NSW Motorists Slammed with Soaring Road Tolls: 1,000 Drivers Now Forking Out Over $10,000 a Year

New South Wales Drivers Spend $2.5 Billion on Toll Roads Annually

Key Findings

Latest data from state-owned electronic tolling companies analyzed data from 1.4 million drivers from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
Over 12 drivers pay more than $30,000 in annual road tolls
901 drivers pay between $10,000 and $20,000 in annual road tolls
Drivers paying more than $10,000 a year on road costs would be far more likely if Linkt toll spending is included

Toll Road Spending in New South Wales

New South Wales drivers are spending a staggering $2.5 billion annually to drive on toll roads, according to a recent study. The study, which analyzed data from 1.4 million drivers between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, found that more than a dozen drivers across the state are spending over $30,000 per year on tolls. An additional 901 drivers are paying between $10,000 and $20,000 per year.

Most-Used Toll Roads

The most-used toll road by New South Wales drivers was WestConnex, accounting for 43% of total toll road usage. The M7 followed closely, with 16% of total usage, while the M5, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, and M2 accounted for 12%, 12%, and 8% respectively.

NSW Roads Minister’s Statement

According to NSW Roads Minister John Graham, “There are 1,000 drivers who spend more than $10,000 a year on tolls. It’s true that many of these high-paying drivers live in the western suburbs and central coast.”

Underreported Toll Spending

The New South Wales government notes that the actual number of drivers paying more than $10,000 per year in tolls is likely much higher, as the data does not include toll spending by private operator Linkt.