EU road toll increases start in Germany

Increases in HGV road toll charges in Germany, which includes an additional CO2 emissions tax of €200 per tonne began on the 1st December 2023 and for vehicle combinations with a gross vehicle weight of up to 40 tons, prices will increase by almost 86% – giving 35.4 cents per kilometre.

The German MAUT, officially known as the Infrastructure Usage Charge or Levy, was introduced to finance and maintain Germany’s highway infrastructure.

Funding is therefore paid not only by German carriers, but all those delivering, collecting or transiting the country, with the increase in freight prices passed on by the hauliers to their customers.

Depending on the vehicle weight capacity, number of axles and the emission class there will be an increase in German MAUT ( Toll ) of circa €0.158 per km.  Therefore, if transiting through Germany from the Netherlands border to Poland, a distance of circa 700 kms using the Toll roads, this is an increase of circa €110.00 per trip. 

The 1st December was the start date for trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tons, while from 1st July 2024 the German Maut system will be expanded to include vehicles with a technically permissible total weight of 3.5 tons or more.

The toll is a fixed government tax and will be charged as a cent amount per kilometre driven. In particular, the CO2 emission class, the weight, the number of axles and the pollutant class of a vehicle have an influence on the amount of the surcharge.  

On the 1st October 2023, there was a 17.6% increase in the cost of the Hungarian toll system, while Austria and the Czech Republic are raising tolls in January and March 2024, following Germany’s Maut increase. 

Austria’s tolls will increase by 20-30%, and the Czech Republic’s tolls will increase by 10-15%

The toll increases are a result of an EU directive to introduce road tolls based on CO2 emissions and ALL member states are tasked with implementing such a system by the 24th March 2024 at the latest.

Metro’s road freight teams are located close by major manufacturing and transport hubs in Birmingham, Desford and Wythenshawe.

To learn more about our expanded European capability, including our Customs Brokerage (CuDoS), European Distribution (EU/DDP), short-sea services and intermodal solutions, EMAIL Richard Gibbs.