Motorists in Australia’s most populous state will pay less for car registration and save on road tolls after months of intense pain at the bowser.
The NSW government will also freeze public transport fares for 12 months, a move it said was part of an all-encompassing plan to tackle the rising cost of living.
Car registration fees, which in NSW can cost nearly $1000, will be cut by $100 for around 4.4 million vehicles, the state budget handed down on Tuesday revealed.
Motorbike registration will be trimmed by $80 as part of a $561 million transport affordability package.
“People have been told by some during this time of great global uncertainty they are fated to be mere bystanders to great global events,” NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said in his budget address.
“This is how we attack the cost-of-living crisis from every angle … this is what choosing our own fate looks like.”
Registering a Toyota Corolla typically costs about $475, but that would be down to $375 after the relief. Registration for a BYD Shark would cost approximately $944 before the discount takes it down to $844.
Of the 4.4 million vehicles eligible for the registration discount, about 1.9 million are in rural and regional areas.
Ahead of the state elections in March, the government has also upped the ante on its road toll relief by capping tolls at $50 for the next year and scrapping an administration fee.
About 1.13 million trips each day are tolled in NSW.
The state government previously capped tolls at $60 in its first state budget three years ago before making them permanent in 2025/26.
The administration fees, which can be around $10 per notice, cost NSW drivers about $60 million in 2025/26 and can often cost twice as much as the actual toll.
“For years, Sydney-siders were told if they wanted new motorways they had to accept privately owned toll roads … private operators collected the tolls (and) motorists paid the price,” Mr Mookhey said.
“One of the biggest rip-offs on our roads is the administration fee … we vow to continue our fight for a fairer deal for Sydney motorists.”
Meanwhile, more than 400,000 people using NSW’s public transport system each day will benefit from 2025 fares for another 12 months.
The government will also spend $2.6 million improving its FuelCheck app, which shows drivers the fuel prices at petrol stations across the state.
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