Which vehicles are subject to the Maut?
The toll requirement applies to vehicles and vehicle combinations intended for the transport of goods by road. The decisive factor is the technically permitted total weight, not the actual weight of the load at that moment. Whether you’re transporting a full truckload (FTL) or a less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment, the vehicle being driven is the determining factor.
The major change: as of July 1, 2024, the toll threshold has been lowered from 7.5 metric tons to 3.5 metric tons. As a result, lighter commercial vehicles—such as larger delivery vans and small box trucks—now also pay tolls in Germany. This also affects, for example, groupage transport, in which smaller shipments are consolidated. For companies that previously fell below the 7.5-metric-ton threshold, this has become a new cost.
An exception applies to craft businesses (the so-called “Handwerker-Ausnahme”) under certain conditions. For regular commercial transport, this exception generally does not apply.
How is the toll rate calculated?
The rate per kilometer is not a fixed amount but is composed of several components. Since December 2023, CO2 emissions have been factored in as a separate, significant factor via a CO2 surcharge. The breakdown is as follows:
- Number of axles — more axles mean a higher rate.
- CO₂ emission class — vehicles are classified into five classes. Class 1 (the most polluting) is the most expensive; zero-emission vehicles fall into the least expensive class.
- Air pollution — determined by the engine’s Euro emission class.
- Noise pollution — a fixed component per kilometer driven.
CO2 emissions are not the only environmental factor that determines your costs in Germany. Anyone unloading in German cities must also contend with environmental zones (Umweltzonen) and the associated environmental stickers.
A Comparison of the Five CO2 Emission Classes
Since the introduction of the CO2 surcharge, the CO2 class a vehicle falls into has a significant impact on your toll costs. The cleaner the vehicle, the lower the surcharge. This table lists the five classes with an indication of the difference:
CO2-emissieklassen voor de Duitse LKW-Maut
| CO2 class |
Description |
Impact on the toll rate |
| Class 1 |
Vehicles that do not meet a lower emissions standard (standard/reference) |
Highest CO2 surcharge |
| Class 2 |
Vehicles with demonstrably lower CO2 emissions than the reference |
Lower surcharge than Class 1 |
| Class 3 |
Vehicles with even lower CO2 emissions |
Lower surcharge than Class 2 |
| Class 4 |
Vehicles with very low CO2 emissions |
Low surcharge |
| Class 5 |
Zero-emission vehicles (e.g., fully electric or hydrogen) |
Lowest rate; may be (partially) exempt |
The amounts and percentages in this table are indicative. Please consult toll-collect.de for the current, binding rates.
How does Neele-Vat handle tolls?
If you have Neele-Vat handle your transport to Germany, you don’t have to worry about German tolls. We factor the Maut into the trip cost and carefully track the CO2 classification of our fleet. This way, you’ll never unnecessarily pay a higher toll rate than the one applicable to the vehicle.
Because we drive on German corridors every day, we know the toll rules and administrative procedures inside and out. Do you regularly ship to Germany and want to get a handle on your transportation costs? Request a customized quote, and we’ll transparently break down the expected costs for you.
