Sydney’s road system has changed enormously in the past 20 years.

In the old days, getting into and around the city, or from the city to the airport, would involve travelling on roads that were often quite narrow – remnants of the old tracks from Sydney’s colonial years that had turned into major roads over the years.

As Sydney has grown into a huge international city, the roads have had to change to keep pace.

Modern motorways have transformed travel around and into Sydney, reducing travel times, increasing convenience and taking traffic off the streets where people live and work.

To pay for these new roads – which cost many millions of dollars if not more – a toll is often applied. This is a charge that motorists have to pay at fixed points along the motorway, tunnel or bridge.

If you don’t pay, penalties apply.

Most people choose to use toll roads, preferring convenience and time saving compared to the free, but more time consuming, back routes.

Where are Sydney’s toll roads?

Here’s a full list of Sydney’s toll roads:

• Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel (charged southbound only)
• Cross City Tunnel
• Eastern Distributor (charged northbound only)
• M2 Motorway
• M4 Motorway
• M5 Motorway
• M7 Motorway
• Lane Cove Tunnel and Falcon Street Gateway

Paying the toll

Paying a toll used to involve digging around for the right change, usually after waiting in a long queue of cars. Then you’d throw the change into a basket and be allowed to pass through.

While you can still pay cash on some toll roads, there is an easier way.

All of the toll roads in Sydney are now set up for electronic tolling. Instead of using cash, you pay with an electronic tag or a pass.

This allows motorists to avoid the hold-up at toll booths which reduces congestion, fuel consumption and wear and tear on your car.

What is a tag or pass?

The RTA and four private companies sell electronic tags. You pay a set-up cost and then you receive a tag which you attach to the inside of the windscreen.

Each time you pass a toll collection point or through an electronic toll booth, the tag will automatically register your car and the toll will be deducted from your account.

A pass can be a better option for people who don’t use toll roads very often. It’s only used for fully electronic toll roads – or roads where you can’t pay with cash. These include the Cross City Tunnel, the Westlink M7, Lane Cove Tunnel and Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

If you know you’re going to be using one of these roads, you contact the operator and they issue you with a pass. On the Lane Cove Tunnel, for example, cameras photograph your number plate as you pass through and the toll is deducted from your pass account.
If you don’t have a pass or tag, you’ll need to contact the road’s operator within 48 hours of passing through to arrange to pay your toll.
Fees can vary, depending on the payment option you choose, so you should check with the road operator to get details.

Getting a tag or pass
There are a range of tag and pass products available through different motorway operators, as well as the RTA. Each operator may apply different charges, deposits and amounts you need to pay to top-up your account.
All of these tags work on all toll roads in Australia (there are toll roads in other States).
To find out more about the different products available, contact your preferred operator from the list below.

E-toll tag
RTA
Phone: 131 865
myRTA.com

Beep tag and Beep pass
Cross City Motorway
Phone: 02 9033 3999
www.crosscity.com.au

Roam Express Tag
Transurban
Phone: 02 9869 4444
www.expresstag.com.au

E-way tag
Interlink
Phone: 1300 555 833
www.tollpay.com.au

Roam e-TAG and Roam e-PASS
Transurban
Phone: 13 TOLL (13 86 55)
www.roam.com.au

Approaching the toll booth or toll collection point

Toll roads have clear signs warning you that toll booths or toll collection points are approaching.

You should cut your speed and carefully move into the correct lane (making sure to indicate and check your blind spot).

Look out for signs indicating which lanes are for electronic payment and which lanes are cash only (if there are any).

The lanes and booths for electronic payment will be marked clearly with “E” and “e” symbols (the symbols will be on road signs and marked on the road itself).

For electronic tolling, you simply drive carefully through the toll area – an electronic sign will usually tell you that the toll has been paid and your tag will beep to tell you the toll has been paid.