European truck tolls are rising across the board in 2026. CO2 surcharges are expanding, the Netherlands is switching from vignette to per-kilometer charging, Poland hiked rates by 40%, and Romania is launching a brand-new distance-based system.
Moving oversized cargo across Europe means dealing with 15+ separate permitting systems. There is no unified EU permit for abnormal loads. This guide covers permit requirements for 15 European countries.
Most European countries ban trucks (typically over 7.5t) from driving on Sundays and public holidays. Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland and others enforce strict weekend bans with fines ranging from EUR 45 to EUR 750+.
A driver fires up Google Maps, follows the blue line, and twenty minutes later the truck is wedged under a 3.5-meter bridge. Google Maps was built for cars. It has no idea what a truck is.
Germany operates one of the most extensive and most expensive truck toll systems in Europe. With over 51,000 km of tolled roads, a CO2 surcharge introduced in December 2023, and further adjustments effective January 2026, understanding the German Maut is essential.
Austria's motorway network is a critical transit corridor for European freight, connecting Germany to Italy via the Brenner Pass and linking Western Europe to the Balkans. The GO-Maut system, operated by ASFINAG, applies distance-based tolls to all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
Poland's e-TOLL system underwent major changes in early 2026 with two rate increases within two months and a significant network expansion. For freight forwarders operating on the key East-West transit corridors through Poland, understanding the new rates is critical.
The Czech Republic sits at the crossroads of European freight corridors, connecting Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. The Czech Myto system, operated by CzechToll, applies distance-based electronic tolls to all trucks over 3.5 tonnes on motorways and selected first-class roads.
France operates one of Europe's most extensive motorway toll systems with approximately 9,000 km of tolled autoroutes managed by private concession companies. For trucks over 3.5 tonnes, understanding the vehicle classification and Telepeage badges is essential.
European truckers need to bill at least 1.46 EUR/km to cover costs. The average market rate is 1.20 EUR/km. That is -2,100 EUR per truck per month. Here is the full TCO breakdown for 2026 and what fleets can do about it.