NSW motorists missing out on free registration in unclaimed toll relief program

More than 76,000 motorists have missed out on their share of $27 million in toll relief benefits, like free or half-price registration, in the past year. See the top 10 unclaimed suburbs.

Tens of thousands of drivers have missed out on free or half price rego worth almost $27 million with the vast majority in western Sydney.

New government data shows that while more than 275,000 drivers were eligible for toll relief, 76,854 customers did not claim their benefit this past year.

Launched in July 2018, the NSW government’s Toll Relief program provides free private vehicle registration for one vehicle linked to that account for drivers who have spent above a set threshold.

In the last financial year, drivers had to have spent $1352 – or about $26 a week – in the previous financial year to receive the benefit, or $811 – about $16 a week – to receive half price rego.

Of the almost 200,000 customers who did obtain a rebate – about 72 per cent of the total number of motorists who were eligible – each received an average of $354.49 per person.

Just over half of those who received a benefit obtained the full benefit after reaching the necessary threshold.

The government calculates that about $26.7 million of toll relief was left unclaimed.

Drivers have missed out on toll relief rebates. Picture: Nick Bloukos

Across the suburbs, Mosman motorists topped the list for unclaimed rebates.

However, nine out of the top 10 suburbs were in western Sydney.

Top ten suburbs for unclaimed Toll Relief for the 2021-22 financial year to-date included 765 in Mosman, 727 in Baulkham Hills, 616 in Kellyville, 594 in Blacktown, 414 in Greystanes, 261 in Prestons, 246 in Winston Hills, 227 in Casula, 197 in Bella Vista and 192 in Plumpton.

To obtain the discount, motorists need to link their e-tag to their MyService NSW account and ensure their vehicle details are up-to-date.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance urged motorists to take up the offer to ease cost-of-living pressures.

“Our Toll Relief program is there to help with cost of living expenses and we really want all eligible drivers to be taking advantage of the available discounts,” Mr Constance said.

“I want to see the take up rate go up from the current 70 per cent – to 100 per cent of eligible drivers receiving their rebates.

“If you’re a driver that uses toll roads, I urge you to link your registration to your Service NSW account so your eligible discounts are automatically applied. It’s so simple.”

To receive free rego in the 2021-22, motorists must have spent $1406 or more – about $27 a week – on NSW toll roads in the previous financial year while driving a NSW privately registered light vehicle.

To receive half-price rego in the same period, $843 or more must have been spent – or about $16 a week.

Edensor Park constructor worker Adam Jukic, 33, said he had been taking advantage of the toll relief for several years.

Having to travel to the inner-west and CBD from his western Sydney home daily, Mr Jukic said he easily reached the threshold for free registration.

“The first year, I got about $300 so half my rego, and then all the other years I’ve got about $600 back,” he said.

“It’s definitely worth doing.”

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Billions made by city’s toll road operators revealed

After being toll-free for two decades a toll on the M5 East will make nearly $11 billion for its private operators, the State opposition estimates.

The figure is based on toll road financial results in the most recent quarter, which show the private operators of Sydney key toll roads reap billions beyond the initial construction costs over the life of the contracts.

With the opening of the new tolled M8 and NorthConnex thoroughfares, Labor claims Sydney has cemented its position as the world’s highest tolled city.

The new estimates look for the first time at the actual toll revenue paid by drivers to project future toll bills.

Labor analysis of the financial results of Sydney’s major toll roads shows the private owners, which include Transurban, will make an estimated $26.7 billion from the M4, more than six times the initial cost of $4.299 billion, by the time the contract ends in 2060.

Another $6.5 billion will be made from the NorthConnex, more than three times the initial private sector spend of $2.1 billion by the time its contract is reached in 2048.

Labor also estimates $18.7 billion will be made from the combination of M5 East and M8, also part of the 2060 WestConnex contract, four times the initial $4.446 billion cost.

The new toll on the M5 East section alone – $6.95 each way – is estimated to return $10.6 billion to its operators, after being free for 20 years.

State opposition leader Chris Minns said the toll road financial results showed for the first time an estimate of the sheer scale of tolls paid by Sydney drivers.

“Even in net present value terms, the M5 East alone will make nearly $11 billion for its private owners, after the road being toll free for 20 years,” he said.

“For the first time, we can see the sheer size of this record toll bill, and the profits being handed over to private operators under this government’s privatisation agenda.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian last year accidentally described the opening of new motorways as “toll mania’’, which was latched onto by critics.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Andrew Constance said 2.4 million Australians were growing their retirement savings because of AustralianSuper’s investment in WestConnex, while drivers themselves could access free or half-price rego under the NSW Government’s Toll Relief scheme.

The tolling approach enabled motorways to be delivered decades ahead of time, with the cost gradually recouped from those who actually used the road after the private sector had absorbed the biggest initial costs.

“This lowers the overall burden on taxpayers, freeing up capacity to invest in other essential services such as hospitals, schools, public transport and police,” the spokesperson said.

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Originally published as NSW motorists missing out on free registration in unclaimed toll relief program