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. 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.

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.

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.

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+)
• 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

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.

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

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

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