E-Tags in Sydney

[101RRS]

Is there an E-Tag that you can get that doesn't have any fees if it is not used.

I often drive from Canberra to Newcastle but found that the old Cumberland Highway is quicker than the M7/M2 from Casula to Pennant Hills in non- peak hours. I find the cost of the M7 over the top and wouldn't be too bad if the M7 joined onto the F3 so you could bypass all of Sydney but the M7 morfs into the M2 when heading north and vice-versa when heading south so you have an extra toll - then you do battle going up Pennant Hills Road to the F3.

However in peak hours the Cumberland can be a pain so I would then consider the M7/M2 so am interested in an E-tag if it did not cost anything if it was not used.

Oh - the reason the Cumberland is quicker than the M7 in non peak hours is that it is 16km shorter.

Thanks

Garry

[Slunnie]

Yes! Get the RTA one.

[101RRS]

Thanks - Slunnie - so no fees, no account keeping fees or anything:)

Thats great.

Garry

[Xtreme]

The extra distance involved when using the F7 is due to the way it loops up to the north west.
One alternative to avoid this (useless loop) is to join/leave the F7 at the Lighthorse Interchange and use the M4 (toll free section), Cumberland Hwy and the unavoidable Pennant Hills Rd.

Roger

[barney]

i live on the northern beaches, about half an hour from the start of the M2 and F3, during daytime, i've found the M7 is way faster, but i also found that jumping on to the M5, eastern distributor and miltary rd (to the northern beaches) out of normal busy times is about 60km shorter than the M7 and just as fast, possibly cheaper as well.
instead of military rd, the run up to artarmon via the warringah expressway and onto the pacific hwy to waroongah might be a possible alternative.
then again you may get horribly lost and end up taking you loads more time that you would normally take for the whole trip

[Slunnie]

Thanks - Slunnie - so no fees, no account keeping fees or anything:)

Thats great.

Garry
Thats correct, you only pay for the tolls that you incur. This is unlike any of the other Etag vendors who do charge a monthly fee. The only thing is that you dump $50 onto your account and when it gets down to $20 or something it will debit your credit card to bring the funds up again. I'm pretty sure this is standard practise though.

[p38arover]

The extra distance involved when using the F7 is due to the way it loops up to the north west.
One alternative to avoid this (useless loop) is to join/leave the F7 at the Lighthorse Interchange and use the M4 (toll free section), Cumberland Hwy and the unavoidable Pennant Hills Rd.

Roger

When heading east, do not leave the M4 at the Cumberland Highway at Wentworthville. That's an awful run. Continue to Parramatta and take the James Ruse Drive exit. It is the other end of the Cumberland and will take you to exactly the same point on Pennant Hills Rd but much more quickly and with less angst.

I avoid the M7 when heading north (from the M4) as it's far too pricey (all that money and it's got a ridiculously low speed limit!). During the school zone hours, PH Road is a right pain in the backside. It seems to be a continual stretch of school zones!

I only use the M7 north when towing a loaded car trailer. I use the M7 south to get to the M5 to go to the airport.

Oh, do you have a western Sydney address so you can get the M5 and M4 tolls refunded? :angel:

[Ben]

Oh, do you have a western Sydney address so you can get the M5 and M4 tolls refunded? :angel:

You don't need a western address.

Any NSW resident owning a participating electronic tolling account can claim tolls paid with an e-tag for trips made on the M4 or M5 using vehicles registered in NSW for private use. Leased, rented, interstate registered or any vehicle with a business usage shown on the rego papers are ineligible.
It says so right here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/motorwaysandtolling/m4m5_cashbackscheme.html

[sclarke]

The Melb ones work up there.. so i just found out.

[p38arover]

The Melb ones work up there.. so i just found out.

I used my NSW RTA e-tag in Melbourne and never did get charged the toll.

[Slunnie]

Yep, they should all work everywhere AFAIK. The RTA Etag work in VIC and QLD also.

[Utemad]

Yep, they should all work everywhere AFAIK. The RTA Etag work in VIC and QLD also.

My Qld one works in NSW.

In Qld you don't pay monthly fees. They tried to bring it in that you pay minimum $10/month so if you didn't use more than that in fees then you paid minimum $10 anyway.
Didn't happen though thankfully.

[101RRS]

So now that the Harbour Bridge is going toll free - how do us out of towners get over the harbour (or under it) without paying a fortune in administration fees (these are really Fines) if you don't have an etag.

I have to say it is really becoming a pain to get around Sydney - must be having some impact on tourism - I don't go there any more.

Garry

[Slunnie]

You have to call them on the phone or do it over the internet I think.

It'll be a bigger pain for those without credit cards.

[drivesafe]

Hi garrycol, Any E-tag from any state works on all E-tag toll ways.

I’ve just come back from Vic via the M7 and Pennant Hills road.

I use to live in Sydney, south side and from all the tips I still do down that way, I find if your just passing from the south to the north without needing to go into Sydney proper, stick to the M7.

The M7 IS expensive but other than early morning, it’s the quickest way around Sydney.

[101RRS]

You have to call them on the phone or do it over the internet I think.

It'll be a bigger pain for those without credit cards.

And pay the admin fee - what if I decide on the spur of the moment to go to manly from the cbd - not really an option - it is fine if you life in the place and have tags but if you don't - a costly pain in the

Hence my original question on getting a tag - shame you cannot just top it up like a phone card - don't loke the idea of having $50 tied up in a card that id onlly rarely used.

Garry

[101RRS]

The M7 IS expensive but other than early morning, it’s the quickest way around Sydney.

In peak hour the M7 is not much quicker than the Cumberland - and the one off costs of using the M7 and then the M2 are over the top.

[Slunnie]

They have you snookered dont they.

[drivesafe]

Hi Garry, do a google for E-tags and see what you come up with.

Mine’s free of any charges other than usage.

Also, check and see if you even need an E-tag because if I recall correctly, most of the E-toll ways I’ve been on ( Vic, NSW and Qld ) have signs saying you can call a given number and make a payment that way if you don’t have an E-tag.

[101RRS]

Also, check and see if you even need an E-tag because if I recall correctly, most of the E-toll ways I’ve been on ( Vic, NSW and Qld ) have signs saying you can call a given number and make a payment that way if you don’t have an E-tag.

Thanks - have done the checking and the administration fees are over the top if you ring in or use the internet - hence my looking at the options.

The RTA etag seems the way to go - just don't like having money tied up with it though - a simple pay as you go ie credit card debited as it is used would be good.

Garry

[drivesafe]

I don’t know if it’s different in NSW but a relo of mine, not having an E-tage, went through the E-tag only lane by mistake and when she rang the number shown on the road side signs, they asked her for her rego number and told her to send a cheque or pay over the internet within 24 ( or 48 ) hours and she only had to pay what ever the toll was, there were no additional charges.

[George130]

Last time I checked the fees were so high that I refuse to use them. I do not use credit cards either. Might have to get myself a set of special plates for the M7.
How about
C.1?

[Graeme]

Thanks - have done the checking and the administration fees are over the top if you ring in or use the internet - hence my looking at the options.

The RTA etag seems the way to go - just don't like having money tied up with it though - a simple pay as you go ie credit card debited as it is used would be good.

Garry
I relented and got the RTA etag, as even though I only occasionally go to Sydney and use the M5, I didn't like all those vehicles passing me whilst stopped in the queue to pay the toll, along with the announced impending change to cashless tollways. I've had it about 4 months and haven't used it yet, so no charges but $40 tied-up.

[101RRS]

The RTA tag seems the way to go - checked the site last night - $40 for the tag, $40 for the initial credit and refills can be as low as $20 - just the cost of a return trip from Canberra to Newcastle on via the M7/M2 - $80 in fuel - $20 in tolls.

When going north has anyone left the M7 where it ends (before it magically turns into the M2) and headed cross country through the back streets of Castlehill to get onto the F3 at Waitara? So that the M2 is bypassed and its toll - its a bit rich to pay $2.20 for about 2km of tollroad. Is the hassle just not worth it - noting Pennant Hills Road is a pain anyway after you leave the M2.

Oh - and what happens if you have a trailer is there extra cost and how is it collected?

Garry

[Slunnie]

The RTA tag seems the way to go - checked the site last night - $40 for the tag, $40 for the initial credit and refills can be as low as $20 - just the cost of a return trip from Canberra to Newcastle on via the M7/M2 - $80 in fuel - $20 in tolls.

When going north has anyone left the M7 where it ends (before it magically turns into the M2) and headed cross country through the back streets of Castlehill to get onto the F3 at Waitara? So that the M2 is bypassed and its toll - its a bit rich to pay $2.20 for about 2km of tollroad. Is the hassle just not worth it - noting Pennant Hills Road is a pain anyway after you leave the M2.

Oh - and what happens if you have a trailer is there extra cost and how is it collected?

Garry
Yep, doing that is no problem. although I'm not convinced it would be the way to go during peak hour. Out at Castle Hill/Baulkham Hills or whatever that new development is called out there, and then through Castle Hill to Pennant Hills and up to Wahroonga. If things are bad then you can jump down the parrallel backstreets to Thornleigh, Normanhurst and then back out onto P.Hills rd at Loretto or Normanhurst BHS.