are electronic these days. You can get a pass in advance either online or by phone. Online works out a bit cheaper. It's called an emu pass.

Unless you particularly want to cross the harbour bridge it's very possible to avoid the tolls though.

I drove in a work car 50km out and back along the M5 yesterday and counted 4 highway patrol police cars. I think they all have numberplate recognition on board now in NSW so agree that you won't get far with obscured plates.

[bnicho]

As per above, in Melbourne you can pay your Citylink or Eastlink tolls up to 48 hours afterwards. There are no tool gates where you can use card or carsh.

Motorcycles pay from Jan 2014.

www.citylink.com.au

www.eastlink.com.au

Buy a "Melbourne pass" if using both Citylink and Eastlink in the same period.

I should point out that if you use Citylink/Eastlink with non-Australian numberplates it is highly unlikely that you will be pursued for fines if you forget to pay your toll.

[Aoraki97]

Thanks for the info. Cheers

[RogerM]

I'm pretty sure that if you buy an e-tag from Flow Toll that you can use it on any toll road in Australia. The ripoff is that they hold (I think) $10 until you cancel the e-tag.


The other way is to just setup an account with Flow Toll using a credit card and have it valid for the dates that you know you will travel, the fees are then deducted from your CC.


Not sure that the Toll ways are any quicker now than the old roads, the volume of traffic taken off the old roads just makes them easy to drive on. Besides if you are on holiday take the time to see the suburbs as well as the country.

[bnicho]

I've not heard of Flow Toll before. But the eTag devices from one state do usually work in the others. My Victorian eTag, issued by Citylink, works on Queensland and NSW tollways.

However, if you were just passing through you would not bother with an eTag. It would not be worth the hassle. Maybe just set up a Credit Card paid account with the state you land in.

Cheers,