Introduction:
When it comes to road freight transportation in Austria, understanding toll rates and regulations is essential for a smooth and cost-effective operation.
In this blog article, we will delve into the key information you need to know about HGV toll rates in Austria for 2024 & 2023, document requirements, and recent updates in the industry.
Let's explore how you can navigate these aspects to optimize your road freight transportation in Austria.
Table of Content
- HGV toll tariffs in Austria 2024
- Toll Rates and Regulations in Austria
- HGV Truck Toll Payment Options in Austria
- Document Requirements for HGV Truck Tolls in Austria
- Toll Costs and Fees in Austria 2023
- Having a TMS can help Manage HGV Toll Costs
- Road Freight Rates in Austria
- Important Routes with Higher Toll Rates in Austria
- General Updates Regarding Road Freight Transportation in Austria
HGV toll tariffs in Austria 2024
Austria, known for its commitment to the environment, has introduced a new CO2 toll starting January 1, 2024, targeting vehicles over 5.2 tonnes to promote sustainable transportation. The toll will gradually increase in 2025 and 2026, signaling Austria's dedication to reducing carbon emissions. The move aims to incentivize cleaner and more fuel-efficient alternatives. The toll's revenue will fund infrastructure improvements, supporting eco-friendly mobility options and encouraging the adoption of greener technologies in the transportation industry.
Table for HGV toll tariffs in Austria in 2024
2 axles Category 2 | 3 axles Category 3 | 4 or more axles Category 4+ | ||
| CO2 Emission Class 5 | emission-free | 0,0538 | 0,0741 | 0,1097 |
| CO2-Emission Class 4 | EURO VI | 0,2140 | 0,2987 | 0,4445 |
| CO2-Emission Class 3 | EURO VI | 0,2259 | 0,3151 | 0,4693 |
| CO2-Emission Class 2 | EURO VI | 0,2265 | 0,3160 | 0,4705 |
| CO2-Emission Class 1 | EURO VI | 0,2278 | 0,3177 | 0,4730 |
| CO2-Emission Class 1 | EEV und EURO V | 0,2408 | 0,3377 | 0,4990 |
| CO2-Emission Class 1 | EURO IV | 0,2568 | 0,3557 | 0,5250 |
| CO2-Emission Class 1 | EURO 0 till III | 0,2708 | 0,3767 | 0,5540 |
Rates in euros per kilometer, excl. 20 % VATCosts for Infrastructure Only: Toll Tariffs in Austria 2024
Costs for Infrastructure Only: Toll Tariffs in Austria 2024
2 Axles Category 2 | 3 Axles Category 3 | 4 or more Axles Category 4+ | |
| CO2-Emission Class 5 | 0,0508 | 0,0711 | 0,1067 |
| Other CO2 emission classes | 0,2030 | 0,2842 | 0,4263 |
Rates in euros per kilometer, excl. 20 % VAT
Costs for Air & Noise Pollution Only: Toll Tariffs in Austria 2024
2 Axles Category 2 | 3 Axles Category 3 | 4 or more Axles Category 4+ | |
| Emission-free vehicles | 0,0030 | 0,0030 | 0,0030 |
| EURO VI | 0,0050 | 0,0070 | 0,0080 |
| EURO V und EEV | 0,0180 | 0,0270 | 0,0340 |
| EURO VI | 0,0340 | 0,0450 | 0,0600 |
| EURO 0 till III | 0,0480 | 0,0660 | 0,0890 |
Rates in euros per kilometre, excl. 20 % VAT
Costs for CO2 Emissions Only: Toll Tariffs in Austria 2024
2 Axles Category 2 | 3 Axles Category 3 | 4 or more Axles Category 4+ | |
| CO2-Emissions Class 5 | 0,0000 | 0,0000 | 0,0000 |
| CO2-Emission Class 4 | 0,0060 | 0,0075 | 0,0102 |
| CO2-Emissions Class 3 | 0,0179 | 0,0239 | 0,0350 |
| CO2-Emissions Class 2 | 0,0185 | 0,0248 | 0,0362 |
| CO2-Emissions Class 1 | 0,0198 | 0,0265 | 0,0387 |
Rates in euros per kilometre, excl. 20 % VAT
Toll Rates and Regulations in Austria
Austria imposes a distance-based toll, known as the GO toll, on Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) weighing over 3.5 tonnes. This includes lorries, buses, and large motorhomes.
To use motorways and express roads in Austria, HGVs must be equipped with a certified on-board unit called the GO box. This device communicates with toll portals using microwave technology, ensuring seamless payment.
HGV Truck Toll Payment Options in Austria
Toll payment can be made in advance (pre-pay) or afterward (post-pay). Pre-payment involves paying in advance for tolls, while post-payment allows payment after using the roads. ASFINAG offers a convenient post-payment option called GO Direkt, enabling direct payment for tolls.
Document Requirements for HGV Truck Tolls in Austria
To comply with toll regulations, HGVs engaged in road freight transportation in Austria must have the following documents:
- Vehicle registration certificate: This is the minimum requirement to demonstrate ownership and legality of the vehicle.
- Evidence of EURO emissions class or drive system: For fully electric vehicles or those powered by hydrogen fuel cells, indicate "E/H2" to qualify for relevant tariff considerations.
- Authorized means of payment: Cash, credit card, fuel card, or GO-Direkt are accepted methods of payment for tolls.
Toll Costs and Fees in Austria 2023
The toll rates in Austria for 2023 are influenced by several factors, including the number of axles, mileage, EURO emissions class, and drive system. Vehicles with cleaner emissions and eco-friendly technologies are eligible for lower toll rates, incentivizing environmentally responsible transportation.
Austria is set to implement a graduated truck toll in 2024, which will incorporate a CO2 component. Asfinag, the toll service provider, has launched an online calculator to determine the emission class for vehicles. For more information, click here.
Here is the table for distance-related HGV truck tolls in Austria including surcharges for air and noise pollution.
| Rate groups | Category 2 2 axles | Category 3 3 axles | Category 4+ 4 axles and more | |||
Day | Night** | Day | Night** | Day | Night** | |
| Drive type E/H2* | 0,05150 | 0,05190 | 0,07273 | 0,07365 | 0,10871 | 0,10987 |
| EURO-emission class EURO VI | 0,21120 | 0,21160 | 0,29631 | 0,29723 | 0,44033 | 0,44149 |
| EURO-emission class EURO V and EEV | 0,21800 | 0,21840 | 0,30583 | 0,30675 | 0,45121 | 0,45237 |
| EURO-emission class EURO IV | 0,22490 | 0,22530 | 0,31549 | 0,31641 | 0,46225 | 0,46341 |
| EURO-emission class EURO 0 to III | 0,24550 | 0,24590 | 0,34433 | 0,34525 | 0,49521 | 0,49637 |
| Rates in EUR per km, excluding 20% VAT, valid from 1 January 2023 | ||||||
* Drive type E/H2 covers purely electric drives and hydrogen fuel cell drives. ** The night rates apply between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. | ||||||
Having a TMS can help Manage HGV Toll Costs
Using a transportation management system (TMS) like IMPARGO can help automate the process of calculating tolls in the Netherlands. Here are a few key benefits:
- Automatic toll detection: The IMPARGO TMS can automatically detect toll transactions using GPS. This removes the need for outdated methods and manual calculation.
- Centralized management: All vehicles, trips and toll transactions are managed centrally through the IMPARGO TMS dashboard. This makes invoicing and payments more organized.
- Real-time updates: The TMS receives real-time updates on toll rates and tariffs. This ensures you always have accurate toll costs factored into prices.
- Trip cost analysis: Trip data and toll costs can be downloaded from the IMPARGO TMS for analysis. This provides visibility to help optimize routes and lower transportation spending.
Road Freight Rates in Austria
The European Road Freight Rates Benchmark Report, produced by Transport Intelligence, Upply and IRU, takes an in depth look at road freight rates across Europe on a quarterly basis.
Regarding Austrian Lanes, fuel surcharges meant contract rates saw the largest increase on Austrian lanes whilst the spot market was quick to price in the extra fuel costs. The average Q-o-Q increase on Austrian import lanes was more than twice the European average in both the spot and contract markets.
With our team of both technology and logistics experts, IMPARGO Transportation Management System (TMS) works across Europe. We will help you organize the most optimal route for your HGV transportation costs, including toll costs, ensuring profitable operations.
Important Routes with Higher Toll Rates in Austria
Certain routes in Austria have higher toll rates due to their high maintenance costs. These higher rates apply to vehicles with a maximum gross weight over 3.5 tonnes.
The A9 Pyhrn motorway, specifically the segment between the Spital/Pyhrn junction and the Ardning (Bosruck Tunnel) junction, as well as the segment between the St. Michael junction and the Übelbach (Gleinalm Tunnel) junction, incurs higher toll rates. Similarly, on the A10 Tauern motorway, the section between the Flachau junction and the Rennweg (Tauern-/Katschberg Tunnel) junction is subject to increased toll charges.
The A11 Karawanken motorway, specifically the section between the St. Jakob im Rosental junction and the state border in the Karawanken Tunnel, also has elevated toll rates. Additionally, the A13 Brenner motorway and the S16 Arlberg express road between the St. Anton am Arlberg junction and the Langen am Arlberg (Arlberg Tunnel) junction have their respective higher toll charges.
Furthermore, on the A13 Brenner motorway and the A12 on the Unterinntal section (from the state border at Kufstein up to the Innsbruck/Amras junction), an additional fee of 25% of the base rate is levied to finance the maintenance of the Brennerbasis Tunnel.
General Updates Regarding Road Freight Transportation in Austria
In October 2022, Austria's statistics office reported that the total volume of freight transported on Austrian roads declined 3.1% in 2021 compared to 2020, amounting to around 590.9 million tonnes. Road freight makes up the largest share of inland freight transport in Austria.
In January 2023, the city of Vienna took delivery of 70 new zero-emission electric buses that will be used on public transportation routes. This is part of Vienna's efforts to transition to more sustainable transportation and reduce its carbon emissions.
There has been discussion of Austria potentially issuing "green bonds" in the future, as a way to raise funds for environmental and climate protection projects like expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In September 2022, the Austrian Finance Minister mentioned the country wants to explore green bonds.
Rising fuel costs have impacted transportation companies in Austria. In September 2020, the technology company Kapsch announced plans to cut around 400 jobs in Austria due to declining demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and higher fuel prices putting pressure on its business.
So in summary, some of the main updates involve declining road freight volumes, investments in electric buses and vehicles, potential green bonds, and job cuts at transportation firms dealing with economic headwinds.
