Upcoming changes to tolling in NSW are expected to create more pressure for rental car operators, especially those managing multiple locations, high vehicle movement or larger fleets.
From July, NSW tolling changes are expected to shift more responsibility onto vehicle owners and registered operators when tolls remain unpaid. The NSW Motorways letter highlights that rental, fleet, taxi and rideshare operators may need to review internal processes, customer agreements and toll recovery policies.
For rental car businesses, this means toll management can no longer sit as a slow, manual back-office process. Operators need a faster, more reliable way to match tolls to the right vehicle, rental agreement and customer.
Why this matters for rental operators
Toll recovery can quickly become complicated.
A vehicle may move between locations, be hired by different customers and travel across multiple toll roads before the charges appear. When this is managed manually, staff often need to check notices, search rental records, contact customers and follow up payment.
That creates extra admin, delayed recovery and potential customer disputes.
With the new NSW changes, rental operators need clearer systems for managing toll activity across the business. NSW is the immediate focus, but similar changes may also follow in other states such as Queensland and Victoria.
How RCM Tolling Automation can help
RCM Tolling Automation is designed specifically for rental car businesses.
It helps operators reduce manual toll processing, match tolls to the correct rental agreement and improve visibility across vehicles, customers and locations.
For businesses with multiple branches, this gives teams a more consistent process instead of relying on manual follow-up at each location.
RCM can help rental operators:
- Reduce toll administration
- Match tolls to the right rental agreement
- Recover toll costs more efficiently
- Improve visibility across branches and vehicles
- Reduce manual follow-up and customer disputes
- Support a more consistent toll recovery process
Adding VostroPay for simpler collection management
RCM customers can also benefit from VostroPay, an Australian payments company and related entity to RCM.
Because RCM and VostroPay work closely together, rental operators can connect tolling workflows with secure payment collection. This can help simplify how businesses manage payments across bookings, tolls and infringements.
VostroPay supports secure card-on-file tokenisation, using the same type of tokenised payment approach that can support booking payments, tolls and infringements. This means businesses can move away from manual card handling and use encrypted card tokens for approved future charges.
This helps simplify collection management while reducing risk.
Safer payments and local support
Manual card handling can increase risk for rental operators. It also places pressure on staff to manage sensitive customer payment information correctly.
VostroPay helps reduce this risk through secure tokenised payments, adaptive fraud and risk management, and optional 3D Secure 2.0.
It also supports next business day settlement, helping operators receive funds faster without needing to understand payment industry terms such as “T+1”.
Another key advantage is local support. VostroPay is an Australian payments company, which means rental businesses can work with a local team that understands the market and works closely with RCM.
Admin fees and service fees for toll recovery
As toll recovery becomes more complex, rental operators may also need to review how they charge for the administration involved in managing tolls.
Rather than focusing on merchant surcharges, which are set to be banned on Visa, Mastercard and eftpos transactions from 1 October 2026, operators may wish to consider clearly structured service or administration fees for toll recovery where appropriate. The Reserve Bank of Australia has confirmed that card surcharging on debit and credit cards should end from 1 October 2026.
This allows rental businesses to recognise the time, systems and administration involved in managing tolls, while keeping payment processing simple and transparent for customers.
Payment links directly from RCM
Not every toll or infringement recovery process needs to happen automatically.
With VostroPay, operators can also send invoices and payment links directly from RCM. This gives customers a simple way to pay, while keeping the process connected to the rental system instead of relying on a separate third-party portal.
For staff, this can mean fewer manual steps and a cleaner payment workflow.
Preparing now will reduce pressure later
The NSW changes are a timely reminder for rental operators to review tolling, payment collection and customer agreement processes.
RCM Tolling Automation, combined with VostroPay, can help rental car businesses save time, reduce admin, improve toll recovery and support a more secure payment experience.
For operators with multiple locations, this is especially important. A consistent, automated process can help teams manage tolls with more confidence across the whole business.
RCM can help rental car businesses get ready for the changes and build a stronger tolling process for the future.