When you're cruising along Australia's toll roads, you're probably thinking about the fees adding up on your account.
But what if we told you these very same roads offer a valuable service that's completely free - one that could save you hundreds of dollars and potentially get you out of a dangerous situation?
A Queensland woman's recent breakdown experience has lifted the lid on a little-known benefit that's been quietly operating on Australian ha toll roads for years. The discovery has left thousands of drivers asking the same question: 'Why didn't anyone tell us about this?'
When help arrives before you even ask for it
Twenty-two-year-old Natasha Pravidur was driving along Brisbane's Logan Motorway when smoke started billowing from her car. After managing to pull over safely, she called her boyfriend to come and collect her, expecting to wait by the roadside.
What happened next surprised her completely. A tow truck pulled over within minutes, and before she could wave it away—fearing the usual $400-500 fee—the driver delivered unexpected news: 'It's free when you're driving along a toll road. You get free roadside assistance.'
Natasha's social media video about the experience has been viewed almost 600,000 times, with thousands of comments from equally stunned Australians. 'Holy cow I had no idea about that!' wrote one viewer, echoing the sentiment of many.
Other drivers also shared experiences: 'I broke down on the M5 once and before I could even make a plan, a free tow truck had arrived … it was completely free.' Another added, 'They even scored free petrol … they filled me up to the top and off I went.'
'I love seeing people being educated on this. I'm an operator for these toll roads/tunnels so I spot you and dispatch the tow trucks to assist.'
What exactly is covered?
The free assistance isn't limited to towing. According to Transurban road safety manager Dr. Karen Steffen, their incident response teams provide complimentary help for breakdowns, flat tyres, loose loads, crashes, and even animal rescues.
The service covers all the basics you'd expect from premium roadside assistance:
- Free towing to the nearest safe location
- Tyre changes (if you have a roadworthy spare)
- Jump-starts and battery assistance
- Emergency fuel (enough to reach the nearest service station)
- Accident response and traffic management
However, it's important to understand the limitations. While you'll receive free assistance, towing is typically only to the nearest safe location—not necessarily to your preferred mechanic or home.
Essential facts about toll road assistance
- Available 24/7 on Transurban toll roads
- Response time typically under 8 minutes
- Covers breakdowns, accidents, flat tyres, and more
- Free towing to nearest safe location (not final destination)
- Emergency fuel provided to reach next service station
- Over 1,500 cameras monitoring for incidents
Which roads offer this lifesaver?
The free roadside assistance is available 24/7 on Transurban toll roads, which operate in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The majority of Australia's toll roads are in Sydney, with additional toll roads in Melbourne, Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba. Most toll roads are partially owned or operated by Transurban.
Source: @tashpravidur / Tiktok/
This means drivers in Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, and Canberra won't have access to this service, as Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and ACT maintain completely toll-free road networks.
For those in the covered states, major toll roads including the M1, M2, M4, M5, M7, and M8 in Sydney, CityLink and EastLink in Melbourne, and various motorways in Brisbane all provide this service.
The technology making it possible
What makes this system particularly impressive is how quickly help arrives. More than 1,500 cameras monitor the toll road network continuously, allowing incident response teams to be dispatched quickly—often arriving on scene in under 8 minutes with safety gear and signage.
Traffic Control Room operators detect incidents within seconds of them occurring, and incident response teams are on the scene within minutes. This rapid response is crucial for safety, particularly on high-speed motorways where a stranded vehicle poses significant risks.
The scale of this operation is remarkable: Transurban incident response teams attend around 1,270 incidents per week across Australia.
How it compares to paid services
For many Australians, particularly those over 60 who may rely on roadside assistance more frequently, this free service represents significant value. Standard NRMA roadside assistance plans range from around $89 to $189 annually, while RACV charges between $99 to $199 per year.
A single callout from a commercial towing service can easily cost $300-500, making even one use of the toll road service potentially worthwhile for regular toll road users.
However, paid services do offer broader coverage and additional benefits like accommodation assistance, hire car contributions, and Australia-wide coverage that extends beyond toll roads.
Stay safe if you break down
If you're experiencing an emergency and need immediate help, call 13 11 11. For toll road assistance specifically, emergency roadside assistance operates 24 hours, 7 days a week.
When you break down on a toll road or any major highway:
- Move left and stay visible: Pull as far left as possible, away from traffic
- Avoid dangerous spots: Don't stop on bends or in areas with poor visibility
- Keep hazard lights on: This alerts other drivers and monitoring systems
- Stay in your vehicle if safe: If you're well clear of traffic, remain inside with your seatbelt on
- Exit carefully if needed: If your car is too close to traffic, exit through the passenger door and stand as far from the road as possible
Important contact numbers
Emergency (life-threatening): 000
General roadside assistance: 13 11 11
Toll road customer service: 13 33 31
Road incident reporting: 131 170
Available 24/7 across participating toll roads in NSW, VIC, and QLD
Why toll roads want to help
The free assistance isn't just about customer service—it's about safety and traffic flow. Broken-down vehicles on busy toll roads create dangerous situations and costly traffic delays.
As one commenter on Natasha's video explained: 'They want to keep the traffic flowing on roads that people pay for. They want you out of there.' This mutual benefit—safety for drivers and smooth operations for toll road operators—makes the service a win-win situation.
Toll roads are equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring technology, with teams monitoring 24/7 for breakdowns, loose loads, accidents, and stray animals. When there's an issue, incident response teams are on the scene within minutes.
The service represents a evolution in how toll road operators view their relationship with customers. Rather than simply collecting fees, they're investing in comprehensive safety and support systems that add genuine value to the toll road experience.
Looking ahead
As toll road networks continue to expand across Australia, this type of comprehensive incident response is likely to become standard. With ongoing toll price adjustments and changes like NSW's $60 weekly toll cap expiring on January 1, 2026, the added value of free roadside assistance becomes even more significant for regular users.
For Australian drivers, particularly those who frequently travel on toll roads or are planning long trips, knowing about this service provides both practical benefits and peace of mind. The key is understanding exactly what's covered and where.
What This Means For You
The next time you're weighing up whether to take a toll road, remember that the fee might include more than just a faster route—it could also include a safety net that's there when you need it most.
What's your experience with toll roads? Have you ever needed roadside assistance, and did you know about this free service? Share your stories and help spread the word to fellow drivers who might benefit from knowing about this hidden perk.
Original Article
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...tml?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
Drivers can get FREE roadside assistance on these Aussie roads
Cited text: ... One of Transurban's incident response officers, Amanda Wells, said dispatch teams are often on the scene in under 8 minutes with safety gear and s...
Excerpt: A tow truck pulled over within minutes, and before she could wave it away—fearing the usual $400-500 fee—the driver delivered unexpected news: 'It's free when you're driving along a toll road.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/drivers-free-roadside-assistance-aussie-022425929.html
Drivers can get FREE roadside assistance on these Aussie roads
Cited text: Transurban road safety manager Dr. Karen Steffen told Yahoo News Transurban's incident response team provides complimentary assistance to motorists in...
Excerpt: The free assistance isn't limited to towing. According to Transurban road safety manager Dr.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/drivers-free-roadside-assistance-aussie-022425929.html
The little-known detail about Australian toll roads that drivers have only just discovered: 'No one ... - Worldnews.com
Cited text: What many don't realise is that roadside assistance is free to all who break down or have an incident on these roads.
Excerpt: While you'll receive free assistance, towing is typically only to the nearest safe location—not necessarily to your preferred mechanic or home.
https://article.wn.com/view/2025/09/02/The_littleknown_detail_about_Australian_toll_roads_that_driv/
Drivers can get FREE roadside assistance on these Aussie roads
Cited text: Complimentary roadside assistance is available 24/7 on linked roads, which exist in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
Excerpt: The free roadside assistance is available 24/7 on Transurban toll roads, which operate in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/drivers-free-roadside-assistance-aussie-022425929.html
Toll roads in Australia—Wikipedia
Cited text: The majority of toll roads in Australia are in Sydney, but there are also toll roads in Melbourne, Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba. Most of the toll r...
Excerpt: The majority of Australia's toll roads are in Sydney, with additional toll roads in Melbourne, Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toll_roads_in_Australia
Australia Toll Roads Complete Guide: E-TAG, Rates & Payment 2025
Cited text: WA, SA, TAS, NT, and ACT maintain completely toll-free networks.
Excerpt: Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and ACT maintain completely toll-free road networks.
https://tollguru.com/australia-toll
Drivers can get FREE roadside assistance on these Aussie roads
Cited text: More than 1500 cameras along the road network are monitored, which allows teams to be quickly dispatched when incidents take place. ... One of Transur...
Excerpt: More than 1,500 cameras monitor the toll road network continuously, allowing incident response teams to be dispatched quickly—often arriving on scene in under 8 minutes with safety gear and signage.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/drivers-free-roadside-assistance-aussie-022425929.html
Safety—Insights hub
Cited text: Our Traffic Control Room Operators detect incident within seconds of it occurring. And an Incident Response Team is on the scene within minutes.
Excerpt: Traffic Control Room operators detect incidents within seconds of them occurring, and incident response teams are on the scene within minutes.
https://insights.transurban.com/safety/
Safety—Insights hub
Cited text: In Australia, Transurban Incident Response Teams attend around 1,270 incidents per week.
Excerpt: Transurban incident response teams attend around 1,270 incidents per week across Australia.
https://insights.transurban.com/safety/
Roadside Assistance Victoria | 24/7 Australia-Wide | RACV
Cited text: If you're broken down now and need immediate help, call 13 11 11.
Excerpt: If you're experiencing an emergency and need immediate help, call 13 11 11.
https://www.racv.com.au/cars-transport/roadside-assistance.html
Contact us—Linkt
Cited text: Emergency roadside assistance operates 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Excerpt: For toll road assistance specifically, emergency roadside assistance operates 24 hours, 7 days a week.
https://www.linkt.com.au/contact-us
Information for our customers | Transurban Group
Cited text: Our roads are equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring technology so if anything happens, we’ll know about it and we’ll respond—fast. We monitor ou...
Excerpt: Toll roads are equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring technology, with teams monitoring 24/7 for breakdowns, loose loads, accidents, and stray animals.
https://www.transurban.com/community-and-sustainability/our-customers
Australia Toll Roads Complete Guide: E-TAG, Rates & Payment 2025
Cited text: 2025 Update: With NSW's $60 weekly toll cap expiring January 1, 2026, and quarterly toll price adjustments continuing across all major operators, unde...
Excerpt: With ongoing toll price adjustments and changes like NSW's $60 weekly toll cap expiring on January 1, 2026,
https://tollguru.com/australia-toll
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