European truck toll in 2026 — the year of cost shocks

European HGV toll systems have moved more in early 2026 than in any year since the original 2011 Eurovignette Directive. Three of the major systems pushed through major changes within a five-month window:

• Poland: +4–6.6% on 1 January, then +40–42% on 1 February — the steepest single hike of any major European toll system this year. Network expanded to ~5,869 km.
• Hungary: +4.3% on 1 January, then a further step on 1 March — cumulatively about +35% versus 2025 rates. Network extension on 1 July.
• Austria: +10–13% on 1 January under the GO-Maut 2026 reform; the ZEV exemption (75% reduction on the infrastructure component) extended to 2030.
• Netherlands: the annual Eurovignette is replaced by per-kilometre tolling from 1 July 2026 — a structural change for everyone running NL transit.
• Romania: launches TollRo, a new distance-based system replacing the flat rovinieta for trucks, also from 1 July 2026.
• France: average +0.87% from 1 February under standard annual concession indexation.

The Eurovignette Directive amendment (Directive 2022/362) took effect for member states on 25 March 2024 — meaning EU countries that levy truck tolls must base them on emissions, with member states free to choose how strict to be. Two years later, the convergence is visible: every major system either already has CO₂ classes or is migrating toward them.

Quick overview — toll systems by country

The table below summarises the toll obligation in each major EU country. For per-country rate detail, the country-specific IMPARGO guides linked in each section carry the current 2026 rate matrices, payment mechanics and operator-specific notes.

Germany — Toll Collect

Germany's Toll Collect levies a four-component charge per kilometre on motorways and federal roads: infrastructure, air pollution, noise, and CO₂. The CO₂ component was added on 1 December 2023; the threshold dropped from 7.5 t to 3.5 t on 1 July 2024. A 5-axle EURO 6 articulated lorry pays roughly 34.8 ct/km in CO₂ class 1 — that's about €34,800 per year per truck at 100,000 km/year. The Vierte Gesetz zur Änderung mautrechtlicher Vorschriften of 1 December 2025 extended the zero-emission vehicle exemption to 30 June 2031.

For the current rate matrix, ZEV exemption details and the new TollNow app launched in early 2026, read Toll Collect rates: Germany truck toll guide.

Austria — ASFINAG GO-Maut

Austria's GO-Maut applies from 3.5 t on all motorways and expressways. The 2026 reform raised per-kilometre rates by approximately +10–13% and kept the 75% ZEV discount on the infrastructure component through 2030. Special section tolls apply on the A12/A13 Brenner corridor (with up to +25% Brennerbasistunnel surcharge), A10 Tauern, A11 Karawanken, A9 Bosruck and Gleinalm, and the S16 Arlberg.

For 2026 rate tables and reform context, read Austria truck tolls 2026: GO-Box rates & reform. For the practical payment and enforcement side (Ersatzmaut amounts, VAT reclaim for foreign carriers, GO-Box vs EETS box), see Austria HGV toll: payment, enforcement & Ersatzmaut.

Hungary — HU-GO

HU-GO applies from 3.5 t on motorways, expressways and selected main roads. The 2026 reform introduced a two-stage rate hike: +4.3% on 1 January, further step on 1 March, cumulatively about +35% vs 2025. Decree 375/2025 raised fines for first-band offences for J2–J5 categories. The toll network is extended on 1 July 2026 to add new sections on the M6, M44 and several main roads.

For HU-GO charge components, OBU vs route ticket vs EETS, fines under Decree 410/2007 and the 27% VAT reclaim procedure for foreign carriers, read Hungary HU-GO truck toll 2026: rates, fines & calculator.

Poland — e-TOLL

Poland's e-TOLL applies from 3.5 t on motorways, expressways and selected national roads under GDDKiA. The 2026 reform delivered the steepest single hike of any major European toll system — a 4–6.6% indexation on 1 January followed by +40–42% on 1 February, for a cumulative +45–48% vs 2025. The tolled network grew to ~5,869 km including newly tolled A2 motorway sections. Document submission rules change from 1 April 2026.

For per-component matrix, OBU vs ELS vs e-TOLL app vs EETS box mechanics, and the 23% VAT reclaim procedure, read Poland truck toll 2026: e-TOLL rates & calculator.

France — concession network

French motorway tolls operate via private concessionaires — sanef, APRR, AREA, SAPN, ASF, Escota, ATMB — each operating closed-system motorway sections with annual rate adjustments. The 2026 indexation came in at approximately +0.87% from 1 February. France has not yet introduced a separate CO₂-based truck toll differentiation; the per-axle classification (classes 1 through 4) remains the principal variable along with vehicle height and concession-specific rates. EETS boxes (DKV, eurotoll, Telepass, Toll4Europe) cover all major concessions.

Special tolls of operational note: Mont Blanc Tunnel (FR/IT), Fréjus Tunnel (FR/IT), Millau Viaduct, Île de Ré bridge, Duplex A86 Tunnel, Prado-Carénage/Sud tunnels (Marseille).

Italy — concession network

Italy uses a closed-system concession model similar to France, operated principally by Autostrade per l'Italia plus a few regional concessions. Telepass is the dominant electronic payment device for HGV operators in Italy and has been progressively integrated with cross-border EETS providers. Toll calculation depends on distance, axle count and concession-specific tariffs; annual indexation applies in line with the concession agreements.

Cross-border alpine tunnels (Mont Blanc, Fréjus, Brenner — the latter on the Austrian side) carry significant special-toll surcharges that should be factored into Italy-bound route planning.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein — LSVA

Switzerland's Leistungsabhängige Schwerverkehrsabgabe (LSVA) applies from 3.5 t on all roads in the country — not just motorways. Liechtenstein follows the same regime. Charges are calculated per kilometre based on weight, EURO emission class, and the LSVA-3 tariff schedule. An OBU is used for measurement. The Munt La Schera Tunnel into the Engadine remains a separate concession toll.

For the LSVA-3 rate matrix and operational guide, read LSVA-3 Switzerland truck toll 2026.

Netherlands — Vrachtwagenheffing replaces Eurovignette

From 1 July 2026, the Netherlands replaces its annual Eurovignette payment with the Vrachtwagenheffing — a distance-based per-kilometre toll on motorways and selected provincial roads. The threshold is 3.5 t. The change shifts cost from fixed annual to per-trip, which materially affects light users (fewer NL kilometres = lower total cost) versus heavy users (high-volume operators see higher total exposure than under the flat Eurovignette).

Carriers running regular Netherlands transit should re-quote 2025 contracts that priced the annual Eurovignette flat — the Vrachtwagenheffing will hit some of these significantly.

Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden — Eurovignette (time-based)

For the remaining Eurovignette members — Luxembourg, Denmark and Sweden — the time-based vignette continues for HGVs over 12 t on motorways and expressways. The vignette is purchased for one day, one week, one month or one year, valid across all participating countries. The Netherlands exits this scheme on 1 July 2026; the others remain.

Significant special tolls in this region include the Westerscheldetunnel (NL), Storebæltsbroen (DK), and Øresundsbron (DK/SE bridge link).

Belgium — Viapass

Belgium's Viapass scheme applies from 3.5 t across Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Charges are calculated per kilometre via OBU based on permissible total weight and emission class. The Liefkenshoektunnel (Antwerp) carries a separate concession toll.

Czech Republic — MýtoCZ

The Czech system applies from 3.5 t and uses a CO₂ emission-class matrix (five classes) crossed with axle count and road type, in line with the Eurovignette Directive amendment that took effect from March 2024. DSRC microwave technology drives the toll collection; OBU registration is required.

For Czech operational notes and rate guidance, see Czech Republic truck tolls.

Romania — TollRo from 1 July 2026

Romania launches TollRo on 1 July 2026 — a new distance-based truck toll system replacing the flat rovinieta for HGVs over 3.5 t. The rovinieta continues for vehicles under 3.5 t and for cars. For Romania-routed traffic this is a structural change: planning that worked on flat-vignette economics will need to reflect per-kilometre cost from July onward.

What this means for European route planning in 2026

Three patterns sit on top of the per-country detail:

• The CO₂ delta is now economically meaningful in more countries. Germany has had a separate CO₂ component since December 2023; Austria, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic and others have variants where the EURO class — and where available, the CO₂ class — drive significant rate differentials. Fleet renewal economics shift accordingly.
• 2025 contracts priced on stale rates are mostly underwater. Operators who locked customer rates against 2025 Poland or Hungary toll figures are losing meaningful margin on every trip. Renegotiation is the only fix.
• EETS box adoption is the cheapest operational improvement. A single device covering 8+ countries beats per-country OBU management for any carrier running multiple toll domains. DKV, eurotoll, Telepass and Toll4Europe all cover the major systems.

For the route-by-route view that adds these structural shifts into customer quotes and dispatcher comparisons, see the per-country IMPARGO guides linked above — and the Planner Module that calculates them automatically.