German Autobahn Tolls, Vignettes Toll Tunnels and Toll Collect
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In Germany, if you are driving a car or a vehicle weighing less than 7.5 tonnes, you will need to buy a vignette[1]. If you are driving a truck, motorhome, HGV or any other vehicle over 7.5 tonnes, you have to use OBU[2] to pay tolls to Toll Collect. You can pay tolls by cash, cards and electronic payment methods in toll tunnels.
How to pay truck tolls in Germany
You can pay truck tolls in Germany using OBUs. OBUs are onboard GPS units used for satellite based tolling. You can register OBU with your vehicle ID with Toll Collect.
Tolls are calculated based on the following parameters for Trucks and other HGV in Germany:
- Weight category
- Weight less than 7.5 tonnes - Herren Tunnel and Warnow Tunnel
- Weight more than equal to 7.5 tonnes - Tunnels, Bridges, Highways, Federal Road
- Number of axles
- Distance traveled
- Emission class: Trucks and other heavy goods vehicles (HGV) air and noise pollution emission standards. To know more about the Euro Emission class, visit European Emission Standards website.
Before starting a trip you can register your trip with Toll-collect servers[3] to have a hassle-free tolling experience.
Are there toll booths in Germany
Yes, there are toll booths for places like Herren tunnel and Warnow tunnel. At the manned and unmanned toll booths at the tunnels, you can pay with the payment methods accepted there.
There are no toll booths on Autobahns. Tolls are collected electronically for trucks and other vehicles with gross weight over 7.5 tonnes. You can pay at Toll Collect electronic terminals installed at different truck stops, service stations and toll terminals.
How do you pay tolls in Germany
You can use the following toll payment methods to pay toll in Germany:
- Cash payment
- Fleet card / fleet box
- OBU[2]
- Electronic Payments
- Trave Pass: Trave pass is a chip card used to pay toll charges only in the Herren Tunnel only.
- RFID Sticker: The RFID film is a passive electronic device and works without a battery. Attach the film to the inside of the windshield of the vehicle.
- OSCARD: The OSCARD is obtained directly from the cashier or from the customer center, where you can also have it recharged again as required (the amount must always correspond to at least 10 trips in the corresponding category). You can pay with cash, a debit card, or a credit card.
Do you need Vignettes in Germany
Yes, but Vignettes[1] only apply for cars. You can buy vignettes for 10 days, 2 months or for a full year. Place the vignette on the middle of your front windshield at the top.
There is no vignette for trucks and other HGV. Trucks and HGV pay toll via OBUs.
Where do I buy Swizz vignette in Germany
You can buy a Swiss vignette at
- Gas stations
- Border crossings,
- Post offices.
It is also possible to purchase a Swiss autobahn sticker in advance, online from the German postal service (Deutsche Post), from automobile clubs, and the Swiss Tourism office in London.
Toll tunnels in Germany
There are only two toll tunnels in Germany. You can pay tolls with cash, card, tags and RFID stickers.
- Herren Tunnel: Herren tunnel is a German 780-meter long road tunnel under the river Trave, which connects Lübeck and Travemünde.[4]
- Warnow Tunnel: The Warnow Tunnel (also known as the Warnow River Crossing) is a tunnel under the Warnow River. The tunnel connects the Hanseatic city of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
The tunnel is restricted for pedestrians and cyclists.
It is also possible to purchase a Swiss autobahn sticker in advance, online from the German postal service (Deutsche Post), from automobile clubs, and the Swiss Tourism office in London.
Are there any rules for exemptions from toll payments in Germany
The exemption from tolls in Germany for motorways applies
- Electric vehicles
- Buses
- Circus and entertainment vehicles
- Fire fighting vehicles
- Police and state protection vehicles
Germany provides a payment exemption for natural gas vehicles.
How to calculate tolls in Europe
You can calculate tolls - distance based toll, close and open system, vignette - and fuel cost by car, truck (with or without a trailer), taxi, bus, caravans using Europe Toll Calculator. You can see the cheapest, the fastest, and other optimal routes to your destination. You will see toll plaza(s) on your route, payment methods for each toll gate, discounts, etc. You can specify vehicle attributes - axles, weight, height, emission standards, etc. - to get toll information customized to your vehicle.
Ride share, OEM, and other businesses can leverage toll intelligence by integrating with the Toll API for pre-trip cost estimation and post-trip toll reconciliation in Europe, Asia, South America, North America and Australia.
Which European countries have motorway tolls
Use Europe Toll Guide to know more about European Tolling Systems
You can click on a country name to know toll information - toll payments, toll gates, toll prices - for the country.
