NSW budget 2022: Drivers to save up to $750 a year in toll cash rebates

The state budget will tackle one of Sydney’s biggest pain points – tolls – with drivers to get hundreds of dollars back in their hip pocket. Here’s how much you could get.

Drivers will get up to $750 cash back in their pockets each year as part of a major toll relief overhaul which will deliver the greatest benefits to people in Western Sydney.

Around 500,000 motorists will get quarterly rebates in their toll bill as part of a new initiative labelled by government sources as the June budget’s cost of living “centrepiece”.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that drivers who spend at least $375 in tolls each year will get a 40 per cent rebate starting at $150.

The scheme, which will dramatically increase toll savings for families, will be capped with a maximum yearly benefit of $750.

Almost 300,000 extra drivers will get toll relief from next financial year under the rebates.

It will replace an existing scheme which cuts the price of registration in half or in full, once motorists exceed a certain toll threshold.

Jackie Klaassen from Oran Park uses toll roads for her commute to work. She saves $500 under the current scheme on rego, but would welcome further relief. Picture: Jonathan Ng

From 1 July, drivers will get $150 cash back if they spend $375 on tolls in a year. From then, they will get 40 per cent of their tolls reimbursed until they hit $1875 worth of toll costs (for a maximum benefit of $750 a year).

Under the current scheme, motorists had to spend $877 before they got toll relief, in the form of half priced registration. To get free rego, motorists had to spend $1,462 on tolls (a $28 per week average).

The NorthConnex. Picture: Transurban

Tradies will benefit from the toll relief package. It will apply to ABN holders with up to two physical tags.

It is understood the package will apply to trades people but not bigger vehicles like truck drivers.

The budget announcement comes ahead of an increase to toll prices due next month, most by the price of skyrocketing quarterly inflation.

The new rebate scheme, to be announced in the June 21 budget, will more than double the amount of drivers who receive toll relief from the state government.

“This new program will provide more relief, more often to more motorists,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

“This is a fairer and more equitable system based more closely on the amount a motorist actually spends on tolls.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the new toll relief system will make driving cheaper for hundreds of thousands of motorists.

“These rebates will improve the affordability of toll road travel for individuals, families and small businesses,” Mr Kean said.

Meanwhile, Labor has likened the rebates to the government taking from one hand and giving with the other.

Roads spokesman John Graham said that because the scheme will replace a free rego scheme for big toll users, people paying the most to use toll roads may only get an additional $200 in relief compared to what they get now.

Executive Assistant Jackie Klaassen said she spends about $25 a day on tolls to travel on the M5 and the M8 her home in Oran Park into Randwick for work, amounting to nearly $6,000 over a 48 week work year.

Her husband also spends about $172 every week on tolls.

“When you see $300 a week coming out of your account just for tolls alone, it’s insane,” she said.

Ms Klaassen saves about $500 in rego fees under the current scheme, but said any extra toll relief would be “amazing”.