By ANNA USHER

Sydney motorists who regularly cross the Harbour Bridge or use the city’s toll network could be owed hundreds of dollars in unclaimed rebates – and the 30 June 2026 deadline to claim last year’s toll relief is fast approaching.

The NSW Government’s permanent toll relief scheme allows eligible drivers to claim back up to $340 a week if they spend more than $60 on personal tolls in any given week.

Service NSW emailed motorists this week, urging them to act, with the quarterly rebate window for January to April 2026 spending currently open.

The scheme is straightforward: spend more than $60 in a single week on personal tolls using an NSW E-Toll or Linkt account, and you can claim back every dollar above that threshold – up to $340 per week per tag or licence plate number.

The rebate is calculated and paid quarterly. Once a claim is approved, payment is processed within 10 to 15 business days.

To illustrate: a driver spending $100 a week on tolls would receive a $40 weekly rebate. Over a 13-week quarter, that is $520 back in their pocket.

Who is eligible?

To qualify, you need to be a NSW resident with an active personal NSW toll account – either E-Toll or Linkt – and your vehicle must be registered in NSW for private use.

Tolls paid on all NSW roads count toward the $60 weekly threshold, including the Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel and Lane Cove Tunnel.

Business trips are excluded, even in a privately registered car.

Tolls reimbursed by an employer also cannot be claimed.

One critical catch: if you close your toll account, you permanently forfeit any unclaimed rebates on that account.

When do I need to claim?

Claims for toll spend from 5 January 2026 to 5 April 2026 are currently available. The next window opens on 9 July 2026 and covers spending from April to July 2026.

Any unclaimed rebates from the 2025 calendar year must be lodged by 30 June 2026 – or the money is permanently forfeited.

Claims for 2026 toll spend close on 1 December 2026.

How to claim

• Link your toll account to your MyServiceNSW Account at service.nsw.gov.au
• Open Toll Tracker to check your spend and confirm eligibility
• When the “Claim Now” button appears, enter your bank details and submit.

First-time claimants will need two proof of identity documents: a driver’s licence, Medicare card or Australian passport. Claims can also be lodged through the Service NSW app.

What it means for the north shore – from 2028

The relief scheme is set to become significantly more valuable for local drivers in the coming years.

From 2028, the NSW Government is set to introduce two-way tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, which are currently charged only for southbound, city-bound travel.

The government estimates the change will generate an additional $145 million in annual toll revenue – meaning north shore commuters who cross the Bridge or Tunnel could see their weekly toll bills roughly double.

Under the permanent $60 weekly cap, any spending above the threshold will remain claimable, making the scheme increasingly relevant for the lower north shore as the reform takes effect.

To check your eligibility and claim: visit service.nsw.gov.au and search “toll relief cap” or call Service NSW on 13 77 88.

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