My Motorhome is 6.8m long, less than 4.5 ton, 2 axles, pensioner private registration, it is listed on my etag account as a car and I only need a car licence to drive it. However, when using a toll road in NSW (except Sydney Harbour Bridge or Tunnel) I pay the same as a semi-trailer or 10 ton heavy commercial truck. Using the M2 & M7 to visit family in Bathurst it costs $48.32 for the round trip where as a car and caravan is only charged $21.72 which is less than half. The problem occurs because my motorhome is more than 2.8m high, no other reason. Consequently, I now travel via the Bells Line of Road and pay nothing. All vehicles should be encouraged to use the toll roads, it is safer for all concerned and I would be prepared to pay more than a car to use the toll roads. But I am not driving a semi trailer and should not be charged more than double that of a car and caravan rig. If a slide on caravan takes the overall height to more than 2.8m then they are also charged the higher rate. I understand that QLD has a third category of vehicle for such vehicles and in Victoria I pay the same as a car as I am not registered for commercial use. NSW is out of step with other states and they need to change.
Looking at NSW toll website if you are towing a trailer or caravan over 2 mts high you go to the dearer rate , Had to pick up to much on Google , Maybe best to stay away from toll roads in RV of any sort , Hopefully someone will be able to shine some light on this subject , Thanks for your post Bob
In Melbourne last year on the Eastern / Western Link through the city I was charged (from memory) double the rate for a car because I was in a ute (commercial vehicle) even though it is licensed as a private vehicle.
Thats is my understanding Neil, but in NSW even if your ute was private registration, if a slide on caravan meant that it exceeded 2.8m in height then you would be charged more than double that of a car. My Navman is now set to avoid all toll roads in NSW until a more equitable charge is introduced.
Wrote to the Minister and was referred to the "Manager Toll Policy and Regulation". Not sure what the title "Manager Toll Policy and Regulation" means but when I spoke with him today, he appreciated my concern with the inequity of a motorhome being in the same category as a semi trailer simply because it is heigher than 2.8m and no other reason, but was not in a position to do anything about it. Did I not understand the meaning of his title?
Thanks for any information you can post ,I am surprised there is so little post on this subject ,This sort of thing could cost all RV lot of money I see also the brisbane toll website mentions increased cost for trailer over 2 metres , My Caravan is higher than that could be a mine field out there .
Thats right Neil, NSW, Qld & Vic are the only states that have toll roads. Unfortunately the unfair pricing structure is keeping me and many more motorists off the toll roads.
