Who should pay for truck tolls in Germany?
Vehicles or road trains (trucks with trailers) with a technically permissible maximum weight of more than 3.5 tonnes that are intended exclusively for road transport or are used for this purpose must pay tolls on German autobahns and federal roads.
In the case of road trains, the obligation to pay road tolls arises only if the technically permissible maximum mass of the vehicle exceeds 3.5 tonnes. The technically permissible maximum mass of the road train is calculated as the sum of the technically permissible maximum loads of the individual vehicles.
In particular, buses, fairground vehicles, self-propelled vehicles, vehicles used for road maintenance and operation, including for cleaning and winter road maintenance, emergency vehicles of the police, fire brigade and other emergency services, zero-emission vehicles, agricultural and forestry vehicles, as well as vehicles for transporting humanitarian goods are not required to pay for travel.
On which roads are there tolls for trucks in Germany?
The Federal Road Research Institute (BASt) publishes the toll road network on the Internet. Federal autobahns and federal roads for which tolls are charged are listed at www.mauttabelle.de . The corresponding routes can also be found in the toll road atlas and on the map of Germany from Toll Collect GmbH .
Truck tolls in Germany
The total amount is calculated based on the distance travelled by the vehicle or road train on the toll roads and the toll rate in cents per kilometre, which includes a share for CO₂ emissions, air pollution, noise pollution and the infrastructure costs incurred. The share for noise pollution and infrastructure costs depends on the number of axles (lifting axles are also taken into account) and the weight class. The share for air pollution depends on the engine emission class. The pollutant class can be used to determine the category that is relevant for calculating the toll.
| Category A | Category B | Category C | Category D | Category E | Category F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of pollutants for which a fee is charged | S6 | S5 | S4 | S3 | S2 | S1 |
| Euro emission class | Euro 6 | Euro 5/EEV 1 | Euro 4 | Euro 3 | Euro 2 | Euro 1 |
In addition, from 1 January 2026, category G will be introduced for more environmentally friendly vehicles than category A vehicles, as well as for zero-emission vehicles. They are not subject to tolls.
From July 1, 2024, the following toll rates in cents per kilometer will apply to Class 1 vehicles with CO2 emissions:
| Up to three axles 3.5 − 7.49 t | Up to three axles 7.5 − 11.99 t | Up to three axles 12 − 18 t | 18 t | Four axles > 18 t | From five axles > 18 t | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 6 | 15,1 | 17,7 | 23,8 | 30,3 | 32,4 | 34,8 |
| Euro 5, EEV 1 | 18,9 | 20,5 | 27,5 | 35,3 | 36,3 | 38,9 |
| Euro 4 | 20,1 | 22,1 | 28,6 | 37,1 | 38,8 | 41,4 |
| Euro 3 | 22,5 | 25,0 | 32,8 | 42,9 | 45,4 | 47,8 |
| Euro 2 | 24,4 | 27,5 | 34,8 | 45,9 | 48,7 | 51,1 |
| Euro 0 and 1 | 24,8 | 27,6 | 35,0 | 48,4 | 51,2 | 51,6 |
The share of the toll for CO2 emissions depends on the CO2 emission class and depends on the engine type. Vehicles in CO2 emission class 5 (electric/hydrogen) will not pay tolls until the end of 2025. All vehicles registered for the first time before 1 July 2019 automatically fall into CO2 emission class 1 (see table above). Vehicles with low CO2 emissions registered for the first time since 1 July 2019 can be assigned to a better CO2 emission class with appropriate proof (registration certificate, CIF, CoC, individual authorization form) and will then pay a slightly lower toll. This must be applied for at Toll Collect GmbH .
Example:
Vehicle with a gross vehicle weight > 18 t, 5 axles, emission class Euro 6:
Toll rates for CO2 emission class 1: 34.8 cents; CO2 emission class 2: 34.0 cents; CO2 emission class 3: 33.2 cents; CO2 emission class 4: 26.9 cents
What is the emission class of my truck?
Trucks registered in Germany (§ 7 of the Toll Ordinance)
Trucks registered in Germany have an emission class specified in the vehicle registration certificate or in Part I of the registration certificate (analogous to our registration certificate) (under number 1 of the vehicle registration certificate or under numbers 14 and 14.1 of Part I of the registration certificate). It is therefore relatively easy to classify these vehicles correctly.
Trucks registered abroad (§ 8 of the Toll Ordinance)
For vehicles subject to tolls but not registered in Germany, proof of the emission class is provided by submitting the documents specified in § 7 para. 2 of the Truck Toll Ordinance (current transport tax payment notification or valid proof of compliance with certain technical, safety and environmental requirements for the vehicle – COP documents or CEMT documents).
If none of the above certificates or conflicting documents are provided for toll vehicles that are not registered in Germany, the following emission class is accepted, depending on the date of the first permit to operate:
| Car registration pen | Predicted pollutant class |
|---|---|
| until October 1, 1993 | no pollution class |
| after September 30, 1993 and before October 1, 1996 | Emission class S 1 |
| after September 30, 1996 and before October 1, 2001 | Emission class S 2 |
| after September 30, 2001 and before October 1, 2006 | Emission class S 3 |
| after September 30, 2006 and before October 1, 2009 | Emission class S 4 |
| after September 30, 2009 and before January 1, 2014 | Emission class S 5 |
| after December 31, 2013 | Emission class S 6 |
The German Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) may at any time require the toll payer to provide proof that the vehicle actually belongs to the emission class with which it was registered or stored in the on-board computer. This can be confirmed by an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or by special documents (COP document, CEMT documents).
How do I enter routes and pay tolls in Germany?
Routes can be entered into the toll system in the following ways:
Using a device installed in the truck, the so-called On-Board Unit (OBU)
Log in via the Internet or via the app
Automatic login using OBU
In order to be able to pay tolls automatically, an OBU must be installed in the truck. The OBU itself costs nothing, but its installation must be paid for by the company; it remains the property of Toll Collect GmbH. When automatically logged in, the OBU uses satellite navigation (GPS) to determine the route traveled and calculate the toll. The data is transmitted to a computer center for processing via mobile communication. The toll is charged monthly and can be paid by fuel card, cashless payment, credit card or credit account.
Main responsibilities of an automatic booking driver:
Check the OBU before and after starting the journey (enter the vehicle data relevant to the toll payment according to the instructions on the display)
Always check that the weight and number of axles are set correctly (take into account changes if a trailer is attached or detached)
Pay attention to the acoustic signals and/or the red LED of the on-board unit (malfunctions!)
If the on-board unit does not work (system malfunction, OBU malfunction), book the motorway section manually (Internet, app or terminal)
If the on-board unit is not installed in the vehicle, you must log in manually before starting the journey.
From December 1, 2023, GVW, the permissible gross vehicle weight (vehicle registration field F.2), is no longer decisive for assignment to a weight category, but tzGm, the technically permissible gross vehicle weight (vehicle registration field F. 1).
Manual booking online or via online app
Registering online or via the app is very easy. Before using the toll roads, you need to book your planned route on the website or in the app. After a successful booking, you will be sent a receipt or booking number.
You can book toll road travel in Germany online here . The app can be found on Google Play (Android) or the Apple Store (iOS) .
The driver’s main responsibilities when booking manually:
Booking before you start using the toll road (possibly 24 hours before you start driving)
have your booking number with you (print, download, email or text)
Stick to your booked route and the specified time window
Rebook/cancel if you need to change your route or exceed the time
Pursuit of defaulters and sanctions (enforcement)
The enforcement of toll obligations is carried out by BALM. There is both automatic control at approximately 900 control bridges and posts, and stationary and mobile control by BALM teams, which also carry out random checks of operations. The uniformed control authorities have the right to stop vehicles and are authorized to collect fines.
The toll payer bears the burden of presenting and proving all facts relating to the payment of the toll. Among other things, BALM collects the necessary input data, analyses the information relevant to the fines and, if necessary, initiates penalty proceedings. If non-payment or partial payment is clearly established, the toll is levied retrospectively and a fine may be imposed (driver from EUR 120.00 to 240.00, business entity from EUR 240.00 to 480.00). If the actual distance travelled cannot be determined, the toll is levied for 500 kilometres. In individual/repeated cases, a fine of up to EUR 20,000.00 may be imposed for violations. Further information on warnings and fines can be found in the special fine catalogue .