• Tolls, tags & passes
• What do the signs mean?
• What do the beeps mean?

Sydney's Orbital network is made up of nine motorways linked with expressways, freeways and other main roads. All of the motorways are owned and operated by private operators (except for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and M4 Western Motorway) and a toll is charged for their use.

How you pay the toll depends on which motorway you use, and how often you use them. While some accept cash, the newer motorways are fully electronic. This means you need an electronic tag, or pass.

There is a range of electronic tag and pass products available through different providers. Each provider may apply different charges, deposits and top-up amounts. To find out more about the different products available, contact the tag or pass issuers.

The available payment options are detailed below. See the About Sydney motorways section for detailed payment options for each of the motorways.

Motorway	Toll charged	Toll type	Toll payment
			Cash	Tag	Pass
Sydney Harbour Tunnel	Southbound	Time based
Sydney Harbour Bridge	Southbound	Time based
Eastern Distributor	Northbound	Flat rate
M5	Each direction	Flat rate
M7	Each direction	Distance based
M2 - North Ryde	Each direction	Flat rate
M2 - Pennant Hills Rd	Each direction	Flat rate
Lane Cove Tunnel	Each direction	Flat rate
Military Road E-Ramps	Each direction	Flat rate
Cross City Tunnel - Main tunnel	Each direction	Flat rate
Cross City Tunnel - Sir John Young Cres	Northbound	Flat rate

The M4 Motorway is toll free.

Tag

Electronic tags are the easiest way to pay motorway tolls. All tags offered in Australia work on all motorways around the country. If you have a tag, look for the lanes marked with the red and yellow 'E' symbol. Tags are read by sensors at plazas and toll collection points and your toll account is automatically debited. Most tag products generally require you to pay a security deposit and a pre-paid toll balance. When your pre-paid toll balance drops to a certain amount, your toll account is topped up by the tag provider using your credit card or bank account.

Pass

An electronic pass is an arrangement where your number plate is temporarily recorded in the tolling system. If you are visiting Sydney or are an infrequent user of toll roads, this may be your best payment option for the fully electronic motorways. You can use a pass in the lanes marked with the red and white 'e' symbol. With pass products you'll pay an additional administration fee for each trip you make on a motorway. You can use a pass on any toll road in Sydney.

Where to purchase a tag or pass

Electronic tag and toll pass products are available from the following providers:

Cash

You can pay cash on the Eastern Distributor, M5 and M2. To pay cash you need to slow down and take care when approaching toll booths and make sure you drive in the correct lane. Some booths only accept the exact toll. If you have the exact change, look for the signs saying 'auto' or 'exact toll' and be ready to place your change into the collection basket as you drive through. If you don't have the exact toll, look out for the booths that provide change. These booths are marked 'change' and have an attendant who will provide change. Cash booths are generally located on the left hand side of Toll Plazas. So keep to the left hand lane if you want to pay with cash.