Truck Tolls in Europe 2026: Complete Guide to Road Charges for HGV Transport

European truck tolls are rising across the board in 2026. CO2 surcharges are expanding, the Netherlands is switching from vignette to per-kilometer charging, Poland hiked rates by 40%, and Romania is launching a brand-new distance-based system. If you run freight across Europe, your toll costs just changed.

This guide covers current rates, what changed, and how to calculate your actual costs per route.

Key Takeaways

• Germany remains the most expensive toll country in Europe for trucks, with rates up to €0.348/km for a 5-axle Euro VI vehicle (CO2 Class 1).
• Poland increased e-TOLL rates by 40-42% in February 2026 — the steepest single hike in the EU.
• The Netherlands drops the Eurovignette on July 1, 2026, replacing it with per-kilometer tolling (avg. €0.191/km).
• Romania launches TollRo (distance-based) on July 1, 2026, replacing the flat rovinieta for trucks.
• CO2 emission class now directly affects your toll bill in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary, and soon the Netherlands.
• Zero-emission trucks get 75-100% discounts in Germany (exempt until 2031), Austria (75% off until 2030), and the Netherlands.
• Use NSRoute's free toll calculator to calculate exact toll costs for any European route.

How European Truck Tolls Work in 2026

European countries use three toll models for heavy goods vehicles:

1. Distance-based electronic tolling (most common for trucks)
Charges per kilometer driven. Rate depends on vehicle weight, axle count, emission class, and increasingly CO2 class. Used in: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Portugal.

2. Distance-based physical barriers (toll booths)
Pay per section at motorway exits. Used in: France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Ireland.

3. Time-based vignettes (declining model)
Flat fee for a time period. Being phased out for trucks across Europe due to the revised Eurovignette Directive. Still used in: Sweden, Denmark (transitioning), Luxembourg.

The EU's revised Eurovignette Directive (2022/362) is the driving force behind the shift: it requires member states to base truck charges on actual distance and emissions, not just time on the road.

Toll Rates by Country: The 2026 Numbers

Germany — LKW-Maut (Toll Collect)

Germany has Europe's most complex and expensive truck toll system. Since December 2023, every kilometer is charged across four components: infrastructure, air pollution, noise pollution, and CO2 emissions.

Applies to: All commercial vehicles >3.5t on all federal motorways and trunk roads (~52,000 km).
System: Toll Collect (OBU or automatic GNSS).
Zero-emission vehicles: Exempt until June 30, 2031.

Rates for Euro VI vehicles (CO2 Class 1), effective July 1, 2024:

Rate breakdown example (7.5-12t, Euro VI, CO2 Class 1): Infrastructure: 6.6 ct/km, Air pollution: 1.5 ct/km, Noise pollution: 1.6 ct/km, CO2 emissions: 8.0 ct/km. Total: 17.7 ct/km

Better CO2 class = lower rate. A Euro VI truck in CO2 Class 4 (most efficient) pays €0.188/km for the 12-18t category vs. €0.238/km for Class 1.

Source: Toll Collect, BALM

Austria — GO-Maut (ASFINAG)

Austria uses the GO-Box system on all motorways and expressways, with additional section tolls on Alpine routes (Brenner, Tauern, Arlberg, Karawanken).

Applies to: Vehicles >3.5t on motorways and expressways (~2,249 km).
System: GO-Box (DSRC microwave).

Zero-emission discount: 75% reduction extended until 2030.

Source: ASFINAG GO-Maut

Poland — e-TOLL

Poland delivered the sharpest toll increase in Europe for 2026: a 40-42% hike effective February 1, 2026.

Applies to: Vehicles >3.5t on motorways, expressways, and selected national roads (~5,869 km after Feb 2026 expansion).

Source: e-TOLL official

Czech Republic — Myto CZ

The Czech system uses a CO2 emission class matrix (5 classes) crossed with axle count and road type. Approximate range for Euro VI trucks on motorways: 2 axles ~€0.084/km, 3 axles ~€0.144/km, 4+ axles ~€0.216/km.

France — Peage

France uses concession-based motorway tolls with physical barriers. 2026 increase: Average 0.87% from February 1. Typical rates: approximately €0.18-0.25/km for a standard 5-axle truck. France has NOT yet introduced CO2-based truck toll differentiation.

Italy — Autostrada

Italy charges trucks at toll booths on its motorway network. 2026 adjustment: +1.46% effective January 1. Typical rates: Class 5 (4+-axle truck/trailer) ~€0.12-0.16/km on flat terrain, significantly higher on mountain sections.

Belgium — Viapass

The Netherlands — Vrachtwagenheffing (NEW July 2026)

The Netherlands is dropping the Eurovignette on July 1, 2026 and switching to distance-based per-kilometer tolling.

Romania — TollRo (NEW July 2026)

Romania is switching from the flat-rate Rovinieta to a distance-based TollRo system on July 1, 2026. Draft rates for >12t Euro 6: ~€0.031/km.

Comparison Table: Truck Toll Costs Across Europe (2026)

Approximate toll cost per km for a standard 5-axle, 40t, Euro VI truck on motorways:

The CO2 Surcharge: The Biggest Cost Driver

Germany set the benchmark: €200 per tonne of CO2, adding approximately €0.16/km. This alone increased German truck toll costs by roughly 80%.

Countries with CO2-based toll differentiation (mid-2026): Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium (planned), Hungary, Slovakia, Netherlands (from Jul 2026), Romania (from Jul 2026), Denmark.

Countries WITHOUT CO2 differentiation: France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Greece, Ireland.

A Euro VI truck in the best CO2 class can save 20-25% on German tolls. Over a full year, the difference between CO2 Class 1 and Class 4 can reach €5,000-10,000 per truck.

How to Calculate Your Actual Toll Costs

1. Know your vehicle classification — GVW, axle count, Euro emission class, CO2 emission class.
2. Map your route through toll countries — A typical run (e.g., Rotterdam to Milan) might cross 5 different toll systems.
3. Use a toll calculator — NSRoute calculates toll costs for your exact route across all European countries. Free for basic route planning.
4. Factor tolls into your freight rate — For a 40t Euro VI truck on 1,000 km, tolls range from €100 (Poland-only) to €350+ (Germany-heavy). Alpine routes: €400-600+.

What Changed in 2025-2026: Timeline

FAQ

How much does a truck pay in tolls per km in Germany?

For a standard 40t, 5-axle, Euro VI truck (CO2 Class 1): €0.348/km. Lighter vehicles pay less — a 12-18t truck pays €0.238/km. Better CO2 efficiency (Class 4) reduces the rate to €0.188/km. Zero-emission trucks are fully exempt until June 2031.

Which European country has the highest truck tolls?

Switzerland, by a significant margin. The LSVA charges approximately €0.74-0.95/km for a 40t diesel truck — on ALL roads. Austria is second at ~€0.48/km, Germany third at ~€0.35/km.

Do electric trucks pay tolls in Europe?

Germany fully exempts zero-emission trucks until 2031. Austria offers a 75% discount until 2030. Netherlands (from Jul 2026) charges only €0.035-0.038/km vs. €0.16-0.20 for diesel.

How do I pay truck tolls across multiple European countries?

EETS providers like DKV, UTA, Eurowag, or Telepass offer multi-country OBUs covering 10+ countries with a single device. In practice, most fleets use 2-3 devices.

How can I estimate toll costs before accepting a freight order?

Use NSRoute's route planner — it calculates toll costs for European routes based on your vehicle profile. Free for basic route planning.

Calculate Your Route Tolls Now

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Last updated: April 2026. Toll rates change frequently. Always verify current rates with official toll operators.