Driving and insurance
Find ways to save on the cost of driving a car, and tips to help you get value for money when you buy one.
From July 2026, the permanent weekly toll cap will be lowered to $50 for one year to help keep costs down. Pay more than $50 per week in tolls? Check if you can claim up to $350 cash back per week from your spending on personal toll trips.
Registration discount for private vehicles
The NSW Government will be implementing a one-off discount of $100 on the annual registration for all privately registered light motor vehicles, and $80 for privately registered motorcycles. The discount will begin from 1 September this year and will apply for a 12-month period (until 31 August 2027).
MoneySmart - buying and running a car
MoneySmart can help you work how much it will cost to buy and run a car.
The Green Vehicle Guide helps you compare average annual fuel costs for a range of vehicles and understand your car’s environmental impact. It also has tips to help you use less fuel.
Electric vehicles are more expensive to buy but cheaper to run. Learn more about the benefits of owning one, and the different types that are available. Use the total cost of ownership calculator to work out how much you could save if you buy an EV.
MoneySmart tells you how to choose the right car insurance for your needs and get the best deal for your money. It also explains the types of insurance to watch out for, and how to get a
Australian Taxation Office - work related car expenses calculator
Calculate the deduction you can claim for work-related car expenses in your tax return.
Good Shepherd – no-interest loans
Unexpected car repairs or car registration due? A no-interest loan offers people on low incomes access to credit. There are no fees, and you only pay back what you borrow. You should perform your own research before entering into a loan agreement.
Carpooling and car sharing
Here are some ways you can access a car without needing to buy and maintain one.
Carpooling
Find someone going your way by searching online for carpool sites and rideshare apps. If you’re the driver and willing to offer someone a lift, you can charge a fare per seat.
Car-sharing
If you live in the inner-city and drive less than 5000km a year, car-sharing may be for you. Choice compares car-sharing with car ownership to help you work out the overall costs.
Rental car relocations
Car rental companies often need to relocate vehicles to other cities. You can get free or cheap rental cars and campervans if you’re willing to drive them to the required location within a certain timeframe. You may need to pay for your own fuel. Try searching online for ‘rental car relocation Australia’.
Ways to save on fuel
These small changes can help reduce your fuel costs.
Drive efficiently. Slow your acceleration and coast down hills when you can – you’ll use less fuel and it’s better for your car and the environment. The Green Vehicle Guide has more tips to reduce your emissions.
Set the correct tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres can cause your car to use more fuel and can also make it handle poorly.
Get your car serviced regularly. It will prolong the life of the motor and improve the car’s fuel economy.
Wind your windows down. Air conditioning can increase fuel use by up to 10%. If you’re driving under 80km/h, turn off the air conditioning and open the window instead. If you're going faster than 80km/h, it's more economical to use the air conditioning system. That’s because opening your windows will create extra drag and increased resistance.
Consider carpooling. Can you team up with another person making the same trip? You may be able to use transit lanes to improve trip times if you have the right number of passengers.
Walk or ride on short trips. Frequent short trips in your car can reduce fuel economy because your engine doesn't operate efficiently until it’s warmed up. For shorter journeys, try walking or riding a bike or scooter (if you’re able to).
Public transport
Find ways to save on public transport costs and check if you’re eligible for a travel allowance.
Opal fare increase freeze
Opal fares will remain unchanged for the next 12 months following a decision by the NSW Government to freeze Opal fare increases to help households dealing with cost-of-living pressures.
Find out how to maximise your travel benefits and get free or capped fares when using an Opal card to pay for public transport in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra.
Plan your travel in NSW using Trip Planner. Check timetables and travel alerts and find information on stations, stops, wharves and travelling to events. For tips on using Trip Planner, visit the instructions and planning guides page.
On-demand public transport service
On Demand is a flexible public transport service designed to pick you up from home or an easy-to-access location and take you where you need to go. There are On Demand services operating around NSW. You might earn travel credits when you transfer between Opal and On Demand services.
Services Australia – fares allowance
The fares allowance helps tertiary students with the cost of travelling between their home and place of study in Australia. To be eligible, you must also get the youth allowance, Austudy or pensioner education supplement.
Services Australia – mobility allowance
The Mobility Allowance can help with travel costs for work, study or looking for work if you have a disability, illness or injury that prevents you from using public transport.
Bikes, e-bikes and scooters
Reduce the cost of travel by riding a bike or scooter for all or part of your trip.
You can park your bike for free in a covered shed or rented bike locker if you plan to take a train, bus or ferry in Sydney and surrounding areas Find a bike shed or locker near you.
E-bikes and e-scooters are growing in popularity. They’re cheap to charge when compared with the public transport costs and make hills and everyday trips much easier to navigate. Learn more about the safety and road rules e-bikers need to follow.
Bike-sharing and scooter-sharing schemes
E-bike and e-scooter apps and bike-share schemes are an affordable way to enjoy the benefits of riding without the investment. Try searching online for ‘bike share near me’ or check your local council’s website for more information. You must comply with the NSW road rules for bicycle riders.
Crisis support
A crisis can be sudden and life changing, but you do not need to go through it alone. There are support services available if you need help when times get tough.
Learn more about where to get help at our Crisis support page.