Cost to drive from East London to Johannesburg
Toll fees effective 1 March 2026 · Fuel: R23.36/L inland (updated 2026-04-01)
Toll cost
R 197,50
Fuel cost
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Total trip cost
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See your exact fuel cost and total trip price.
Toll breakdown
Class I (standard car) · mainline plazas only · effective 1 March 2026
| VerkeerdevleiKroonstad – Bloemfontein | R 78,50 |
| VaalLouisrus – Kroonstad | R 91,50 |
| GrasmereArmadale – Louisrus | R 27,50 |
| Total tolls | R 197,50 |
Return trip: R 395,00 in tolls · Source: foresightpublications.co.za
How does your vehicle compare?
Select a row to use that vehicle · tolls are the same for all · WLTP figures
| Vehicle | Fuel / Elec. | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo | R 1 191,03 | R 1 388,53 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 1 438,23 | R 1 635,73 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 1 797,79 | R 1 995,29 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 1 910,15 | R 2 107,65 |
| Ford Ranger | R 1 820,26 | R 2 017,76 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 1 505,65 | R 1 703,15 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 1 393,28 | R 1 590,78 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 1 752,84 | R 1 950,34 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 966,31 | R 1 163,81 |
| Tesla Model 3 | R 388,45 | R 585,95 |
| Tesla Model Y | R 440,59 | R 638,09 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 398,87 | R 596,37 |
Toll gates on the N6, N1 from East London to Johannesburg
Mainline toll plazas only — ramp tolls apply to specific exits and are not included in the total.
| Plaza | Class I fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Verkeerdevlei | R 78.50 | ||
| Vaal | R 91.50 | ||
| Grasmere | R 27.50 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 197.50 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — East London to Johannesburg
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 1523
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 1771
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 1411
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 1186
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 1411
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 2018
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 1389
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 1636
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 2018
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 1501
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 1366
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 1478
Tips for saving money on this trip
Fuel economy matters more than tolls on longer routes. A Polo 1.0 TSI uses about 38% less fuel than a Fortuner over the same distance. On the East London to Johannesburg trip (962km), that difference can be R200–R500 depending on the vehicle.
Tyre pressure and speed have a measurable effect. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel use by up to 3%. Driving at 110km/h instead of 120km/h can reduce fuel consumption by 10–15% on a highway trip.
Toll payments. All major toll plazas on this route now accept contactless tap-and-go card payments — no need to keep cash. E-tags (Sanral e-toll) no longer apply in Gauteng as the e-toll system was scrapped.
Other popular routes from Gauteng
Frequently asked questions
What is the toll cost from East London to Johannesburg?
R197.50 for a standard car (Class I, one way) as of March 2026. There are 3 mainline plazas — Verkeerdevlei (R78.50), Vaal (R91.50), and Grasmere (R27.50) — all on the N1 north of Bloemfontein. The N6 section from East London to Bloemfontein is completely toll-free.
How far is Johannesburg from East London?
Approximately 962 km via the N6 to Bloemfontein then the N1 north, taking around 10 to 11 hours.
What is the best route from East London to Johannesburg?
The N6 inland highway to Bloemfontein, then the N1 north, is the standard and most direct route. Most drivers stop in Bloemfontein (roughly the 562 km mark) to refuel and rest.