The toll helps to make low-emission vehicles more attractive for transport companies. In addition, more and more companies are shifting their cargo transport to more environmentally friendly alternatives such as rail transport or inland watercraft.

Vehicles subject to toll

As per Section 1 paragraph 1 clause 2 Federal Trunk Road Toll Act (BFStrMG), vehicles subject to toll are defined as all motor vehicles or vehicle combinations with a maximum permissible weight (including trailer) more than 3.5 t, which

• are intended for transportation of goods (1st alternative) or

• are being used for this purpose (2nd alternative)

  and

  whose technically permissible maximum laden mass, is more than 3.5 t.

Based on the regulations of the third law to amend tolling law regulations (Bundesgesetzblatt Part I Nr. 315), as of December 1st, 2023 the tolling obligation is no longer determined according to the permitted total weight of the vehicle (entered into part I of the registration certificate under F.2), but rather according to the technically permissible maximum laden mass the vehicle (entered under F.1 in part I of the registration certificate).

Toll must be paid both for solo vehicles with a technically permissible maximum laden mass of more than 3.5 t and for vehicle combinations that have a motor vehicle with a technically permissible maximum laden mass of more than 3.5 t when using federal highways.

Vehicle combinations are only subject to tolling if the motor vehicle has a technically permissible maximum laden mass of over 3.5 t.

The technically permissible maximum laden mass of a vehicle combination is calculated based on the total of technically permissible maximum laden masses for the individual vehicles (motor vehicle and trailer) for the purpose of the HGV toll.

Toll road network

In Germany, the toll requirement applies on all federal trunk roads and federal motorways.

It does not apply to:

1. the section of A 6 motorway from the German / French border to the Saarbrücken-Fechingen junction in both directions,
2. the section of A 5 motorway from the German / Swiss border and the German / French border to the Müllheim/Neuenberg junction in both directions,
3. sections of federal trunk roads for the use of which a toll is levied in accordance with article 2 of the German Private-Sector Funding of Trunk Road Construction Act of 30 August 1994 (Federal Law Gazette, part I, page 2243), as amended.

Since 1 July 2018, the toll requirement also applies on single-lane road sections and through roads.

Calculation of toll rates

Toll rates are based on the distance travelled on a toll road. All toll-liable sections are listed at toll table.

The toll rate per kilometre is composed of four rate components for:

• infrastructure costs
• costs of air pollution
• costs of noise pollution
• costs for traffic-related CO2 emission

The amount of the toll rate depends on the EURO emission class, the CO2 emission class and the vehicle’s weight class, as well as on the number of axles both for vehicles and for vehicle combinations with a technically permissibile maximum laden mass over 18 t.

The following weight classes apply to the components for infrastructure costs, air pollution costs and noise pollution costs:

• more than 3,5 t to 7,49 t
• from 7,5 t to 11,99 t
• from 12 t to 18 t
• more than 18 t with up to 3 axles
• more than 18 t with at least 4 axles.

The following weight classes are differentiated for the component for CO2 emissions:

• more than 3,5 t to 7,49 t
• from 7,5 t to 11,99 t
• from 12 t to 18 t
• more than 18 t with up to 3 axles
• more than 18 t with 4 axles

• more than 18 t with 5 or more axles.

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The following downloads section includes an overview of the individual toll rates, a guide for determining the emission classes of commercial vehicles as well as a leaflet with general information.

Under “toll violations”, you will find information on the subsequent collection of tolls and the punishment of violations of the Federal Trunk Road Toll Act as an administrative offence.

For further information, please refer to the FAQ on HGV tolling.