Toll charges and how they affect renting a car in New Zealand
By Vroom Team • Reviewed 23 Jan 2026
If you’re driving a rental car in New Zealand and use a toll road, you’re responsible for paying the toll. Read on to find out how.
Going on a road trip in New Zealand with a rental car? When it comes to toll roads, you’ll need to understand where they are, how much they cost when you use a hire car, and how to pay for them. If you decide to drive on a toll road, you’ll need to pay a fee, but one of the many great things about New Zealand is that there’s only a few toll roads to be aware of.
Travelling by campervan rather than rental car? Check out our toll road guide for campervan rental in New Zealand.
Where are New Zealand’s toll roads?
There are three toll roads in New Zealand, all of which are located on the North Island:
Northern Gateway Toll Road
Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road
Takitimu Drive Toll Road
Do I need to pay for toll roads when driving a rental car?
Yes, the hire car renter is responsible for paying tolls in New Zealand. Cameras and sensors on toll roads record the car licence plates of cars as they pass by and the tolls are charged electronically. In New Zealand, you can prepurchase tolls valid for three months, in any of the following ways:
With a toll pass: A pre-loaded pass where the toll will be deducted as you use a toll road — this is the most convenient payment method.
Directly by phone: You can call 0800 40 20 20 to pay for the toll charge afterwards. This requires a credit card or debit card for payment.
Online: You can go to tollingonline.nzta.govt.nz/ and pay with a credit or debit card after your trip.
In person: You can pay in cash at service stations recognised by the NZ Transport Agency.
Paying for tolls after your trip may come with a surcharge, depending on how you pay them and how soon you handle them, as outlined in the table below — note each fee is per-toll.
| Method of toll payment | Fee (on top of the toll) |
| Toll pass | Available from some providers only. |
| Via phone | NZ$3.70 |
| At a petrol station | NZ$1.50 |
| Failure to pay a toll within ten business days | NZ$4.90 |
| Failure to pay a toll within 28 business days | NZ$40.00 |
Do car rental providers charge extra for using toll roads?
Paying any toll is the responsibility of the rental car hirer. In the event that a toll is not paid and a bill is sent to the rental provider, this charge will be passed onto the vehicle hirer, often with a substantial per-toll administrative fee. All providers recommend renters pay their tolls in advance through any one of the methods outlined above.
Some providers, such as Dollar, Hertz, Sixt, and Thrifty, offer a Toll Pass which means they cover the cost of all tolls for a flat fee.
| Provider | Toll pass | Fine for toll processing |
| Alamo | No | NZ$25.00 |
| Apex | No | NZ$4.90 |
| Avis | No | Charges an administration fee |
| Budget | No | Charges an administration fee |
| Dollar | Yes | Charges an administration fee |
| Enterprise | No | NZ$5.90 |
| Europcar | No | NZ$6.90 |
| Ezi | No | NZ$20.00 |
| Hertz | Yes | NZ$28.75 |
| Sixt | Yes | NZ$11.50 |
| Thrifty | Yes | Charges an administration fee |
How much do tolls cost for rental cars?
Tolls in New Zealand are determined by vehicle weight, so they can vary in cost. While toll roads typically provide the most direct route, in every case where there is a toll road, there is an alternative toll-free route available.
| Toll road | From | To | Car, motorcycle, or light commercial vehicle (3.5 tonnes or less) | Heavy vehicle (over 3.5 tonnes) |
| Northern Gateway Toll Road | Silverdale | Pūhoi | $2.60 | $5.20 |
| Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road | Domain Road interchange, near Pāpāmoa | Paengaroa roundabout | $2.30 | $5.60 |
| Takitimu Drive Toll Road | State Highway 29 | State Highway 2 | $2.10 | $5.40 |
In almost all rental car cases, the vehicle weight will be under 3.5 tonnes which means you’ll be liable for the lower toll level.
Important InformationCheck with your provider about their policy
Be sure to check with your car rental provider beforehand to find out what their policy is regarding toll payment in New Zealand. This is the best way to avoid being double charged for any toll roads you use.
About the author
Vroom Team
VroomVroomVroom’s writing team brings together decades of writing expertise to share their insights into travelling around New Zealand by rental car. Let our team help you get the most out of your rental car experience.
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