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Victoria is one of the Australian states that experiences an increasing amount of vehicles on its crowded roads. To deal with this problem, many government agencies and private companies are now implementing special rules, one of which is imposing tolls on existing roads.
It is a must that a prepaid account is created to be used in paying tolls fairly. This means that the vehicle is registered in Australia with E-Tag and stays within the Australian borders.
Applying For An E-Tag In Victoria
Get the E-Tag App
To get the E-Tag app, you need to download the free E-tag app from Google Play or Apple Store. This application allows you to pay your toll directly by scanning via an already prepaid account. You can also pay through online banking or credit cards like Visa or MasterCard.
Create an Account
The second step involves creating an account with your preferred agency that implements the toll system in Victoria.
Register Your Vehicle with E-Tag
Once the application is downloaded and you have created a prepaid account, go to "My Accounts" on your E-tag application and to the "Profile" tab. Here you need to fill in your vehicle information and payment information. Remember that the registered address of your vehicle is also indicated, including the VIN (Vehicle identification number).
Pay Your Toll
You need to turn on the "Pay Toll" button to pay for your toll. You can then choose a toll-free route and enter the amount of toll to be paid. The amount can be debited from your prepaid account or billed through a credit card if you have one set up. Note that you will always receive a toll invoice confirming the payment.
Benefits Of Using ETag In Victoria
By registering your vehicle and paying for the tolls with E-Tag, you are ensuring yourself of:
Reduced waiting times in toll plazas
By using a prepaid account and having prepaid money for tolls in that account, you need not worry about paying at the toll plaza, as this can be done electronically. In addition, because cash is not used, there is no need to spend time waiting in long queues at the toll plaza.
High level of convenience
You will enjoy an improved driving experience by not having to stop now and then to pay your toll manually, especially when you are on a long road trip.
Access to special promotions and discounts
Using ETag, you can enjoy special promotions and discounts at different times. You will be allowed to use the toll roads as often as possible without incurring more charges. You can make as many trips as you need and not worry about paying these tolls again.
Easy-to-use system
You need not worry about paying your tolls manually when using E-Tag. You can just set up a prepaid account and apply for special discounts too from time to time.
Safety from fraudulent activity
All the transactions done with E-Tag can be easily traced and cannot be tampered with. It keeps everyone safe from fraudulent activity, especially when individuals are attempting to access your vehicle's information for illegal purposes.
Venturing into remote areas
If you venture into a remote area such as Victoria, you can use your prepaid account for E-Tag to pay tolls without worrying about rejected transactions.
Improved road safety
By using E-Tag and making payments electronically, there is no need to stop during your journey on the road. You can drive along and enjoy your trip without worrying about making any stops.
This directly improves the safety level of all motorists since the flow of traffic is not interrupted during driving. Fewer accidents are expected on toll roads when people use this new technology to pay for tolls when they go over these roads.
Using E-Tag means that you can use your prepaid account to pay your tolls as well as enjoy special discounts from time to time. The prepaid account makes it possible to pay for different tolls in one transaction, even from different companies or government agencies.
Toll Roads In Victoria
Eastlink
The Eastlink is the largest tollway in Victoria and is also the busiest one. It comprises four lanes from either side, and the EastLink tolls are collected electronically by means of an E-tag that uses a prepaid account.
Pakenham Bypass
The Pakenham Bypass is a 4-lane toll road that can be used by vehicles with an E-tag. It has remained a very popular road in Victoria in the past years.
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip has a length of about 2 km and is close to the cities of Frankston and Hastings. It is connected to the freeway system through an expressway due to an initiative for development in this area.
Citylink
Citylink is located in Melbourne with several lanes, most of which have tolls. It is a crucial part of the road network in Melbourne and is recognized as one of the busiest toll roads in Australia.
West Gate Freeway
The West Gate Freeway is a 4-lane toll road located in Melbourne's suburbs. It is part of the Metropolitan ring road and one of the busiest roads in this area.
Tullamarine Freeway
The Tullamarine Freeway is the smallest toll road in Victoria and is located in Melbourne. It is connected to the Eastern Freeway and the Western Motorway and is a part of the Melbourne metropolitan ring road.
Factors Determining The Price Of ETags In Victoria
Value of the card
E-tags are given in a variety of values. The value is either calculated according to the distance travelled or by the number of times you need to be paid for using the card. The difference is that you pay more for using a card when you travel more than twice.
Frequency of use
If you want to pay tolls by E-tag and not cash, it is recommended that you use it at least twice because if it does not work, then there will be no money left on your card, and you will have to go through the registration process again with a new prepaid account.
Travelling distance
Another factor determining the price of ETags is the reason behind the demand for an E-tag. The government authority of Victoria can only determine this. The subsequent factor is how many times you want to use it and the number of times you travel.
If you want to keep your card for a long time, there are lower tolls for longer travel distances. If you want to use it as many times as possible, you should consider paying a higher toll every time your car breaks down from overuse and hence will have to register with a new prepaid account when it breaks down again.
Time to pay for tolls
You can pay for tolls by E-tag while driving along the road or prepay by setting it up online through a prepaid account. If you prepay your tolls, then it takes time to be credited when you set up your prepaid accounts. Generally, it takes about three days to be paid from the day of making the payment.
System in place
If there is a need to improve any system in place due to fraud or large-scale operations, the government authority deciding on this may raise the E-tag prices with time while they go down again when they improve the system.
Your identity
A lower toll is charged if you are not a permanent resident in Victoria. If you have been using your card for a long time, you will also have to pay lower tolls as compared to someone who just started using their E-tag.
However, if you are planning to use your voucher for more than six months, it will be better to register for your E-tag and prepaid account before that happens so that you can save quite a lot of money for yourself later.
Convenient ETags Victoria
E-tags are easy and convenient to use. There are many E-tag service providers in Victoria, so you should choose the best one for you. E-tags provide convenience for every commuter. Before you drive through any toll road in Australia, get an ETag. Register to enjoy the convenience of an ETag card and also enjoy discount offers from time to time.
Having an ETag will also help you enjoy drives in Victoria. To find the best car deals in Australia, you can visit dealerships or check online car sales shops that sell both new and used vehicles.