Short answer: in Germany, every truck with a technically permissible maximum mass over 3.5 t pays a distance-based toll on all motorways and federal roads. The rate depends on the weight class, the number of axles, the pollutant class and the CO2 emission class. A Euro 6 truck over 18 t with five or more axles in CO2 class 1 pays 34.8 cents per km.
Who has to pay
- Vehicles: trucks and vehicle combinations used for freight with a technically permissible maximum mass above 3.5 t. Since 1 December 2023 the technical maximum mass counts, not the registered one.
- Roads: all motorways (Autobahnen) and federal roads (Bundesstraßen), including single-lane sections and town passages.
- Operator: the toll is collected by Toll Collect GmbH on behalf of the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM).
Main exemptions
- buses, police, military, emergency and agricultural vehicles
- vehicles of craftspeople under 7.5 t used for their professional work
- zero-emission trucks (CO2 class 5: battery-electric and hydrogen trucks): the full exemption was extended until 30 June 2031 by the Fourth Act amending toll regulations
How the rate is built
The toll per km is the sum of four parts:
- infrastructure — by weight class and number of axles
- air pollution — by pollutant class (Euro standard)
- noise
- CO2 emissions — by CO2 emission class (1–5), weight class and axles
Rates for Euro 6, CO2 class 1 (cents per km)
These rates apply since 1 July 2024 and are still in use in 2026.
| Weight class | Infrastructure | Air | Noise | CO2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > 3.5 – 7.5 t | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 7.4 | 15.1 |
| 7.5 – 12 t | 6.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 8.0 | 17.7 |
| 12 – 18 t | 10.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 10.0 | 23.8 |
| > 18 t, up to 3 axles | 14.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 12.4 | 30.3 |
| > 18 t, 4 axles | 15.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 13.4 | 32.4 |
| > 18 t, 5+ axles | 15.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 15.8 | 34.8 |
Source: Toll Collect toll rates from 1 July 2024. Older Euro classes pay a higher air pollution component; trucks in better CO2 classes (2–4) pay a lower CO2 component.
Worked example
A Euro 6 tractor-trailer (5 axles, over 18 t, CO2 class 1) drives 500 km on German motorways:
500 km × €0.348 = €174.00 tollThe toll adds €0.348 to every tolled kilometre. With the example costs from our cost per km guide (€1.42 per km without tolls), that is about a fifth of the total cost of each kilometre. If the same trip has 150 km of empty run on tolled roads, those kilometres are charged too.
How the toll is paid
Toll Collect offers three ways: an on-board unit (OBU) that records the kilometres automatically, the Toll Collect app, and manual booking online before the trip. Foreign carriers can use all three.
Tips for dispatchers
- Check the technical maximum mass, not the registered weight. A van or small truck can become toll-liable because of it.
- Know the CO2 class of every vehicle in the fleet. It changes the rate noticeably.
- Calculate the toll per route. Federal roads are tolled too, so a detour off the motorway does not always save money.
Calculate your route
Logist Calculator calculates tolls for Germany and every other European country on the route, for vans up to 3.5 t, trucks up to 7.5 t and 40 t tractor-trailers — together with fuel and your vehicle's fixed costs. The first 10 calculations are free.
Related: How to calculate truck cost per km · Austria GO toll 2026 · Truck driving bans in Germany and Austria
FAQ
From what weight does the German truck toll apply?
From a technically permissible maximum mass of more than 3.5 t.
Is the toll charged on federal roads too?
Yes. The toll applies on all motorways and all federal roads.
Do electric trucks pay toll in Germany?
No. Zero-emission trucks (CO2 class 5) are fully exempt until 30 June 2031.
How much does a 40 t truck pay per km in Germany?
A Euro 6 truck over 18 t with five or more axles in CO2 class 1 pays 34.8 cents per km.
Rates as of September 2026. Check Toll Collect for the current tariff before quoting.