Germany Introduces Car Toll
Published Date: 10th Jul 2014
Non-German registered cars will need to buy a permit to drive on all roads in the future
Drivers from the UK travelling to Germany might have to pay a car toll from 2016 under a new German Government plan to raise funds.
Drivers from foreign countries will have to purchase a permit – costing €10 (around £7.90) for 10 days – this permit would then be displayed on a windscreen. The alternative is drivers can buy an annual permit for around €100 (around £79) depending on the emissions of the chosen car.
The German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt explained “native drivers will also pay the toll but it will be offset by a tax cut elsewhere”. Dobrindt expects the proposals to raise close to €2.5 billion over the next four years.
It is important to take into consideration that Germany has had the toll system for trucks and HGV’s for years, but is one of a few European countries that doesn't charge for normal cars. Almost all of its neighbours, including France, Austria and Switzerland do have their own toll systems in place for private cars but unlike the German plans, don't distinguish between foreigners and national citizens.
The toll disc stickers would mean that foreign drivers, including those from here in the UK – would be paying to use all roads in Germany and not just the highways. Also German roads are extremely popular with keen drivers across Europe because of their delimited Auto roads.
This idea for the new German toll started early last year but it is unknown as to whether the EU will support these latest plans which clearly makes a distinction between German drivers and Foreign drivers.
A spokeswoman for EU's transportation commissioner, Siim Kallas had this to say to the Wall Street Journal: “Changes to Germany's existing car taxation scheme are a German responsibility. They should not be directly aimed at discriminating [against] foreign drivers."