Gunnar45

Sorry for a maybe stupid question, but I don't quite understand the new system with the cashless payment of road tolls for the expressways as well as the Penang bridges.

I am informed that the Penang bridge toll and some other road tollss no longer can be paid in cash.
So, how to proceed now when you are a very infrequent traveller??
As I understand, a Touchngo card needs to be purchased and loaded with a suitable amount of money and then be used.
BUT, for the infrequent traveller this seems to be a much more complicated and expensive option or am I wrong here, assuming that:
1. I need to load the card with a minimum amount so I will always need to have a surplus on the card.
2. I must use the card regularly to not let it expire.

Is there a way of finding out which roads now are 'cashless'?
If one is going from Penang Island to say Cameron Highlands, are there any cashless only road toll stations, except returning over the bridge? (One could still take the ferry and pay 7.70 in cash)
I have searched the web, but is seems difficult to get any straight clarification there. Or maybe I am not very effective in searching....

Last time when crossing from mainland to Penang Island I was sold a 'PLusmiles' card for RM 10. Not sure if I want to keep it, unless of course it is mandatory if one wants to drive on the expressways....

ex reg

I use TouchnGo on the NS Highway when driving to Malacca and Desaru and last year up to Ipoh.
Quick easy and simple. Been using them for years.

But when we were up in Penang recently and hired a car to drive over the two bridges I didn't have my 3 TnG cards with me, left them at home.
So bought and loaded up a new one.

It's peanuts to buy and use.

And if it's like my 3 older TnG cards it doesn't have to be used regularly.
I use them maybe every 6 months.

Scuba Tyke

We use Touch N Go cards regularly now, the main incentive for me was beating the queues in the 'cash only' lanes on the highways. They must be used a minimum of once every 12 months or they expire.

CIMB bank do one that you can set up to automatically reload from your account once they reach a pre-determined level. We find them very useful and can be increasingly used for other payments; car parking at KLIA being one example.

PoolieAbroad

It seems they are heading to the point where every toll road will be cashless. But no worries you can spend with the card in many establishments.
If you have a new Tesco Clubcard it is also a TnG card.
From memory when we had a card 'die' they told us we needed to top up at least very 12 months or you go through all sorts of hoops to bring it back to life. The card automatically dies after 10 years.

Gunnar45

Thanks for the responses.
Yes, no doubt that the cashless option is coming fast, so one has to be prepared.
I guess the CIMB option would be the easiest for me, but still a hassle due to that we rarely cross the bridge....

columbine

If you already have the old Tesco card it's only a few ringgit to get a new one with T&G function. Watson's new card also has the T&G function. Handy for Gurney and Paragon parking ;-)

Gunnar45

columbine,
Thanks for that, will check at Tesco when I visit next time.
Assume I can top up there as well?

columbine

No, not at Tesco. Most
7-11 and Happy Mart shops. I went to 7-11 at Fettis Park first, the guy tried but couldn't get it done. Walked down to Happy Mart and no problem there.

Gunnar45

Thanks for that info.

JC3

Other than road tolls I use Touchngo at the Gurney Paragon mall and Gurney Plaza mall carparks in Penang. Very convenient. I top up at one of the Sam's Groceria branches at Gurney Paragon or Straits Quay.

JC3

Shih

I top up my TAG card at CIMB ATM machines (look for machine with Touch and Go logo). FOC for CIMB customers.

I presume U can do it with other banks as well.

columbine

I don't feel safe linking the TnG card to bank acc. Maybe I'm paranoid esp in M'sia.I'd rather go and top up rm100 each time it gets to rm20 which is the minimum you need in the card for parking at Gurney and Paragon ( saw a notice some where in parking area regarding the rm20). The rm100 lasted me a long time for parking. I went to top it up for trip to KL and that was enough even for return trip.

columbine

Great Sam can do it! thanks for info JC3

eCdD

Almost every 7-11, KK Mart and other small shops can do the top up. So far I did it only there.

Here in the KL area it now is almost everywhere cashless payment for the road tolls.

teejaydee

So do I. They do make a small charge for this. They will give you a receipt showing balance details, so you know how many RMs are stored on the card.

Somebody told me it is possible to top-up at the toll booths, but I have never done that. If this is true, it saves any worry of finding you have an insufficient balance on the card when at the toll. I was told I would need to park the car, go inside the office and do the top-up.