You’ve just landed at Tullamarine. The hire car smells like new plastic, the GPS is chirping, and somewhere between the airport and your hotel, you sail under a gantry covered in signs and cameras. Nobody tells you to stop. Nobody hands you a ticket. And that’s exactly the problem.
Melbourne’s toll roads are fully electronic. No booths, no coins, no friendly human in a hi-vis vest. You just drive, a camera or a tag notes it, and the bill finds you later. If you don’t know the system, that bill can show up weeks after you’ve flown home, with extra fees stapled to it.
I’ve seen plenty of visitors get caught out. So here’s the plain-English version of how Melbourne tolls for visitors work, what CityLink and EastLink actually are, and how to pay without overpaying.
The short version (for the impatient)
- Melbourne’s two main toll roads for visitors are CityLink and EastLink.
- There are no toll booths. Everything is charged electronically.
- If you’re in a hire car, the rental company usually handles tolls, but they often add fees. Always check.
- If you’ve got no account or pass, you generally have 5 days to sort it out after your first trip. Miss that, and an invoice with extra admin fees goes to the vehicle’s registered owner.
- A Visitor’s Pass from Linkt covers both CityLink and EastLink.
Still with me? Good. Let’s go deeper.
What is CityLink, and where will you actually use it?
CityLink is a roughly 22 km toll road that links the Monash, West Gate and Tullamarine freeways. In real life, that means it’s the road that connects Melbourne Airport to the city centre, the Port of Melbourne, and the south-east.
If you’re flying in and heading to the CBD, odds are high you’ll use it without even thinking about it. It skips a lot of the stop-start of traffic lights, roundabouts and school zones. Honestly, after a long flight, that’s worth something.
You’ll probably use CityLink if you’re:
- Driving from the airport to the city or Docklands
- Heading across town toward the south-east
- Travelling to or from the Port of Melbourne area
What is EastLink, and who needs it?
EastLink is a 39 km toll road that links the Eastern, Monash, Frankston and Peninsula Link freeways. It connects Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs to the Mornington Peninsula.
Here’s the thing most visitors miss. You can spend a week in the city and never touch EastLink. But the moment you plan a day trip to the Peninsula, wineries, hot springs or the beaches down south, you may well be on it.
CityLink vs EastLink at a glance
| CityLink | EastLink | |
| Length | About 22 km | About 39 km |
| Links | Monash, West Gate and Tullamarine freeways | Eastern, Monash, Frankston and Peninsula Link freeways |
| Best known for | Airport to city runs | Eastern suburbs and Mornington Peninsula |
| Toll booths? | No | No |
| Covered by a Visitor’s Pass? | Yes | Yes |
| Covered by a Weekend or 24 Hour CityLink Pass? | Yes | No |
That last row matters. More on it in a second.
How do Melbourne tolls work for visitors?
Picture a camera that never blinks. Every time you pass a toll point, your number plate is read (or your e-tag beeps, if the car has one). The system then matches that trip to an account or a pass.
- If there’s a match, the toll is charged to that account or pass. Easy.
- If there’s no match, the bill goes to the registered owner of the vehicle, with admin fees added.
And who’s the registered owner of a rental car? The rental company. Which is why they come back to you, usually with a little “processing fee” attached. We’ll get to that.
I like to think of it as a restaurant tab you didn’t know you’d opened. Someone’s keeping count, and eventually the waiter arrives.
Your options: how can a visitor pay for Melbourne tolls?
Here’s where it gets practical. Visitors generally have four paths.
1. Buy a Linkt Visitor’s Pass
This is the one made for people who don’t live here. A Visitor’s Pass covers travel on both CityLink and EastLink, and you pay as you go. Your tolls are charged at the end of each day you travel.
You can buy it before you travel, which is the smart move. If you forget, you can still cover CityLink trips from up to 5 days ago and EastLink trips from up to 3 days ago. That’s a short window, so don’t leave it to the last minute. A pass may also come with a few extra costs, so check the details when you buy.
Pro tip: set a phone reminder the minute you pick up the car. Future you will be grateful.
2. Buy a CityLink Weekend Pass or 24 Hour Pass
These are fixed-price passes for CityLink only.
- A 24 Hour CityLink Pass gives you unlimited travel on CityLink for 24 hours.
- A 24 Hour Tulla Pass covers a smaller section, from Flemington Road to Bulla Road.
- A Weekend Pass gives you unlimited CityLink travel from midday Friday to midnight Sunday.
Now the catch. None of these cover EastLink. If your weekend involves a Peninsula adventure, you’d need a different solution for that part.
3. Open a Linkt account
A Linkt account covers toll roads Australia-wide. It’s great if you’re a regular visitor, or you’re doing a road trip that crosses cities. For a one-off trip to Melbourne, it can feel like overkill, but if you’re driving a lot, it’s worth a look.
4. Let the rental company handle it
This is the “I don’t want to think about it” option. Most rental firms will pay the tolls for you and bill you afterwards. It’s convenient. It’s also where fees creep in, so let’s talk about it properly.
Which option suits which visitor?
| Your trip | What probably works best |
| Airport to CBD, then a few days on trams and foot | A CityLink pass, or the rental company’s toll option |
| Airport, CBD and a Peninsula day trip | Visitor’s Pass (covers both roads) |
| Long stay with lots of driving | Check a Linkt account against rental company fees |
| Weekend getaway, CityLink only | CityLink Weekend Pass |
| Short stay and you’re not sure if you’ll drive much | Visitor’s Pass, bought early |
Renting a car in Melbourne? Read this bit twice
I’ll be straight with you. Rental car tolls are the most common place visitors lose money, and it’s rarely the toll itself. It’s the admin fees around it.
Here’s how it usually goes. You drive through a toll point without your own pass. The toll operator bills the registered owner, which is the rental company. The rental company pays it, then passes the cost on to you, often with a service fee on top. Some charge per toll trip, some charge per day you use the car, and some have a daily cap. It varies a lot between companies.
So before you sign anything, ask these questions:
- Does the car have an e-tag, or do you use number plate matching?
- How much is the admin fee, and is it per trip or per day?
- Does the toll option cover both CityLink and EastLink?
- Is there a daily cap on fees?
- When will the charges hit my card?
If you’d rather skip the middleman, you can buy your own pass and pay the operator directly. Just don’t double up. Paying for a pass and letting the rental company pay the same trips is a classic way to pay twice for one drive.
At Ritz Rentals, we’d rather you know the cost before you drive off than get a surprise a month later. [Add Ritz Rentals’ toll policy here: how tolls are charged, any admin fee, and whether an e-tag is fitted.] If you’re not sure, just ask us at pick-up. No question is too small.
What happens if you forget to pay?
Let’s say you’ve had a lovely trip, flown home, and totally forgotten about tolls. What now?
If you travel on a Melbourne toll road without an account or pass, you can fix it by buying a pass within 5 days of your first trip. If you don’t sort it out in that time, an invoice for the toll plus an admin fee is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner.
For a rental, that’s the rental company, and they’ll pass it on to you. The invoice route is also the more expensive way to pay. Toll notices cost more than paying through a pass or account, which is the whole reason passes exist.
If something has gone wrong, you can contact Linkt on 13 33 31.
So the rule is simple. Pay early, pay cheap. Pay late, and you’re funding someone’s staff Christmas party.
Can I pay Melbourne tolls with cash?
Not at the roadside, no. There are no booths to hand money to. But you can pay in person at some participating outlets, such as newsagents, for certain passes like the 24 Hour Pass or the CityLink Weekend Pass. Linkt has a tool on its website where you can enter your postcode to find a nearby outlet.
If you’d rather pay online, you can also make a quick payment without logging in. All you need is your pass number and your card details.
A few mistakes I see visitors make again and again
- Assuming a CityLink pass covers EastLink. It doesn’t. A Weekend Pass or 24 Hour CityLink Pass won’t cover EastLink trips.
- Waiting too long. The grace period is 5 days for CityLink, and only 3 days for EastLink with a Visitor’s Pass.
- Paying twice. A pass and the rental company’s toll option can overlap. Pick one.
- Not reading the rental agreement. The fee details are there. It’s not thrilling reading, but it’s cheaper than finding out later.
- Trusting the GPS to avoid tolls. Most apps have an “avoid tolls” setting. Turn it on if you’d rather skip them, but remember it can add time.
Do you actually need to use toll roads?
Fair question. Melbourne has plenty of non-toll routes, and the city is the kind of place where trams, walking and a good coffee can fill days. If you’re staying in the CBD, you might not need a car at all for the first part of your trip.
But if you’re picking up from the airport with luggage, kids, or a tight schedule, CityLink is genuinely handy. And if the Mornington Peninsula is on your list, EastLink can save you time. The trick isn’t avoiding tolls. It’s knowing what they’ll cost before you drive.
To estimate your own trip, Linkt has a toll calculator on its website. I’d rather you check current prices there than trust a number in a blog post, because toll prices change.
Quick checklist before you drive off
- Work out whether you’ll use CityLink, EastLink, or both.
- Ask the rental company how tolls are charged, and what fees apply.
- Decide: rental company option, or your own pass.
- If you buy a pass, do it before you drive, or set a reminder.
- Keep your pass number and receipts somewhere handy.
- If anything looks off later, contact the toll operator or your rental company fast.
Frequently asked questions
Are there toll booths in Melbourne?
No. Melbourne’s toll roads are fully electronic, so you won’t stop or pay at the roadside.
Do I need a pass if I’m only using CityLink?
You need some way to pay. That could be a Visitor’s Pass, a CityLink Weekend or 24 Hour Pass, an account, or the rental company’s toll arrangement.
Does a Visitor’s Pass cover both CityLink and EastLink?
Yes. It covers both roads, and your tolls are charged at the end of each day you travel.
Can I pay after I’ve driven?
Often, yes. A Visitor’s Pass can cover CityLink trips from up to 5 days ago and EastLink trips from up to 3 days ago. Don’t push your luck.
What if I don’t pay in time?
An invoice for the toll plus an admin fee goes to the registered owner of the vehicle. In a rental, that means the rental company will likely pass it to you.
Will my rental company charge extra fees?
Many do. Fees vary by company, so ask about them before you drive off.
Does an interstate toll account work in Melbourne?
A Linkt account covers toll roads Australia-wide, so if you have one, your Melbourne travel is covered. Check with your own provider if you use a different one.
Final thoughts
Melbourne tolls for visitors aren’t scary. They’re just quiet, which is what trips people up. No booth, no warning, just a camera and a bill that arrives later.
So here’s my advice. Know which roads you’ll use. Pick one way to pay and stick to it. Ask about fees at the rental counter. And if in doubt, buy a pass before you drive.
Planning to hire a car for your Melbourne trip? Get in touch with Ritz Rentals, and we’ll walk you through exactly how tolls work with your booking, before you ever turn the key. Safe travels, and may every gantry be a cheap one.
Arriving at Melbourne Airport? See our airport car rental in Melbourne service, where we meet you at the airport.
