---
title: "What happens if you exceed your included data"
description: "How automatic data top-ups work once you go over your plan's included data, and how to turn them off."
url: "https://dev.www.lightningip.com.au/help/mobile/what-happens-exceed-included-data-mobile"
canonical: "https://dev.www.lightningip.com.au/help/mobile/what-happens-exceed-included-data-mobile"
updated: "2026-10-01"
---

# What happens if you exceed your included data

How automatic data top-ups work once you go over your plan's included data, and how to turn them off.

If you use all of your plan's included data before the end of your billing period, your phone keeps working at normal speed. We first use any data in your data bank, and once that's gone too, we automatically add 2GB data top-ups so you can keep using your phone as normal. Top-ups are charged on your next bill.

## The order your data is used

1. Your plan's included data for the month
2. Any data add-ons you've bought, such as a recurring 5GB monthly add-on or a 1GB top-up
3. Your data bank (unused data carried over from earlier months)
4. Automatic 2GB top-ups

This means you're only charged for a top-up once your monthly data and your banked data have both run out.

## How auto top-ups work

- **2GB at a time** - each automatic top-up adds 2GB of data.
- **Only when you need it** - a new top-up is only added once the previous one is used up.
- **Up to 5 per billing period** - you can receive a maximum of five automatic top-ups (10GB) in each billing period.
- **Charged in arrears** - top-ups are charged on the bill after the period you used them in.
- **Unused top-up data is banked** - any top-up data you haven't used by the end of the billing period is banked and carried over to your next period, so you don't lose what you've paid for.
- **Australia only** - auto top-up data can only be used in Australia, not while roaming overseas.
- **Fresh allowance each period** - your included data resets at the start of each billing period, on the 28th.

For example, if you're on a 15GB plan with nothing in your data bank and use 18GB in a billing period, you'll receive two automatic top-ups (4GB). You've only used 3GB of that, so the remaining 1GB is banked for your next period.

For the current price of top-ups, see our [SIM only plans](/services/mobile/sim-only) and [mobile broadband](/services/mobile/broadband) pages.

## Prefer no extra charges?

Automatic top-ups are on by default so you don't lose data unexpectedly. If you'd rather never pay for extra usage, contact us and we'll restrict extra charges on your service. Your data will then stop when you've used your plan's data and your data bank, until your allowance resets on the 28th.

## After five auto top-ups

Once you've used all five automatic top-ups, your data stops until your next billing period. If you need more before then, contact our team to add a 1GB top-up, or a recurring 5GB monthly data add-on.

## Keeping top-up charges down

- **Check your usage** - text BAL to 179 partway through the month to see how much data you've used and your data bank balance.
- **Use Wi-Fi where you can** - at home, at work and anywhere else a trusted network is available.
- **Consider a bigger plan** - if you regularly go over, a larger plan can work out cheaper.

Companion eSIM plans for smartwatches work differently - if your watch uses its 1GB allowance, its data pauses until the next billing period, with no top-ups or extra charges.