Cost to drive from Pretoria to Polokwane
Toll fees effective 1 March 2026 · Fuel: R23.36/L inland (updated 2026-04-01)
Toll cost
R 232,50
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
| PumulaniPretoria – Hammanskraal | R 16,50 |
| CarouselPretoria (N4 junction) – Bela-Bela | R 75,00 |
| KranskopBela-Bela – Mokopane | R 61,50 |
| NylMokopane – Polokwane | R 79,50 |
| Total tolls | R 232,50 |
Return trip: R 465,00 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 359,04 | R 591,54 |
| Volkswagen Golf 8 | R 433,56 | R 666,06 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R 541,95 | R 774,45 |
| Toyota Hilux | R 575,82 | R 808,32 |
| Ford Ranger | R 548,73 | R 781,23 |
| Mercedes-Benz C200 | R 453,88 | R 686,38 |
| BMW 3 Series | R 420,01 | R 652,51 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | R 528,40 | R 760,90 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R 291,30 | R 523,80 |
| Tesla Model 3 | R 117,10 | R 349,60 |
| Tesla Model Y | R 132,82 | R 365,32 |
| BYD Atto 3 | R 120,24 | R 352,74 |
Toll gates on the N1 from Pretoria to Polokwane
Mainline toll plazas only — ramp tolls apply to specific exits and are not included in the total.
| Plaza | Class I fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumulani | R 16.50 | ||
| Carousel | R 75.00 | ||
| Kranskop | R 61.50 | ||
| Nyl | R 79.50 | ||
| Total (one way) | R 232.50 | ||
Source: foresightpublications.co.za · Tariffs effective 1 March 2026 · 3.12% SANRAL CPI adjustment
Cost by vehicle — Pretoria to Polokwane
Select your car to see the exact fuel and toll cost for this route.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
5.9L/100km
R 632
Toyota Corolla Quest
7L/100km
R 707
Toyota Starlet
5.4L/100km
R 598
Suzuki Swift
4.4L/100km
R 531
Suzuki Baleno
5.4L/100km
R 598
Haval Jolion
8.1L/100km
R 781
Volkswagen Polo
5.3L/100km
R 592
Volkswagen Golf 8
6.4L/100km
R 666
Toyota Corolla Cross
8.1L/100km
R 781
Hyundai i20
5.8L/100km
R 625
Kia Picanto
5.2L/100km
R 585
Renault Clio
5.7L/100km
R 619
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 Pretoria to Polokwane trip (290km), 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
How many toll gates are there between Pretoria and Polokwane?
There are 4 mainline toll plazas: Pumulani, Carousel, Kranskop, and Nyl. Total toll cost is R232.50 for a standard car as of March 2026.
How long does it take to drive from Pretoria to Polokwane?
The drive is approximately 290km and takes about 3 hours 15 minutes without stops.
What is the Carousel toll gate?
Carousel is one of the larger toll plazas on the N1 North at R75 for a standard car. It's located near the Carousel Entertainment Centre, just before Bela-Bela.