Truck Toll Class: Which Vehicle Data Counts in Which Country

In Europe, the toll class is almost never based on a single value. In most countries, two to four vehicle attributes determine the rate – most commonly weight, number of axles, Euro standard and, since 2024, the CO₂ class. France, Italy and Spain classify heavy trucks by axle count alone, while Switzerland charges for every tonne individually. In some countries, vehicle geometry also determines the class – the body height above the first axle, the axle spacing or twin tyres (see special rules). The tables below show which attribute affects the price in which country.

The exact formulas and current tariffs are available live at app.tollcalc.eu/rules – this article explains which vehicle data they actually query. For an introduction to the calculation, see Truck Toll Calculation Explained.

Vehicle Factors by Country

Legend: ✓ = affects the rate · – = not relevant · ~ = only indirectly, or included in another factor.

* Bulgaria (TOLL) since 01/06/2026, Romania (TollRo) from 01/10/2026, Lithuania (Via Toll) from 01/01/2027. A time-based vignette (Rovinieta) applied before that.

† In Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and on the Polish concession motorways (A1/A2/A4), geometry or configuration attributes additionally feed into the class assignment – see special rules. In Poland, the “~” for axles refers only to the privately operated concession motorways; the state e-TOLL system charges by weight and Euro class alone.

What the Individual Factors Mean

Weight: almost always the gross vehicle weight (GVW)

The calculation uses the permissible gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the combination – not the kerb weight and not the actual load. Fixed thresholds are typical:

Axles: class driver and size proxy

The number of axles is a separate tariff factor in almost every country – and it usually increases the price, because more axles stand for larger and heavier vehicles: in Germany the same 40-tonner costs more with 5 axles than with 4, and in Austria the 4+-axle rate is roughly twice the 2-axle rate. The axle factor is particularly strong in Slovenia, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, where a base rate is multiplied by the axle factor. In France and Italy, axle count is even the only vehicle attribute: a 2-axle truck falls into a different class than a 5-axle articulated lorry.

The decisive figure is the axle count of the whole combination – tractor unit plus semi-trailer or trailer. On the Polish concession motorways, twin tyres (koła bliźniacze) on at least one axle additionally count as an axle of their own: an otherwise 2-axle truck with twin tyres is classed like a 3-axle there (category 2 instead of 1). The vehicle configuration also counts there: a 2-axle truck with a trailer and a 3-axle solo truck both have 3 axles but fall into different categories (2 and 3) – see the Poland case below.

Euro standard: the classic emission discount

Euro 6 is the cleanest step, Euro 0 the dirtiest. In most Central and Eastern European countries the rate falls with every better Euro step; in France, Italy, Spain and most Balkan countries, the Euro standard plays no role.

CO₂ class: the tariff factor since 2024

Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Bulgaria and Lithuania also calculate with a CO₂ class (1 = conventional to 5 = zero-emission). For electric trucks the toll can therefore fall to zero – for German class 5 trucks until 2031. Without a manufacturer's certificate, the worst class is applied automatically.

Special Rules: Height, Axle Spacing and Twin Tyres

Besides weight, axles, Euro standard and CO₂ class, some countries let vehicle geometry or axle configuration influence the class. These rules mostly affect the transition from the light to the heavy class – i.e. 2-axle trucks and low bodies:

For the calculation: TollCalc maps these geometry rules via the axle count. For 2-axle trucks it assumes they exceed the height or wheelbase threshold (Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey) or carry twin tyres (Poland). This makes the classification correct for standard trucks; genuine special cases – such as a very low 2-axle vehicle in Italy (class A) – should be checked before the trip.

Poland: why the axle count alone is not enough

The three privately operated concession motorways (A1 AmberOne, A2 Świecko–Konin, A4 Stalexport) use their own axle-based categories. The official definition is:

• Category 1 – two-axle motor vehicles
• Category 2 – two-axle motor vehicles with twin tyres, and two-axle motor vehicles with trailers
• Category 3 – three-axle motor vehicles, and two-axle motor vehicles with twin tyres and trailers
• Category 4 – motor vehicles with more than three axles, and three-axle motor vehicles with trailers
• Category 5 – oversized vehicles and vehicle combinations

The category therefore does not simply follow the total axle count, but a combination of axle count, twin tyres, trailer and vehicle type. The A2 operator's official category overview shows the practical application:

The key point: two combinations with the same total number of axles can fall into different categories: a semi-trailer combination with 2+2 axles into category 4, a truck-and-trailer combination with 2+2 axles into category 3. The category therefore cannot be derived from the total axle count – what matters is the combination of towing-vehicle axles, trailer and vehicle type. The operator's classification at the toll booth is always decisive.

This does not apply on the state e-TOLL sections (e.g. A2 Konin–Stryków, A4 Wrocław–Sośnica): there the charge is based on permissible gross weight and Euro class, and axles play no role.

Which Truck Gets Which CO₂ Class in Which Country?

The CO₂ class does not depend on weight or the number of axles, but on the drivetrain. It is derived from the vehicle's certified CO₂ emissions – for new vehicles measured using the EU VECTO procedure (Regulation (EU) 2017/2400) and compared with the relevant reference vehicle. Weight and axles only determine the weight/axle class, not the CO₂ class.

The basis is the EU framework of the Eurovignette Directive (1999/62/EC, amended by 2022/362). It defines five CO₂ classes:

The most important sentence in practice: Without CO₂ proof you are classified as class 1 everywhere. Classes 2–4 are only available on application and only with a manufacturer's CO₂ certificate; class 5 is reserved for pure electric/fuel-cell vehicles. An incorrectly registered CO₂ class leads – as with weight and axles – to back-charges.

This is how the individual countries handle it:

As of September 2026. Only these nine countries use the CO₂ class in the tariff – in all other European toll countries only weight, axles and Euro standard count.

How to get a better CO₂ class

1. Request the CO₂ certificate from the manufacturer – available for most vehicles first registered from 2019.
2. Register it with the toll operator or EETS provider (Toll Collect, ASFINAG, RDW, Viapass …) – the classification is not applied automatically.
3. Check the vehicle data: if in doubt, conservatively use class 1 until the proof is available.
4. Electric/hydrogen trucks are automatically class 5 – in Germany even completely toll-free until mid-2031.

One Vehicle, Many Systems: Class Names Compared

The same vehicle – 40 t, 5 axles, Euro 6, CO₂ class 1 – is classified completely differently from country to country:

Route, Operator and Region Add to It

Vehicle data is only half the story. Whether and how much toll is due also depends on:

• Road type: Usually only motorways and expressways are tolled, sometimes also national roads (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland). In Germany and Austria, federal and regional roads are toll-free.
• Operator: In France and Italy, each motorway is run by its own company with its own tariff – class 4 costs differently on one route than on the next.
• Region: In Belgium, different tax rules apply in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels; in Spain only about a fifth of the network is tolled.
• Special structures: Tunnels and bridges (Warnow Tunnel, Liefkenshoek Tunnel, Mont Blanc, Øresund) are often charged as a flat fee per crossing.

Example: The Same Route, Seven Vehicles

Hamburg → Munich, approx. 792 km. Only the vehicle data changes:

Calculated with TollCalc on 12 September 2026; tariffs change.

Example: A 40-Tonner Across Europe

Vehicle: 40 t, 5 axles, Euro 6, CO₂ class 1.

Calculated with TollCalc on 12 September 2026. Switzerland is the most expensive country in the sample because the LSVA charges the full weight per kilometre.

Which Vehicle Data You Need for an Accurate Calculation

• gross vehicle weight in tonnes (not kerb weight)
• number of axles of the whole combination (2, 3, 4 or 5+)
• body height above the first axle, axle spacing as well as vehicle configuration and twin tyres – in Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and on Polish concession motorways; TollCalc derives the class here from the axle count
• Euro emission class (Euro 0 to Euro 6)
• CO₂ class (1 to 5) – for German, Austrian, Czech, Slovak, Dutch, Belgian, Danish, Bulgarian and Lithuanian tariffs
• route with origin, destination and any diversions
• travel date, if a tariff change or discount period is coming up

FAQ

Which CO₂ class does my truck get?

Without proof, always class 1 – the standard for most diesel trucks. Better classes 2–4 require a manufacturer's CO₂ certificate and must be applied for with the respective operator; only pure electric and hydrogen trucks fall into class 5 (zero emission). Weight and axles play no role for the CO₂ class.

What toll class does a 40-tonne truck have?

There is no single answer. The same 40-tonner with 5 axles, Euro 6 and CO₂ class 1 is "over 18 t / from 5 axles" in Germany, "4+ axles" in Austria, "class 4" in France, "class 5" in Italy, "J5" in Hungary and "heavy 3+ axles" in Spain. Every country has its own class scheme.

Do twin tyres count as a separate axle?

Only on the Polish concession motorways (A1 AmberOne, A2 Świecko–Konin, A4 Stalexport): there, twin tyres on at least one axle count as an additional axle. In the state Polish e-TOLL system and in all other European toll countries, an axle with twin tyres counts as one axle.

Why is the axle count not enough for classification in Poland?

Because the concession operators treat semi-trailer combinations and truck-and-trailer combinations differently. A semi-trailer with a 2-axle tractor and a 2-axle semi-trailer (4 axles in total) falls into category 4, while a truck-and-trailer combination with a 2-axle towing vehicle and a 2-axle trailer (also 4 axles) falls into category 3. What matters is the axle count and type of the towing vehicle, the twin tyres and whether a trailer is pulled – not the sum of all axles. On the state e-TOLL sections, by contrast, weight and Euro class are sufficient.

Why does body height matter in Italy and Portugal?

Both countries tie their lowest class to the height above the first axle – Italy at 1.30 m (class A/B), Portugal at 1.10 m (class 1/2). For heavy trucks with high bodies this changes practically nothing; the rule mainly separates low vehicles from trucks. Greece additionally uses total height (2.70 m), Turkey the axle spacing (3.20 m).

Is kerb weight or gross vehicle weight used?

As a rule, the permissible gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combination. The actual load is not measured for toll purposes. In Switzerland, the LSVA is even calculated per tonne, so every weight step is directly reflected in the price.

Is the CO₂ class taken into account in every country?

No. Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Bulgaria and Lithuania use CO₂ classes. France, Italy, Spain and most Balkan and southern countries classify by axles and in some cases the Euro standard.

Why does the same trip cost different amounts in each country?

Because the system, class scheme and tariff differ: some charge per kilometre, others per tonne-km, others a flat fee per crossing. Road type, operator and regional tariffs come on top. A cross-border toll calculator such as TollCalc applies each country's rules and shows the costs separately.

Official Sources

• Live toll rules for all countries on TollCalc
• Toll Collect – official German HGV toll
• ASFINAG – Austrian GO toll
• Viapass – Belgian truck toll
• BAZG – Swiss LSVA
• MYTO CZ – Czech truck toll
• eMYTO – Slovak toll
• RDW/Vrachtwagenheffing – Dutch toll
• Vejafgifter – Danish toll
• BG Toll – Bulgarian toll
• e-Vinieta – Lithuanian Via Toll
• Autostrade per l'Italia – vehicle classes (IT)
• Via Verde – vehicle classes (PT)
• Autostrada Wielkopolska – vehicle categories A2 (PL)
• Attiki Odos – vehicle categories (GR)
• KGM – toll rates and vehicle classes (TR)

More details can be found in the European toll cost comparison and in Toll changes 2026.

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