Thursday, 13 December 2018

More than 300,000 drivers will benefit from hip pocket relief as the NSW Government expands its successful Toll Relief program.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that from July 1, 2019, drivers who spend $15 or more a week on tolls will be eligible for half-priced vehicle registration. Drivers who spend $25 or more a week on tolls will continue to receive Free Rego. This more than doubles the number of people who can access the scheme.

“We know meeting cost of living pressures is a big challenge for many households and we are committed to doing everything we can to ease those burdens,” Ms Berejiklian said.                     

Jonathan O’Dea, Member for Davidson, said the responsible management of the economy by NSW Liberals & Nationals has allowed money to be put back into the pockets of hard working people.

“Currently, more than 140,000 motorists are eligible to receive Free Rego. Under this announcement, more than 300,000 drivers will be eligible for either half-priced or free registration,” Mr O’Dea said.

Eligibility will also change to allow multiple tags on the one account to count towards Toll Relief, making it a more generous scheme. For example, families with more than one vehicle registered to an account can pool their total spend to qualify for one half-price or free registration. The program will also be backdated, so eligible motorists will be able to count their toll spend from July 1, 2018.

The program is available for all standard privately registered cars, utes, 4 wheel-drives and motorcycles. Drivers who are not aware they are eligible will not miss out, as they will be informed when they renew online.

The NSW Government has given back more than $200 million to people in NSW this year alone through its various cost of living rebates and incentives. Highlights include:

  • 400,000 people have downloaded the real-time FuelCheck app, which could save drivers $500 a year.
  • 665,000 Active Kids vouchers have been issued this year.
  • CTP reform is saving motorists around $120 per year on their Green Slips. The average premium is expected to drop to $500 from January 2019.