Truck passes under toll control

The new CO2-dependent truck toll in Germany for vehicles over 7.5t

The so-called CO2 toll is currently the subject of controversial discussions in the media and is causing great uncertainty in the transport industry. One thing is certain: When the CO2-dependent truck toll comes into force on December 1, 2023 for all commercial vehicles over 7.5 tons*, freight forwarding and logistics companies will have to pay a surcharge of around 200 euros per ton of CO2.

With DKV Mobility, you don't have to worry - we'll guide you through the process and inform you of all the necessary steps to make the changeover as simple and transparent as possible for you.

In order to keep the increased administrative effort associated with the CO2 toll as low as possible, for example for CO2 classification, registration and billing of the CO2 toll, we will of course be at your side as your reliable partner with the usual high quality of service.

The EU has set itself an ambitious target:
By 2030, CO2 emissions from road traffic are to be reduced by 30% (compared to 2005).

To achieve this goal, from December 2023 there will be a new assessment method to determine the CO2 emissions of vehicles over 7.5 tons* and assign them to one of five CO2 classes. The classification in a toll tariff will be extended accordingly by the grouping in a CO2 class.

CO2 Class Check

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When does the regulation come into force in the EU member states?

In Germany, the new CO2 classes are expected to be introduced from December 1, 2023. Up to now, the truck toll applied to vehicles weighing 7.5 tons or more; it is expected that the truck toll will apply to vehicles weighing 3.5 tons or more from July 1, 2024. I.e. for vehicles from 3.5 tons, the determination of the CO2 class will probably only be relevant as of 01.07.2024.

It is yet to be announced when the regulation will come into force in the other EU member states.

We will inform you regularly about changes on this website.

Country Start toll rate according to CO2
Germany*01.12.2023 (expected)
Other countries to followsoon

*Up to now, the truck toll has applied to vehicles weighing 7.5 tons or more. It is expected that from July 1, 2024, all vehicles with a technically permissible total mass of more than 3.5 tons will have to pay tolls for the use of federal trunk roads.

What do the CO2 classes mean for your toll bill?

When you order tolls in the future, you must specify the CO2 class of your vehicle. Vehicles with low CO2 emissions benefit from lower toll rates, while vehicles with high CO2 emissions pay higher rates.

The rule is: the more environmentally friendly your vehicle is, the cheaper the toll rate will be.

What is the classification of my vehicle? Find out with the DKV Mobility CO2 Class Check.

Don't worry, with our DKV Mobility CO2 Class Check we will guide you through the entire process and help you determine the right CO2 class for your vehicle.

Find out which documents you should have ready for this under the point "Which vehicle data is relevant for determining the CO2 class and where can I find this?"

Which vehicle data is relevant for determining the CO2 class and where can I find it?

The required vehicle data* can be found in the Certificate of Conformity (COC), the CIF or the vehicle registration document:

  • Vehicle class
  • Wheel axle configuration
  • Technically permissible gross weight when loaded (F1) [kg].
  • Vehicle group
  • Berth (sleeping cabin)
  • Rated power of the motor [kW]
  • Specific CO2 emissions [gCO2/tkm].
  • Date of first registration
  • Vehicle type/ Chassis configuration

*subject to change without notice

To which vehicles do the new CO2 classes apply?

The five CO2 classes will initially only apply to commercial vehicles in vehicle classes N2/N3 weighing more than 7.5 metric tons and first registered on or after July 1, 2019. Previously, the future reference values (PDF) for CO2 class determination were defined for vehicle groups 4, 5, 9 and 10 with their subgroups.

Currently, there are no specific regulations or reference values for buses and some vehicle subgroups of vehicle classes N2 and N3. Therefore, they are provisionally assigned to CO2 class 1. Vehicles registered before July 2019 will also be automatically assigned to Class 1. Zero-emission vehicles registered before July 1, 2019, can be assigned to CO2 class 5 - upon submission of appropriate evidence.

What do I need to consider for new toll orders and for existing toll contracts?

  • If the toll country has already introduced CO2 classes for the toll tariff, from now on the F1 value (technically permissible gross weight when loaded) must be proven when ordering tolls. In addition, we recommend presenting the COC (Certificate of Conformity) and the vehicle registration document. If the relevant vehicle documents are not available, the vehicle will automatically be assigned to CO2 class 1 (most expensive tariff class).
  • Vehicles registered before July 2019 are automatically assigned to CO2 class 1. Zero-emission vehicles registered before July 1, 2019, can be assigned to CO2 class 5 - upon submission of the relevant evidence.
  • Vehicles registered as of July 2019 will be assigned to one of the five CO2 classes.
  • For existing toll contracts and new orders, the F1 value (technically permissible gross weight when loaded) is required. You can upload this proof in DKV Cockpit.
  • Six years after the initial registration date, vehicles are reclassified according to CO2 classes 2 and 3.

How do the new CO2 classes differ from the previous Euro pollutant classes?

The previous Euro pollutant class of your vehicle remains unchanged. However, the reference values for classifying the CO2 classes will be reduced by a percentage value each year. Until 2026, this reduction rate is 2.5% per year, from 2027 it is 3% per year. Re-classification of the vehicle takes place - automatically by DKV Mobility for DKV Toll Boxes - every 6 years from the date of initial registration (applies only to CO2 classes 2 and 3).

What do I have to do if I am registered directly with Toll Collect?

  • Customers who are registered directly with Toll Collect (TC) can use TC's CO2 emission class finder and upload the necessary vehicle documents directly to TC in the portal.
  • TC describes on its website that in the next few weeks, emission class 1 will be stored for all vehicles registered to date. With the help of the emission class finder, customers can check which CO2 emission class the respective vehicle is assigned to.
  • From July 2023, customers will be able to request a change of emission class per vehicle directly in the TC Customer Portal.

What is the purpose of the CO2 differentiation of the truck toll and what will the additional revenue from the toll increase be spent on?

The implementation of the proposed legislation is based on the amended Eurovignette Directive, which came into force in March 2022.

The introduction of additional CO2 pricing in the truck toll is seen as a further instrument for climate protection in road freight transport, as commercial vehicles currently produce around one third of total CO2 emissions in the transport sector. In this way, the German government intends to accelerate the switch to climate-neutral drive systems and send a signal that will make the use of trucks with alternative drive systems more attractive for the freight transport industry.

The German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) expects additional revenue of 26.6 billion euros in 2024 and 2027 as a result of CO2 differentiation in the area of trucks weighing 7.5 tons or more.

These toll revenues will be earmarked for improving the federal highway infrastructure and for measures in the mobility sector - the focus being on federal railroads. The additional revenue from extending the toll to trucks weighing 3.5 metric tons or more will amount to 3.9 billion euros over the same period. Of this, 1.8 billion euros will come from CO2 differentiation.

What exemptions or waivers are available from the new CO2 toll?

Zero-emission trucks are to be exempt from tolls until December 31, 2025. From January 1, 2026, 25 percent of the regular toll rate will be due for infrastructure costs, which corresponds to a 75 percent reduced toll rate - plus the toll portions for noise & air pollution.

Zero-emission electric vehicles and hydrogen-burning vehicles, as well as vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell, will remain exempt from tolls until the end of 2025 (see Toll Collect article if interested ).

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, zero-emission vehicles will only have to pay 25 percent of the partial toll rate.

Zero emission vehicles up to 4.25 tons gross vehicle weight (GVW) are permanently exempt from tolls. Support for light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drive systems and the associated fueling and charging infrastructure is also to be extended until 2028.

Buses for passenger transport are exempt from tolls in Germany until further notice.

Further toll provisions for alternative drive systems:

The toll provisions for alternative drive systems are currently as follows: Trucks in Euro emission class 6 that are factory-equipped with CNG/LNG drives will be subject to tolls from January 01, 2024.

In the future, natural gas-powered vehicles will be classified in carbon dioxide emission classes based on their specific characteristics, such as individual carbon dioxide emissions. The original regulation, according to which only the toll rates for infrastructure costs and the noise pollution costs caused are to be paid for these vehicles from January 1, 2024, has been cancelled.

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