General information

The federal government has strict requirements with regard to the toll system in Germany.

The toll system must:

• Be able to detect a defined toll road network (around 13,000 kilometres of motorways and 38,000 kilometres of federal trunk roads), and only calculate the toll for these roads. It must be possible to extend this road network at any time;
• Take the CO2-emission class, Euro emission class, axle class and weight class of the truck into consideration when calculating the fee;
• Provide a technological framework that will allow the introduction of additional fee classes, such as time and location of journey;
• Be a "free-flow" system that calculates the toll without stoppages or traffic jams;
• Be a dual system that offers both automatic and manual log-on procedures, thus ensuring that all truck drivers can use the toll road network without discrimination;

The toll system should also provide the technological capability to support other European systems.

With its automatic log-on option, which is based on innovative Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile radio technologies, and its manual system based on the app and online access, the Toll Collect system fulfils all of these requirements.

Toll Collect's toll system calculates and collects tolls depending on the route without affecting the flow of traffic.

There are two ways to book journeys in the Toll Collect system: automatically via an on-board unit and manually via an app or the internet.

The automated system is based on a combination of mobile radio (GSM) and satellite positioning (GNSS). An on-board unit in the truck cockpit (OBU) uses satellite signals to continuously determine the truck's position and sends this to the Toll Collect computing centre. There, the position data is compared with the road network that is subject to toll. Vehicle characteristics are also sent by the OBU and are then used to calculate the charge for the routes subject to toll. The toll amount due depends, for example, on the truck's weight and pollutant emissions.

The manual booking system is similar to buying a travel ticket. The relevant vehicle data along with the journey start and destination must be entered in the Toll Collect app or on the Toll Collect website. Based on this information, the system calculates the route, also taking into account any sections that are not subject to tolls. Road closures and traffic restrictions are also taken into account.

The easiest way for you to use the toll system is to log on automatically using an On-Board Unit (OBU) in your truck. To do this, you will need to register your company and vehicles in the Toll Collect customer portal. You will receive a confirmation of registration for each truck. Once all the vehicle data has been entered correctly, you can arrange an appointment to get an on-board unit fitted with a service partner authorised by Toll Collect.

The alternative to the automatic system is the manual log-on. This is mainly provided for truck drivers and transport companies who do not drive through Germany very often. You can log on your planned route using the Toll Collect app or online. You don't have to register to be able to log on manually.

More information:

The quickest and easiest way for customers to register is online, using the customer portal. The registration process takes only a few minutes to complete. You will be given immediate access to all of the functions in the customer portal, such as the list of journeys still to be invoiced.

The vehicle registration certificate is used to check that toll-related vehicle data which are not apparent from the outside, such as the emission class, Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass and drive type, are correct. Based on this information, stops and official checks can be minimised.

From mid-April 2025, Toll Collect will check the accuracy of toll-relevant vehicle data that cannot be recognised from the outside, such as emission class, Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass and drive type (fuel type / energy source).

To do this, you will be asked to upload the vehicle registration certificate part 1 when registering the vehicle or changing the vehicle data. The data is then checked. If the check is not successful, the vehicle data is labelled as "not confirmed". Toll Collect will inform you about the next steps.

Vehicles registered before mid-April 2025 or vehicle data that was changed before this date remain unchecked. The label "not confirmed" will be applied in the customer portal. You are welcome to arrange for your data to be checked. Find the affected vehicle in the customer portal and go to "Change vehicle data". Please upload the vehicle registration certificate part 1. Your data will then be checked and you will receive feedback from Toll Collect.

If the check has not been confirmed as part of the vehicle registration or vehicle data change, you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your vehicle data within 14 days by changing the vehicle data and uploading the corresponding proof, with a correction if necessary. Possible proofs are: vehicle registration certificate part 1, Customer Information File (CIF), Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or CEMT approval for compliance with technical and safety requirements. The check status of the vehicle is displayed in the customer portal.

Please note: Automatic toll collection via the on-board unit (OBU) requires the vehicle data to be clearly stated and documented. If the data is not updated within 14 days, the OBU will be locked. Once your vehicle data change has been successfully processed, you will receive a confirmation and if the OBU was locked, it will be unlocked automatically.

The Toll Collect system is designed to provide the technical framework to support other toll systems. Toll Collect already collaborates with the Austrian toll operator ASFINAG. Register for the TOLL2GO service. Then you will only need one On-Board-Unit for toll payment in Germany and Austria – the Toll Collect On-Board Unit.

If your tractor unit has a Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass (TPMLM) of over 3.5 t, it is subject to toll. No toll is payable for 3.5 tonnes or less.

Vehicle combinations are subject to toll if the motorised vehicle has a TPMLM of over 3.5 tonnes.

The technically permissible maximum laden mass is determined by adding together the technically permissible maximum laden mass of the individual vehicles.

The weight prompt on the OBU at the beginning of the journey must be set to the correct weight class (>3.5-7.49, ≥7.5 – 11.99 t, ≥12 – 18 t or >18 t) and confirmed by pressing OK. The technically permissible maximum laden mass is selected in increments of 1.5 tonnes. It is not possible to set a weight class that is lower than the Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass that is saved in the on-board unit. Once your journey has started, the OBU display will continuously show the selected weight class.

Vehicles with a particulate reduction class (PRC) will no longer be assigned to a better Euro emission class from 1 December 2023.

Vehicles with emission class 'Euro 2 + PRC 1' will now fall within toll emission class 2, rather than toll emission class 3.

For vehicles with emission class 'Euro 3 + PRC 2' the applicable category will be toll emission class 3, rather than toll emission class 4.

You will find the seven-digit customer number (formerly: user number), for example, on your toll statement in the top right-hand corner and on all our letters.

Our freephone number is available almost everywhere in the world. Only a few countries and providers do not support this service. In these cases, please dial: +49 30 25291303. Calls to this number are charged according to the conditions of your fixed-line or mobile phone provider.

The emission class of a truck registered in Germany or abroad can be determined and verified in various ways. Detailed information on this can be found in the 'Guide for determining the emission classes' from the Federal Logistics and Mobility Office. If you have any further questions about the information provided in the brochure, please contact the Federal Logistics and Mobility Office directly, tel. +49 (0) 221-5776-0.

Please let us know about any changes to your operating and vehicle data as soon as possible.

You can change your payment method in the customer portal. If the legal form of your company has changed, please notify us in writing. You will find the necessary forms in the Download Centre.

You can change your contact details in the customer portal, such as: address, telephone number, contact person and e-mail address. In addition, you can also deregister vehicles there and change the following vehicle data: licence plate number, emission class, number of axles, vehicle identification number, technically permissible maximum laden mass and country of registration.

Following your successful "user registration", you will receive your master PIN.

The master PIN is used to authenticate the registered customer. You will need it when phoning customer service and when changing your details.