Tanzania Toll Roads Complete Guide: TANROADS, Rates and Payment 2026
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Tanzania Toll Roads Complete Guide
System: Manual cash toll collection at staffed plaza booths
Operator: TANROADS (Tanzania National Roads Agency)
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Coverage: Trunk road network — selected Class A and B highways nationwide
Technology: Manual booths; limited electronic/USSD pilot systems at select plazas
Do I Need to Pay Tolls in Tanzania? 2026 Update
Yes — if you are driving on any TANROADS-designated trunk road with an active toll plaza, payment is mandatory. Tanzania operates a manual cash-based toll system through staffed booths. There is no advance purchase, prepaid account, or electronic transponder option available nationally as of 2026.
Key Reality: All tolls must be paid in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) at the booth. Foreign currency and mobile money are not accepted at most plazas. Carry small-denomination TZS notes — booth attendants may not always have change for large bills.
2026 Update: TANROADS has expanded the number of active toll plazas on rehabilitated trunk roads, particularly on the Dar es Salaam–Morogoro and Dodoma–Singida corridors. Rates last formally revised in 2022 remain in effect; a new tariff review is anticipated under the 2025–2030 Road Sector Development Programme but has not yet been gazetted as of mid-2026.
Tanzania Toll Costs: Current Rates
Tanzania charges flat per-plaza rates that vary by vehicle class. Rates below reflect the schedule in force under the Roads Toll (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which remain operative in 2026. Approximate USD equivalents are indicative only and based on mid-2026 exchange rates (~TZS 2,600 per USD).
Current Toll Rates by Vehicle Class (2026)
| Vehicle Class | Description | Rate per Plaza (TZS) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Motorcycles and three-wheelers (bajaj) | TZS 500 | ~$0.19 |
| Class 2 | Light vehicles — cars, minibuses up to 16 seats, pickups | TZS 2,000 | ~$0.77 |
| Class 3 | Medium vehicles — buses (17–35 seats), medium trucks (2 axles, GVW up to 5 tonnes) | TZS 5,000 | ~$1.92 |
| Class 4 | Heavy vehicles — large buses (36+ seats), rigid trucks (2 axles, GVW 5–15 tonnes) | TZS 10,000 | ~$3.85 |
| Class 5 | Extra-heavy vehicles — articulated trucks, semi-trailers (3 axles, GVW 15–30 tonnes) | TZS 15,000 | ~$5.77 |
| Class 6 | Oversize/overweight — articulated trucks with 4+ axles, GVW above 30 tonnes | TZS 20,000 | ~$7.69 |
Rates per Roads Toll (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (GN No. 287 of 2022), in force as of mid-2026. USD equivalents approximate. Foreign-registered vehicles pay the same rates as domestic vehicles.
Example Trip Costs (2026)
| Route | Distance | Plazas (approx.) | Car Total (TZS) | Truck Class 5 Total (TZS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam to Morogoro | ~195 km | 2 | TZS 4,000 | TZS 30,000 |
| Dar es Salaam to Dodoma | ~454 km | 3 | TZS 6,000 | TZS 45,000 |
| Dar es Salaam to Moshi | ~510 km | 3–4 | TZS 6,000–8,000 | TZS 45,000–60,000 |
| Dar es Salaam to Mbeya | ~832 km | 4–5 | TZS 8,000–10,000 | TZS 60,000–75,000 |
| Arusha to Namanga (Kenya border) | ~105 km | 1 | TZS 2,000 | TZS 15,000 |
How to Pay Tanzania Tolls
All toll payments in Tanzania are made directly at the booth on approach. There is no remote, online, or advance payment option at the national level.
1. Cash (TZS) — Only Accepted Method:
- Payment must be in Tanzanian Shillings only
- Carry exact or near-exact change when possible — change availability varies by plaza and time of day
- Receipts are issued at all official TANROADS booths; request one if not provided automatically
2. Mobile Money (Limited Pilot):
- M-Pesa and Tigopesa USSD payment accepted at a small number of pilot plazas as of 2026
- Not available at all plazas — confirm before relying on mobile payment
- The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and TANROADS have announced plans to expand electronic payment coverage, but nationwide rollout had not been completed as of mid-2026
3. Foreign Vehicles and Transit Trucks:
- Foreign-registered vehicles pay the same per-plaza TZS rates as domestic vehicles
- Cross-border heavy vehicles transiting to Zambia, Malawi, or DRC via the TAZARA/Mbeya corridor should budget for all plazas along the A7 trunk road
- Road user charges (separate from tolls) for foreign heavy trucks are administered by SUMATRA/LATRA at border posts
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across Tanzanian toll roads, use the TollGuru Tanzania toll calculator:
Enforcement and Penalties
Tanzania's toll enforcement is managed jointly by TANROADS staff and the Tanzania Police Force (Traffic Division). Enforcement mechanisms include:
- Barrier gates: Physical boom barriers prevent passage until toll is paid at the booth
- Police checkpoints: Traffic police stationed at or near toll plazas assist with enforcement and can issue Traffic Offence Notice (TON) forms for evasion attempts
- Penalty for evasion: Attempting to drive around or through a toll barrier without payment is a criminal traffic offence. Fines under the Road Traffic Act Cap. 168 can reach TZS 300,000 for first-time offenders; vehicles may be impounded
- Overloaded vehicles: Weigh-in-motion and axle load control units operate at several plaza sites. Vehicles exceeding the legal axle load (10 tonnes per axle for standard roads) face separate overload charges under TANROADS regulations, independent of the toll fee
Recent Changes (2026)
Network Expansion:
- New toll plazas commissioned on the Dodoma–Singida–Shinyanga corridor as road rehabilitation under Phase III of the Tanzania Roads Project is completed
- Chalinze–Segera section of the Northern Corridor (A14) now has active TANROADS booth operations following 2025 road upgrades
Payment Modernisation:
- TANROADS and TRA signed an MOU in late 2025 to integrate USSD mobile money payment across all major plazas by end of 2026 — rollout ongoing as of mid-2026
- Point-of-sale card readers are under procurement for a 10-plaza pilot on high-traffic corridors
Rate Review:
- A new toll tariff structure is under review as part of the 2025–2030 Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP); if gazetted, revised rates may take effect in late 2026 or 2027
- No rate changes have been gazetted as of May 2026 — the 2022 schedule remains in force
Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) Corridor:
- Urban expressway infrastructure under DART Phase 2 does not currently include vehicle tolling; this is a bus rapid transit project, not a road toll scheme
Planning Your Journey
Cost Considerations:
- Toll costs for private cars are low in absolute terms — typically TZS 2,000–10,000 for a cross-country journey
- For heavy trucks transiting Tanzania on the Northern or Central Corridor, total toll outlay for a Dar es Salaam to Zambia border run can reach TZS 75,000–100,000 (Class 5–6), on top of fuel, driver allowances, and border fees
- Budget an extra TZS 5,000–10,000 in small notes for unexpected or new plazas on long-distance routes
Practical Tips:
- Always carry a supply of TZS 1,000 and TZS 2,000 notes; booths on quiet routes often lack change for TZS 10,000+ bills
- Toll receipts serve as proof of payment — retain them in case of a police check further along the route
- Plaza queues can be lengthy on Friday afternoons and public holiday eve departures from Dar es Salaam — allow extra time at Kibaha and Mlandizi plazas
- Rental vehicles: confirm with your rental company whether tolls are included in any package or must be paid separately in cash at each plaza
Toll-Free Alternatives:
- Not all trunk roads have active toll plazas — regional B and D roads are generally untolled but in significantly worse condition
- There is no legal way to bypass an active TANROADS booth; detour roads bypassing booths are typically unsurfaced and not viable for most vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
Do foreign visitors and tourists pay the same toll rates?
Yes. Tanzania does not apply a separate tourist or foreign-vehicle rate. All vehicles pay the same TZS per-class rate at each plaza, regardless of registration country. Payment in TZS is required; USD or other foreign currencies are not accepted.
Are Zanzibar roads tolled?
No. Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba islands) has no road toll system. Road infrastructure on the islands is managed by the Zanzibar Roads Authority (ZRA), which does not operate toll plazas.
Do motorcycles and bajaj (tuk-tuks) pay tolls?
Yes, but at the lowest rate. Class 1 covers motorcycles and three-wheelers (bajaj/tuk-tuks) at TZS 500 per plaza. Bicycles and non-motorised vehicles are exempt.
What happens if I do not have exact change?
Booth attendants are supposed to provide change, but cash shortages do occur. Vehicles are not permitted to pass without payment regardless of change issues. Carry small denominations to avoid delays.
Are government and emergency vehicles exempt from tolls?
Yes. Under the Roads Toll Act, vehicles on official government duty (displaying government plates), military vehicles, and ambulances/fire engines responding to emergencies are exempt. Diplomatic vehicles with valid accreditation plates are also exempt.
Is there a daily or monthly pass for frequent users?
No national pass or season ticket system currently exists for Tanzania's road tolls. Each transit requires individual payment at the booth. TANROADS has indicated that a commercial vehicle frequent-user account scheme may be considered as part of the electronic payment expansion programme.
Tanzania vs. Neighbouring Countries
| Country | System Type | Car Rate (per plaza) | Payment Method | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | Manual cash booths | TZS 2,000 (~$0.77) | Cash (TZS); limited mobile money | Selected trunk roads |
| Kenya | Electronic + manual; Nairobi Expressway fully electronic | KES 100–400 (~$0.77–$3.10) | M-Pesa, card, cash (varies by plaza) | Major highways and Nairobi Expressway |
| Uganda | Electronic (Kampala–Entebbe Expressway) + manual elsewhere | UGX 5,500–11,000 (~$1.50–$3.00) | Electronic tag, mobile money, cash | Kampala–Entebbe Expressway; select roads |
Official Resources
- Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) — toll regulations, plaza locations, road condition updates
- Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) — vehicle licensing, cross-border permits, overload enforcement
- Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) — road user charges, import and transit documentation
- Ministry of Works (Tanzania) — national roads policy, RSDP programme information
