Toll in Germany: What car and lorry drivers need to know

In Germany, the toll obligation on motorways and some federal roads primarily concerns heavy goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tonnes. The aim of introducing a lorry toll was to cover the infrastructure costs for road use by heavy goods vehicles. A car toll was discussed but not introduced due to the existing motor vehicle tax. Therefore, toll charges do not apply to cars unless they use toll sections.

Toll roads

In Germany, tolls are only charged on selected routes and in tunnels such as the Warnow Tunnel and the Herren Tunnel.

Toll-charged tunnels in Germany

Warnow Tunnel

The Warnow Tunnel in Rostock connects the districts of Schmarl and Krummendorf, providing a direct link to the harbour and the A19 motorway towards Berlin. The tunnel is open 24/7, allowing travellers to use this connection at any time.

Herren Tunnel

The Herren Tunnel provides a link between the Hanseatic city of Lübeck and the Herreninsel as well as Travemünde (B75). Travellers can travel quickly and comfortably between these locations via the tunnel.

Please note that the prices quoted are as of 2024 and may be subject to change. The current prices and further information can be found on the official websites of the Warnow Tunnel and the Herren Tunnel.

City toll in Germany

Germany does not have a city toll, which is implemented in some cities worldwide to reduce traffic and improve air quality. The introduction of such a toll has not yet been decided by the German government, although it has been discussed in cities such as Berlin and Frankfurt. Instead, there are environmental zones in some cities that require vehicles to have specific environmental badges to reduce pollution.

Environmental zones

Vehicles with poor emissions are not allowed to drive in the so-called environmental zones. Identification is indicated by the traffic sign "Umweltzone" (environmental zone) and an additional sign for the required badge. Initially, bans applied only to vehicles without a badge or with a red badge, but now only low-emission vehicles or vehicles with special privileges are allowed to enter these zones. Some of the cities that have established environmental zones include:

• Berlin
• Munich
• Stuttgart
• Frankfurt am Main
• Cologne
• Hamburg
• Hanover
• Leipzig

Toll charges and payment

Toll charges

In Germany, there is generally no toll for car drivers and private travellers, unless they use the tunnels mentioned above (Warnow Tunnel and Herren Tunnel). Since 2005, however, a lorry toll has been introduced for lorries with a permissible total weight of over 7.5 tonnes. This toll fee is calculated based on various factors:

• Emission class
• Noise pollution
• Weight class
• Number of axles

The resulting amount ranges from approximately 9 to 26 cents (about £0.07 to £0.22) per kilometre driven. Compared to other countries such as Austria and Switzerland, the toll in Germany is relatively low. For further information, including a detailed fee overview and toll calculator, please visit the operator's website Toll Collect.

Lorry toll payment

The lorry toll in Germany can be paid in several ways. One option is to use the Toll Collect electronic toll collection system. In this case, the vehicle is equipped with an On-Board Unit (OBU) that automatically calculates and debits the toll fee. Alternatively, the Toll Collect app can be used to pay the fees directly via smartphone. Additionally, tolls can be paid at stationary toll booths. Please note that toll requirements apply to all lorries with a permissible total weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes, regardless of their country of origin.

Tunnel Toll Payment

The payment of the car toll for the Warnow Tunnel and Herren Tunnel can be made in several ways. One possibility is to pay the toll in person at the toll booths. Typically, there are toll terminals available where payment can be made. Alternatively, the toll can also be paid electronically via an On-Board Unit (OBU) installed in the vehicle.

Does Germany have a vignette?

Unlike many other EU countries, such as Austria or France, Germany currently doesn’t have a vignette for the use of toll roads and federal motorways. The introduction of such a vignette was controversially discussed, raising questions about the fair distribution of costs and potential disadvantages for foreign drivers. Another argument has been that the existing vehicle tax already constitutes a fee for the use of public roads and motorways, making an additional charge unnecessary.

Fines

Anyone driving on toll roads without paying may face high fines. For violations of the lorry toll, the penalty, according to the fine schedule, is € 200.00 (about £ 172.20) for the driver and € 400.00 (about £ 344.40) for the owner of the vehicle. In addition to the fine, subsequent payment of the toll is also required. It is therefore important to pay the toll correctly to avoid possible fines.

How are tolls controlled in Germany?

The lorry toll in Germany is monitored by the automated toll collection system, Toll Collect. Every vehicle is required to have an On-Board Unit (OBU) for the use of toll roads. This OBU electronically captures and transmits the toll fee. With the integrated GPS transmitter, the OBU records the vehicle's location and links it to the corresponding toll rates for the travelled routes. 

Who is exempt from a vignette?

As mentioned earlier, passenger cars in Germany are exempt from tolls, as no car toll has been introduced. However, there are additional vehicle types that are exempt from toll obligations. These include, for example:

• Ambulances and firefighting vehicles in operation
• Police vehicles and customs vehicles
• Vehicles used by people with disabilities
• Agricultural vehicles

Tolls in neighbouring countries

The following neighbouring countries of Germany also have compulsory tolls to finance and maintain their motorways:

• Czech Republic
• Poland
• Austria
• Switzerland
• France
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Denmark