Drivers can claim rebates from next week under signature Minns toll cap policy

Western Sydney drivers are set to be the biggest winners from Premier Chris Minns’ toll cap next week.

Western Sydney drivers will get hundreds of dollars back in their pockets from next week, with motorists from our west the biggest winners from the Minns government’s signature toll cap policy.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that drivers will be able to claim toll rebates from Tuesday, with hundreds of thousands of commuters set to share in almost $47m worth of refunds on tolls spent in the first three months of this year.

Some 350,000 toll account holders are already eligible to claim rebates in the tolls they have paid after reaching the $60-per-week cap.

Drivers from Sydney’s west are set to get the most money back in rebates for the first quarter of 2024.

According to state government data, drivers in Lakemba are set to get $309 back each quarter, on average.

Auburn drivers could get $266, while those from Bankstown are entitled to an average of $235 back.

Drivers in western Sydney could get back more than $300 in tolls. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Western Sydney suburbs where drivers are punished most by tolls account for the largest number of toll accounts eligible for rebates.

Of the 350,000 toll accounts already eligible for the cashback, 7406 are in Kellyville.

Baulkham Hills has 6604 accounts eligible, and Greystanes has 5952 eligible accounts.

The $60-per-week toll cap came into effect from December 31, but until now drivers had not been able to claim the benefit of Labor’s signature election policy.

The average rebate for the first three months of this year, across all toll accounts eligible, is $134.

Drivers who spend on average $200 per week on tolls can expect to receive approximately $7280 in rebates per year under the toll cap, which Labor expects will cost the budget $561 million over two years.

Premier Chris Minns promised toll relief for Sydney commuters during last year’s election campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

There is a limit to how much drivers will be able to claim back, under a “fair use” policy: the Telegraph revealed in December that the highest rebate being offered is $340 per week.

The fair use policy was designed to stop people rorting the system.

The toll cap will only apply to privately registered cars. Rideshare, taxis, cars registered with businesses and heavy vehicles are not eligible for the rebate.

Drivers will be able to claim toll relief under the weekly $60 cap every three months.

To get the refund, motorists must link their e-Tag to their ServiceNSW account, and claim online.

Premier Chris Minns said the rebates will be welcome cost of living relief to families doing it tough

“We promised to deliver this toll cap ahead of the election and I am glad to see it is drivers in Sydney’s west who will benefit from toll relief the most – proof that our policy is reaching those who need it most,” he said.

Western Sydney mum Chantal Crowe and her son Ashton. Picture: Jonathan Ng

News of the impending rebate was welcomed by Minto mum Chantel Crowe, who spends up to $100 on tolls each week taking her son Ashton to dance lessons in Glendenning.

Under the toll cap, Ms Crowe could expect to get as much as $480 in rebates for the first three months of the year.

“It’s going to be a significant amount, over 12 months it could be about $2500 (back),” she said.

“That’s a term of school fees, that’s dance fees, that’s just general expenses and groceries to help with the cost of living,” she said.

Ms Crowe said tolls make up about a quarter of her regular expenses.

“It just adds to the stress of everything. Ashton loves his dancing and he loves this studio so we have to find a way to make it work,” she said.

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