New toll rates

December 2023

From December 1, 2023, truck tolls on German roads are set to increase significantly. An additional toll component for traffic-related CO₂ emissions will then come into effect, according to the draft of a "Third Act Amending Toll Regulations" from the Federal Government. The industry's fears that toll rates would almost double have been confirmed.

In carbon dioxide emission class 1, which currently includes the vast majority of trucks, the additional toll surcharge for Euro 6 trucks over 18 tons with three axles will be 12.4 cents, with four axles 13.4 cents, and for trucks with five or more axles 15.8 cents per kilometer, according to the draft. Currently, trucks with four or more axles pay a flat toll of 19 cents per kilometer. This amount will remain unchanged. This will increase the toll burden for these vehicles by 70 and 83 percent per kilometer, respectively. Zero-emission vehicles will initially be exempt from tolls until the end of 2025, the draft continues. Afterward, these trucks will pay a reduced toll rate (75 percent less) for infrastructure costs as well as for external costs such as air pollution and noise pollution.

Smaller trucks will have to pay starting in summer 2024.

The weight limit for tolls is to be lowered from the current 7.5 tons to 3.5 tons as of July 1, 2024. These trucks will then have to pay between 15.1 cents (Euro 6) and 24.8 cents (Euro 1 and lower) per kilometer. So-called tradespeople's vehicles under 7.5 tons are to be exempt from tolls.

In light of the new toll rates and the inclusion of smaller trucks in the toll system, toll revenues are expected to rise from €7.4 billion in 2022 to almost €16.5 billion in 2027, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport. €7.3 billion of the additional revenue is expected to come from the CO₂ toll, and around €1.15 billion from the reduction in the weight limit.

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