Major changes to German toll policy came into effect on December 1, 2023. Much has been written on this subject. What is really important now? We have listed it for you. The starting point for the toll rate will be the CO₂ emission class of the vehicle.

1. CO₂ emission class as a starting point:

• From December 1, 2023, vehicles will be classified into CO₂ emission classes from categories 1 to 5. The lower the CO₂ emissions, the higher the emission class (max. Cat. 5), resulting in more favorable rates.
• From January 1, 2024, the CO₂ rate applies to CNG and LNG vehicles.
• From July 1, 2024, vehicles with a maximum mass of more than 3.5 tons are also subject to these new rates.

2. Which category does the vehicle fall into?

• Vehicles registered before July 1, 2019 will automatically be categorized as CO₂ emission class 1, unless the vehicle is emission-free.
• The majority of Euro VI vehicles are likely to fall into CO₂ emission class 1.
• Vehicles in CO₂ emission class 5 (emission-free) are completely exempt from toll charges until December 31, 2025.

3. How is the weight class determined?

• Weight classes are no longer based on the permitted maximum mass of the vehicle (registration certificate field F.2), but on the technical maximum mass (registration certificate field F.1).
• This change may result in reclassification of vehicles to a higher weight class, which will impact the toll obligation.

4. What action should you take as a carrier of KDS Logistics?

To avoid unnecessary costs, here are some actions to consider:

• Check in the Toll Collect portal: verify that the vehicle is correctly classified according to the technical maximum mass (registration certificate field F.1) instead of the permitted maximum mass (registration certificate field F.2).
• Check the CO₂ emission class: Use the Emissions Class Finder in the Toll Collect customer portal to check the assigned CO₂ emission class of your vehicle. It is possible that a vehicle registered after July 1, 2019 can be placed in a more favorable class. Here you can read how that works.
• Communication with other toll service providers: If you have arranged the toll through another toll company, such as DKV or UTA, please contact them. They can handle the above matters for you.
• Taking no action can be costly: if no action is taken, the vehicle will automatically be classified in CO₂ emission class 1, which may result in unnecessarily high toll costs.

5. As a customer of KDS Logistics, would you like more information about the consequences of the German Toll price adjustment on transport rates?

The increase in the German toll has direct consequences for the transport rates on the applicable traffic. Would you like more information or do you have questions? We would love to help you. KDS Logistics will process your request and keep you informed of the changed transport rates.

Below you will also find some useful links.

– New toll rates from toll collect

– Toll collect FAQ

– Video explanation of the new toll policy