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HGV toll requirements in Germany
Drive comfortably through Germany with UTA Edenred
Easy toll payment in Germany with UTA Edenred
In 2005, HGV tolls were introduced in Germany as a result of the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act.
Initially it was only levied on motorways or heavily-used federal roads for vehicles weighing at least 7.5 tonnes.
On 1 July 2018, the toll network was expanded and tolls were applied to all federal roads and motorways in Germany.
Who pays the toll?
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All vehicles and trailers over 7.5 tonnes (GVWR).
Where are tolls paid?
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Motorways and federal roads (HGVs over 7.5t)
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Tolled sections of the Herren Tunnel and Warnow Crossing
(Mandatory for all vehicles)
What are the factors for toll collection?
As of 1 January 2019, HGV tolls have been levied in accordance with the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act based on the following factors.
External costs such as noise and air pollution (via pollutant class) are included in the calculation.
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Respective route in kilometres
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HGV pollutant class
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Weight
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Number of axles
Use the link below to review vehicle categories and access a toll calculator
for your personalised kilometre rate.
How are tolls handled?
The toll is collected through an open system comprised of toll bridges on motorways and control columns on federal roads. This is possible through sending toll transaction data via satellite and video analysis of your vehicle’s number plate.
HGV toll rates are based on are the route taken and the vehicle's emissions class, weight and number of axles. You will find an overview of vehicle categories and a toll calculator for your personalised kilometre rate via the link below.
Pay tolls in a few steps
UTA Edenred is your reliable partner for all routes
UTA Edenred is your reliable travel partner in Germany and throughout Europe. We have years of toll experience and help deliver fast, efficient travel on motorways and federal roads. This gives you more time for other things. You can book vignettes for your route, have Toll Collect and UTA One® on-board units installed in your HGVs, or pay tolls. In addition, you'll benefit from attractive terms and conditions.
UTA Edenred keeps you up-to-date with information on HGV tolls on German motorways and federal roads. The collection of the route charge for motor vehicles is carried out via an open system with toll bridges on motorways and control columns on federal roads. This is possible through sending toll transaction data via satellite and video analysis of your vehicle’s number plate.
UTA Edenred advantages at a glance:
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Comprehensive toll services, from registration and installation to billing
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Convenient Postpay billing
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Qualified contact
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Innovative OBUs
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Attractive terms and conditions
Choose your toll solution
UTA acceptance media for tolls in Germany
There are various acceptance media for processing HGV tolls on German motorways and federal roads,
which you can find below. Clink the respective link for more information.
Road tolls
- No fixed installation and removal costs
- Flexible vehicle changeover
- Single, Europe-wide box if you are travelling outside Germany
- Monthly billing
- 12-day payment terms
- Registration via UTA on request, installation via Toll Collect service partner
- Installation costs apply
- Applicable in Germany and Austria (separate activation required)
- Cash-free payment of tolls
- Access other UTA services: repair workshops, vehicle accessories and tyres, roadside assistance, HGV cleaning, etc.
Currently, tolls are not required in Germany for vehicles of other weight classes.
Tolled sections of the Herren Tunnel and Warnow Crossing
• Multiple European toll solutions in one toll box
• Simple vehicle changes
• Parking service
• Clear invoicing
Would you like a tailored offer for handling toll billing in Germany? Simply fill in the form below and we will contact you.
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If you're a UTA customer, please click here:
FAQ
In general, tolls are charged on all vehicles ≥7.5 t. The toll applies to motor vehicles or haulage vehicles with a weight of at least 7.5 tonnes.
The toll rate is determined by the route travelled with or without a trailer on toll roads. The toll rate is in cents per kilometre. It factors in air and noise pollution and infrastructure costs.
The HGV toll was introduced on 1 January 2005. It initially applied to motorways and heavily-trafficked federal roads and has been levied on all federal roads since July 2018.
There are two alternatives:
• If a vehicle is used for road haulage. This results from typical vehicle and body types, as is the case with articulated vehicles or Heavy Goods Vehicles. Vehicles of this type are subject to tolls.
It is irrelevant if the vehicle is on a private journey, goods are being transported, the goods being transported are of a commercial nature or it is travelling on its own account.
• When a vehicle transports goods for payment or operates commercially as defined by the Road Haulage Act. This includes self-propelled working machines and vehicles not meant for transporting goods because of their type and structure.
No. If the HGV is travelling without superstructures and without a trailer coupling during the journey, there is no need to pay a toll.
Road charges can be settled manually via app or the internet, and electronically via OBU.
On 1 August 2012, the legislator defined in the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act how roads must be designed in order to incur tolls.
Based on this, a road may not be a private road and must have two or more lanes per direction or have continuous separate lanes for directional traffic. It does not matter whether the lanes are separated by medians or other structural measures.
Other criteria for toll collection include length - at least 4 kilometres - and direct connectivity to a motorway. Tolls do not apply to local thoroughfares as defined by the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act.
Since the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act was amended in January 2019, it is necessary to set the correct weight class on the on-board unit (OBU).
For HGVs over 18 tonnes, the number of axles must be indicated. If a trailer is uncoupled from the HGV before the journey, the number of axles must be corrected in the OBU.
Motor vehicles that do not fall under the above criteria or vehicles for which legal exemptions apply, such as police, fire brigades, rescue or road cleaning vehicles, are exempt from the toll.
Tax refunds in Germany
As a business owner, you can recover the 19% VAT currently charged on the Herrentunnel and Warnow Crossing. The HGV toll is a sovereign impost and thus not subject to VAT. Through a power of attorney, our service provider can apply for a refund on your behalf. This saves you time and expense, and avoids potential language barriers with the relevant authorities. You'll also increase your liquidity!
Parking with UTA Edenred
UTA parking service in Germany
Use our parking service in numerous truck parks along German motorways and federal roads. In cooperation with parking operators, we offer you the convenient cashless option of settling your parking fees using the UTA Full Service Card. That way, your drivers can meet their rest requirements on time and without stress.
Parking fees are generally refundable. Check your parking fee for a possible VAT refund! We're happy to answer any questions you have.
