EU Road Tolls Explained: Country-by-Country Guide for Truck Operators (2026)

If you run trucks across Europe in 2026, tolls are no longer a line item you can glance at and forget. With Poland hiking e-TOLL rates by 40–42% in February , Austria introducing new CO2-linked charging tiers, and the Netherlands launching an entirely new kilometre-based truck toll on July 1, EU road tolls for trucks have become one of the fastest-rising cost components in European freight. According to Girteka, tolls now account for around 14% of total freight costs — and up to 23% on certain single-trip routes . In Austria and Hungary, toll costs per kilometre have already surpassed fuel costs . This guide breaks down the toll rates, systems, and CO2 rules you need to know for every major European freight market in 2026.

How EU Road Tolls Work: The Basics for Freight Operators

Before diving into country-specific rates, it helps to understand the two main toll models used across Europe and why they are converging fast.

The first model is distance-based tolling, where trucks pay per kilometre driven. Germany (Maut), Austria (GO Maut), Poland (e-TOLL), the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, and — from July 2026 — the Netherlands all use this approach. The rate typically varies by the vehicle's emission class, number of axles, and weight category. The second model is concession-based tolling, used primarily in France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, where private concessionaires operate specific motorway stretches and charge per section or per distance on that corridor.

The EU's revised Eurovignette Directive is pushing all member states toward distance-based, CO2-linked tolling. On March 4, 2026, the EU Council agreed on a negotiation mandate for targeted amendments to clarify CO2 definitions and set uniform implementation timelines. By 2026, 17 EU member states will have distance- or time-based tolls varied by CO2 emissions, covering an estimated 62% of all EU truck activity. The era of flat vignettes for heavy goods vehicles is ending.

A critical concept to understand is CO2 emission classes. Under the Eurovignette framework, trucks are classified into five CO2 classes (Class 1 being the most polluting, Class 5 being zero-emission). From July 1, 2026, new CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles take effect, directly influencing how road charges are calculated. The cleaner your fleet, the less you pay — and the gap between Class 1 and Class 5 rates is substantial across every major market.

EU Road Tolls by Country: 2026 Rates for Trucks

Here is what freight operators pay in each major European market. All rates below apply to trucks over 3.5 tonnes unless otherwise noted.

Germany (LKW-Maut)

Germany operates one of Europe's most expensive and extensive truck toll systems, managed by Toll Collect . All vehicles over 3.5 tonnes used for freight transport must pay on the entire federal motorway network plus designated federal roads — roughly 52,000 km of tolled roads.

Rates: €0.19–€0.35 per km depending on CO2 emission class, number of axles, and weight category. The toll comprises an infrastructure charge, an air pollution and noise surcharge, and a CO2 surcharge of €200 per tonne of CO2 . For a typical 5-axle Euro VI truck in the heaviest weight class, expect roughly €0.19–€0.21/km. For older Euro V vehicles, rates climb toward €0.27–€0.35/km. Tolls account for up to 15% of a truck's total cost of ownership in Germany.

Zero-emission vehicles: From January 1, 2026, zero-emission HDVs receive a 75% reduction on the infrastructure component , paying roughly €0.07–€0.09/km on the heaviest axle configurations.

System: Automatic via OBU (On-Board Unit) or manual booking through the Toll Collect portal.

Austria (GO Maut)

Austria's ASFINAG-operated GO Maut applies to all motorways and expressways for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. It is currently the most expensive per-kilometre toll system in Europe for conventional diesel trucks.

Rates: From January 1, 2026, rates range from €0.0577/km for zero-emission 2-axle vehicles up to €0.6127/km for emission class 1 vehicles in the heaviest configurations. A standard Euro VI 4+ axle truck pays approximately €0.41–€0.53/km. The total rate combines an infrastructure charge (differentiated by CO2 class), an air pollution and noise surcharge (by Euro emission class), and a CO2 emission surcharge. Austria also levies special tolls on certain Alpine routes (Brenner Pass, Tauern tunnel, Arlberg tunnel).

Zero-emission vehicles: Electric and hydrogen-powered trucks pay only 25% of the standard infrastructure rate.

System: GO-Box OBU, available at motorway service stations and online.

Poland (e-TOLL)

Poland's e-TOLL system saw two consecutive increases in early 2026 : a 4–6.6% indexation on January 1 followed by the major 40–42% rate hike on February 1. The tolled network simultaneously expanded to approximately 5,869 km , adding around 645 km of newly tolled roads including sections of the A2 motorway and selected expressways.

Rates: For the heaviest Euro 6 vehicle, the motorway rate is approximately PLN 0.56/km (roughly €0.13/km at current exchange rates). Rates vary by weight category (3.5–12t and 12t+), Euro emission class, and road type (motorway vs. national road). Despite the sharp increase, Poland's Ministry of Infrastructure notes that average rates remain among the lowest in the EU.

System: GPS-based via the e-TOLL app, OBU, or external toll service providers (DKV, Eurowag, etc.).

Netherlands (Vrachtwagenheffing) — Launching July 1, 2026

The Netherlands is replacing the annual Eurovignette (€1,250/year per truck) with a new kilometre-based truck toll from July 1, 2026 . This is a fundamental change: instead of a flat annual fee regardless of distance, every kilometre driven on Dutch roads — including local and regional roads — will be charged.

Rates: Range from €0.022/km for light, low-emission vehicles (CO2 Class 5) to €0.425/km for heavy Euro 0 trucks (CO2 Class 1) . A typical Euro 6 truck over 32,000 kg will pay €0.172–€0.175/km. This is a significant cost increase for carriers that run high mileage in the Netherlands.

System: OBU-based, with CO2 class and weight determining the rate.

Czech Republic (Mýtný systém)

From January 1, 2026, the Czech Republic introduced a new toll price list with increases of 0.7–1.5% on motorways but dramatically higher jumps on Class I roads — up to 41.8% for certain vehicle categories. The system covers motorways, expressways, and selected Class I roads for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.

Rates: Approximately CZK 2.09–5.86/km (€0.08–€0.23/km) depending on the road type, Euro emission class, and number of axles. Motorway rates remain moderate compared to Germany and Austria, but the Class I road increases hit carriers using alternative routes particularly hard.

System: Satellite-based OBU via CzechToll.

Belgium (Kilometre Charge)

Belgium operates a distance-based truck toll for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, covering all motorways, national roads, and some regional roads across Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. In January 2026, rates were indexed by +1.91% based on August 2025 consumer prices.

Rates: Approximately €0.074–€0.20/km depending on Euro emission class, weight, and region. The three Belgian regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) charge different rates for the same road types, adding complexity for cross-country routes.

System: OBU via Viapass (Satellic, Axxès, or Telepass providers).

France (Péage)

France uses a concession-based toll system on most autoroutes, operated by companies like VINCI Autoroutes and Sanef. Trucks over 3.5 tonnes or over 3 metres tall fall into toll Classes 3 and 4. The average toll increase in 2026 was 2.8% , effective February 1.

Rates: Variable by route — there is no single national per-km rate. As a rough benchmark, a 5-axle truck pays approximately €0.15–€0.30/km on typical autoroute corridors, but rates vary significantly between concessionaires and routes. The Paris–Lyon corridor and Alpine tunnels (Fréjus, Mont Blanc) carry premium tolls.

System: Telepass (automatic) or manual payment at toll plazas.

Italy, Spain, and Portugal

These three countries all use concession-based tolling on motorways. Italy's Autostrade system charges trucks approximately €0.10–€0.22/km depending on the route, with Alpine tunnels and the Brenner Pass corridor commanding premium rates. Spain's toll motorways (autopistas) charge variable rates, though many former toll roads have been freed from charges in recent years; remaining toll corridors charge approximately €0.08–€0.18/km. Portugal's Via Verde system covers all motorways, with rates for heavy vehicles varying by route.

By the Numbers: Toll Costs Compared Across EU Countries

Note: Rates shown are indicative ranges for standard Euro VI 5-axle trucks. Actual costs depend on specific axle configuration, weight, emission class, and route. Source data compiled from [trans.info](https://trans.info/en/higher-tolls-2026-445921), [impargo](https://impargo.de/en/blog/austria-truck-tolls-go-box-rates), [Girteka](https://www.girteka.eu/how-tolls-affect-road-transportation-prices-europe/), and official toll operator websites.

What the Eurovignette Directive Means for Your Toll Costs

The revised Eurovignette Directive is the regulatory engine behind this continent-wide shift. Its core requirements include mandatory CO2-based toll variation for all new or renewed concessions, phase-out of time-based vignettes for heavy goods vehicles (the Netherlands is the latest to comply), and the obligation to earmark external-cost charges (air pollution, noise, CO2) separately from infrastructure charges.

The March 4, 2026 Council mandate for targeted amendments aims to clarify how CO2 classes interact with the new heavy-duty vehicle CO2 emission standards taking effect July 1, 2026. This means the toll differentiation between clean and dirty vehicles will widen further in the coming years.

For carriers operating older Euro V fleets, the financial incentive to upgrade is now compounding: not only do older trucks burn more fuel, they also pay significantly higher tolls in every CO2-linked market. On the Germany–Austria corridor alone, the toll differential between a Euro V and a Euro VI truck can exceed €0.10/km — adding hundreds of euros per round trip.

How to Manage Rising EU Road Toll Costs: Practical Checklist

1. Know your CO2 class for every vehicle. Under the Eurovignette framework, each truck is assigned a CO2 emission class (1–5). Register every vehicle correctly with each country's toll provider — misclassification means overpaying or risking fines.

1. Use a multi-country toll service provider. Services like DKV, Eurowag, UTA, or Telepass consolidate billing across multiple EU toll systems into one account, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring compliance.

1. Factor tolls into every rate quote. With tolls reaching 14–23% of freight costs, include explicit toll pass-through clauses in your contracts. Use corridor-specific toll calculators — free tools from impargo and Toll Collect calculate precise costs by route.

1. Re-evaluate routes after the 2026 rate changes. Poland's 40% toll hike and the Czech Republic's Class I road increases may shift the cost calculus for Central European corridors. Run cost comparisons between motorway and national road alternatives.

1. Prepare for the Netherlands' July 1 launch. If you run trucks into or through the Netherlands, register for the Vrachtwagenheffing system before July 2026. The shift from a flat €1,250/year vignette to per-km charging will increase costs for high-mileage operators and reduce costs for those with occasional Dutch trips.

1. Budget for annual increases. Most EU toll systems are indexed annually — Belgium uses consumer price indexation, France adjusts in February, and Poland has now demonstrated willingness to make above-inflation hikes. Build a 3–5% annual toll cost escalation into your multi-year budgets.

1. Audit toll invoices monthly. Incorrect axle detection, wrong emission class assignments, and system errors are common. Cross-reference toll invoices against trip records to catch overcharges.

1. Consider fleet electrification economics. With Germany offering a 75% toll reduction for zero-emission trucks and Austria charging only 25% of the standard rate, the toll savings alone can materially improve the business case for electric heavy-duty vehicles on high-toll corridors.

1. Use [logifie.com/fuel](https://logifie.com/fuel) to monitor fuel costs alongside tolls. When fuel and tolls are both rising — as they are in Q1 2026 — you need real-time visibility into both cost drivers to price correctly and protect margins.

1. Check [public holiday schedules](https://logifie.com/holidays) before route planning. Some toll systems offer reduced rates during off-peak hours, and planning around weekend driving bans can affect which toll corridors you need to use.

FAQ

How much are road tolls for trucks in Europe?

EU road tolls for trucks vary widely by country. In 2026, rates range from around €0.05/km in Poland to over €0.53/km in Austria for high-emission vehicles. On average, tolls account for approximately 14% of total freight costs across Europe, though this figure can reach 23% on toll-heavy single-trip routes like Austrian Alpine corridors, according to Girteka research .

Which European country has the highest truck tolls?

Austria currently has the highest per-kilometre truck toll rates in Europe. A standard heavy goods vehicle pays approximately €0.53/km on Austrian motorways — more than five times the rate on comparable Polish motorways. Germany follows as the second most expensive major market at €0.19–€0.35/km, with the gap driven largely by Germany's €200/tonne CO2 surcharge.

Are electric trucks exempt from tolls in Europe?

Electric trucks are not fully exempt in most countries, but they receive substantial discounts. Germany offers a 75% toll reduction on the infrastructure charge for zero-emission HDVs (resulting in ~€0.07–€0.09/km). Austria charges electric trucks just 25% of the standard rate. The Netherlands' new system from July 2026 starts at just €0.022/km for the lightest zero-emission vehicles. These reductions significantly improve the total cost of ownership for electric fleets on toll-heavy routes.

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