On July 1, 2024, Germany implemented a significant extension of its road toll system, known as Maut, to encompass commercial vehicles with a total mass exceeding 3.5 tons. Previously, only vehicles over 7.5 tons were required to pay tolls. This new regulation adds approximately 300,000 vehicles to the pool of those contributing to state toll revenues. The toll rates for this new category range from 15.1 to 24.8 cents per kilometer, depending on the Euro emission class.
The inclusion of these additional vehicles has resulted in a slight reduction in toll rates for heavier vehicles, with a decrease ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 cents per kilometer. This extension is part of the government's broader initiative to reduce CO2 emissions and finance the maintenance of the German highway network. Toll collection is managed through the same system used for heavy vehicles, involving the installation of an On-Board Unit (OBU) that transmits the vehicle's mileage to the Toll Collect center. Payments can be made online or via a dedicated app.
Exemptions from toll payments are available for vehicles used by artisan businesses under certain conditions. The commercial exemption applies if the vehicle is driven by an employee of the artisan business and is transporting materials, tools, or machinery necessary for the services and work of the artisan. It also applies if the vehicle is transporting artisanal goods that have been produced, processed, or repaired within the artisan's business. The conditions for commercial exemption are met by all professions listed in Annexes A and B of the Crafts and Trades Code (Handwerksordnung).
