Toll Roads in New Zealand with a Rental Car

Where are the toll roads in New Zealand?

• Northern Gateway Toll Road — State Highway 1 between Ōrewa and Pūhoi, about 30–40 minutes north of central Auckland. You’ll use it on the way to Northland and the Bay of Islands.
• Tauranga Eastern Link — State Highway 2 east of Tauranga, towards Te Puke and Whakatāne.
• Takitimu Drive Toll Road — on the western side of Tauranga.

Each toll road is clearly signposted before you reach it, and by law each one has a free alternative route if you’d rather avoid it — it usually just takes a little longer.

How do I pay a toll in a rental car?

There are no booths and no cash — a camera records the number plate. You have two options:

1. Pay it yourself online on the NZTA website, using the car’s registration number. You can pay before you travel or afterwards; NZTA doesn’t take enforcement action if a casual trip is paid within five working days.
2. Let the rental company handle it. Some companies pay the toll for you and add it to your bill, often with an administration fee. Some include tolls in a package. Check the Rental Terms so you don’t pay twice.

Double-check the plate before you pay — paying for the wrong registration doesn’t clear the trip you actually made.

What happens if I forget to pay?

An unpaid toll goes to the registered owner — the rental company — as a toll payment notice with an extra administration fee. The rental company then passes that cost on to you, usually with its own handling fee on top. A toll of a few dollars can end up costing much more, so it’s worth paying within five working days.

Quick checklist

• Note your car’s registration at pick-up (it’s on the windscreen label and your agreement).
• Ask the desk: “Do you pay tolls, and is there a fee?”
• If you pay yourself, do it the same day and keep the receipt email.
• Keep receipts until your final rental invoice arrives, in case the company was charged too.