Two Melbourne toll roads, two different companies, and two different rulebooks. EastLink (the eastern-suburbs motorway) and CityLink (the TullamarineโDocklandsโSouth Eastern spine past Marvel Stadium) are not run by the same operator, so โIโll just sort the toll laterโ works differently on each. This guide cuts to the three things people actually search: who sends you the bill, how to pay a single trip without signing up for anything, and what it costs if you ignore it.
If you only remember one thing: on EastLink you have 3 days to cover an untagged trip before it becomes an invoice (eastlink.com.au). Donโt let it slide.
Who charges you
EastLink and CityLink are separate businesses. That matters because an account or dispute with one does not automatically cover the other.
| EastLink | CityLink | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | ConnectEast (EastLink) (eastlink.com.au) | Linkt / Transurban (linkt.com.au) |
| How youโre detected | 13 toll points (gantries); sensor sizes vehicle, tag reader checks tag, cameras read front & rear plates (eastlink.com.au) | Tag or plate matching; a tag avoids video matching fees (linkt.com.au) |
| How the toll is worked out | Distance travelled + your vehicleโs tolling class; total is the sum of each section, with a toll cap per trip in one direction (eastlink.com.au) | Distance + vehicle class; use the Melbourne toll calculator for an estimate (linkt.com.au) |
| Car discount worth knowing | Weekends and Victorian public holidays: cars automatically discounted 20% (linkt.com.au) | unverified โ check the official source |
A useful quirk: an account issued by another tollway operator may also work on EastLink โ check with that operator (eastlink.com.au). So a single Linkt account can, in practice, cover both roads โ but confirm coverage before you rely on it.
Vehicle class decides your price
Both roads price by vehicle class, and itโs based on the vehicleโs make and build โ not whether you use it for personal or business trips (linkt.com.au):
- Motorcycle โ two-wheeled motor vehicle, including with trailer or sidecar.
- Car โ any motor vehicle (including towing a trailer or caravan) that isnโt a motorcycle, LCV or HCV.
- Light commercial vehicle (LCV) โ two-axle rigid, cab-chassis, gross vehicle mass over 1.5 tonnes but under 4.5 tonnes.
- Heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) โ e.g. two-axle rigid cab-chassis over 4.5 tonnes, articulated trucks, or a bus seating more than 12.
- Long HCV โ meets HCV criteria and is 26 metres or longer.
Heavy vehicles get a 33% discount during night periods on CityLink and the West Gate Tunnel (Day 6amโ8pm, Night 8pmโ6am) (linkt.com.au).
How to pay without an account
You do not need a permanent account to drive either road legally โ but the mechanics differ, and the safe move is to sort it before or immediately after the trip.
EastLink โ ranked options if you donโt have an EastLink account:
- Buy an EastLink trip pass โ covers one trip, one direction (eastlink.com.au). Cleanest for a one-off.
- Use another toll providerโs account (e.g. a Linkt account) if itโs set up to cover EastLink โ check with that provider (eastlink.com.au).
- Rental car toll arrangement โ if youโre in a hire car, check with the rental company; they often have a toll arrangement (eastlink.com.au).
- Do nothing and pay after โ you then have 3 days to open an EastLink account or buy a trip pass, and the trip is charged to it (eastlink.com.au). Miss the window and it becomes an invoice with extra fees (see next section).
If your EastLink account is suspended, it canโt be used โ buy a trip pass for each trip and reactivate by making a payment as soon as you can (eastlink.com.au).
CityLink โ paying without an ongoing account: Linkt offers passes (its Melbourne site lists a โBuy a passโ option) and a โPrepaid or Postpaid Account with a tagโ where the trip cost includes tolls only and a tag avoids video matching fees (linkt.com.au). The exact pass types, prices and the time limit for paying a CityLink trip without an account are unverified โ check the official source at linkt.com.au before you travel.
Visitors and rentals (both roads): the rental companyโs toll arrangement is usually the least-hassle path โ confirm what it covers and what it charges you on top, as thatโs unverified โ check the official source with the hire company.
What happens if you donโt pay
EastLink sets out the escalation clearly. Itโs cheap to fix early and genuinely painful if ignored.
| Stage | What happens | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Within 3 days | Open an account or buy a trip pass; trip charged to it | Just the toll (eastlink.com.au) |
| After 3 days unpaid | Toll invoice sent by post, email or SMS to the vehicle owner | Toll plus extra fees (eastlink.com.au) |
| Invoice unpaid | Overdue notice (final reminder); a courtesy reminder may also come by email/text | Pay by the due date shown (eastlink.com.au) |
| Overdue notice unpaid | Victoria Police may issue a fine for the unpaid toll | Fine is $209 (eastlink.com.au) |
Two things worth flagging:
- Wasnโt the driver? If you get an EastLink toll invoice but someone else was driving, you can nominate the driver (eastlink.com.au).
- Scam texts are common. Both operators warn about fake โunpaid tollโ SMS and emails. Donโt click the link โ log in via the official site (eastlink.com.au or linkt.com.au) to check whether you actually owe anything (eastlink.com.au, linkt.com.au).
The exact fee amounts on a CityLink/Linkt invoice and its escalation timeline are unverified โ check the official source.
FAQ
Can one account cover both EastLink and CityLink? Potentially yes โ EastLink says an account from another tollway operator may also work on EastLink, but you must check coverage with that operator (eastlink.com.au). Donโt assume itโs automatic.
I drove EastLink once with no tag and no account โ am I in trouble? Not if you act fast. You have 3 days to open an EastLink account or buy a trip pass, and the trip is charged to it (eastlink.com.au). After that it becomes an invoice with extra fees.
Is EastLink cheaper on weekends? For cars, yes โ EastLink car tolls are automatically discounted 20% on weekends and Victorian public holidays (linkt.com.au).
Sources & last updated
- EastLink โ Tolling & How to Pay: https://www.eastlink.com.au/tolling-how-to-pay (last updated: unverified โ no date shown). Customer Service (03) 9955 1400, 7amโ6pm MonโFri excluding public holidays.
- Linkt โ Melbourne toll calculator (CityLink / West Gate Tunnel, Transurban): https://www.linkt.com.au/using-toll-roads/toll-calculator/melbourne (last updated: unverified โ no date shown).
Prices change and toll caps, pass types and fees arenโt fully published in these sources โ always run your specific trip through the operatorโs official toll calculator before you rely on a number.