If you want to avoid tolls, the cost can add up to driving longer distances, longer travel time, more traffic and more fuel.
There are numerous tolls roads in Australia, and most are cashless, meaning they will only accept payments via an electronic tag or online. We don’t want our customers to be caught with unnecessary tolls. Still, unfortunately, it’s common for rental customers to get caught out on unfamiliar roads or new states, including tolls in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
To help you with your next rental journey with Alpha Car Hire in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast, here is an outline of how to use toll roads in Australia.
Alpha’s Toll Policy
At Alpha Car Hire, we want your rental experience to be smooth and hassle-free. This includes understanding how tolls are handled during your trip.
Who Pays for Tolls?
You must pay for all the toll costs that come up while renting a car from Alpha Car Hire.
How are Tolls Paid?
The cars have systems for electronic toll payments. Your rental car’s number plate gets connected to the first way you pay, like a credit card. When you drive on a road with a toll, they charge the fee to your credit card that is registered.
When are Tolls Charged?
The charges for the toll will be applied to your payment method immediately when they are communicated to us by our partner in toll services or after you incur them.
What Happens if My Payment Declines?
Should the first payment way you try to cover a toll cost not go through, Alpha Car Hire will impose on you a penalty fee for this. Also, the bank or place where your money is kept might ask for more charges and apply interest due to that payment not being accepted.
Need Help?
To understand all about our toll policy and extra charges, please look at the detailed Terms and Conditions. Should you have more questions on tolls or how payments are handled, feel free to reach out to our helpful customer support staff.
Tolls Victoria
The main toll roads through Victoria’s capital Melbourne are along the Tullamarine Freeway and the Bolte Bridge. The Burnley and Domain Tunnels link the South-East suburbs to the West Gate Bridge and Tullamarine Freeway. This means that most of the major roads around the airport are paid toll roads.
So if you are picking up a rental car from Tullamarine, you must be mindful that you will likely use a toll road on your first day.
QLD Tolls
The major toll roads in Brisbane service the city and south, with the Gateway Bridge the most direct route heading onto the Pacific Highway to visit the southern suburbs. The Airport Link tunnel can significantly reduce travel time to and from the airport in the northern suburbs.
The Go-Between Bridge, which links South Bank to Milton, the Logan Motorway and the Gateway Extension Motorway are also toll roads.
For those customers crossing multiple states, most tags are transferable, but it is worth asking at your check-in desk if you’re unsure.
If you can link your passes, it will save you time and money. Unfortunately, toll fees are sometimes forgotten when renting a car, so make sure you are aware of the costs and save yourself the stress of getting a surprise bill later down the track!
Fortunately, the toll roads are only in and around Brisbane, apart from the Toowoomba bypass, meaning that you can easily access the beautiful Gold Coast beaches or stunning Sunshine Coast beaches without any toll fees.
In any case, please speak to our car rental Brisbane airport staff at check-in when you pick up your vehicle to enquire about any toll queries, routes to take or places to visit!
While you’re at it, why not ask about some of the optional extras to make your trip that much more comfortable, such as upgrade or lower excess options? You’d also be pleased to take advantage of our Car Hire Discount Codes to add more value to your time renting a car with us.