New toll rates from the start of next year
18.12.08 -
The toll rates for heavy commercial vehicles weighing 12 tonnes or more will change on 1st January 2009. The German Bundesrat [upper chamber of parliament] passed the ordinance effecting the change on 7th November 2008.
With the new toll rates, trucks with air quality retrofit systems will pay considerably less than vehicles producing higher emissions. Vehicles in pollutant emission category S2, combined with PMK* 1, 2, 3 or 4 qualify for lower category C toll rates. Vehicles in pollutant emission category S3, combined with PMK* 2, 3 or 4, will pay category B toll rates.
In order to take advantage of the lower toll rates after a particulate filter has been fitted (air quality retrofit system), transport and logistics companies will need to re-register their heavy goods vehicles with Toll Collect. From 1st January 2009, all registered customers will be able to access the amended “Change Vehicle Data” form on the Toll Collect website. After it is completed and signed, the form must be returned to the Customer Service department (Address: Toll Collect GmbH, Customer Service, Postfach 11 03 29, 10833 Berlin, Germany). Once they have re-registered, transport companies will receive one new vehicle card for each registered vehicle without an On-Board Unit.
The “Change Vehicle Data” form also needs to be completed, signed and sent to Toll Collect for registered vehicles equipped with On-Board Units. Once these vehicles have been re-registered with Toll Collect, the company will be receive written confirmation from the Customer Service department. Within 28 days of receipt of the confirmation letter, the re-registered vehicle must be taken to a Toll Collect Service Partner, where the new pollutant emission category data will be uploaded to the On-Board Unit. Once the On-Board Unit has been updated, the distance driven will be charged at the lower toll rates. Toll Collect will then send a new vehicle card to the company.
Until the re-registration process has been completed, drivers can either pay the toll at a toll-station terminal or the company can apply to the Federal Office of Goods Transport (BAG) for a refund of the excess toll paid.
If the toll is paid exclusively at toll-station terminals, drivers should enter the lower toll emissions category if the truck is categorized in Class S2 to S3 and has one of the required particulate reduction classes. For vehicles in pollutant emission category S2 in combination with PMK* 1, 2, 3 or 4, drivers should enter toll emissions category 3. For vehicles in pollutant emissions category S3 in combination with PMK* 2, 3 or 4, drivers should enter toll emissions category 4.
Here are the new toll rates applicable from 1st January 2009:
EEV 1 and pollutant emissions category S5
• Up to 3 axles: EUR 0.141 / km
• 4 axles and above: EUR 0.155 / km
Pollutant emissions category S4 and
pollutant emissions category S3 with PMK * 2, 3, or 4
• Up to 3 axles: EUR 0.169 / km
• 4 axles and above: EUR 0.183 / km
Pollutant emissions category S3 without PMK* and
pollutant emissions category S2 with PMK* 1, 2, 3, or 4
• Up to 3 axles: EUR 0.190 / km
• 4 axles and above: EUR 0.204 / km
Pollutant emissions category S2 without PMK*, S1 and vehicles that are not classified to a pollutant emissions category in the Annex to XIV of the German Road Traffic Registration Regulations
• Up to 3 axles: EUR 0.274 / km
• 4 axles and above: EUR 0.288 / km
The assignment of vehicles to the pollutant emissions categories is regulated as follows in the new toll level regulations [MautHV]:
• Category A: EEV 1 and S5
• Category B: S4; S3 with PMK* 2, 3, or 4
• Category C: S3 without PMK*; S2 with PMK* 1, 2, 3, or 4
• Category D: S2 without PMK*, S1 and vehicles that are not assigned to a pollutant emissions category in the Annex to XIV of the German Road Traffic Registration Regulations
The new pollutant emissions categories guide will be available from 1st January 2009 on the Internet: www.toll-collect.de
* PMK – Particulate reduction classes are German retrofit standards for reducing particulate emissions. In general, the relevant particulate reduction classes for toll-liable (heavy) commercial vehicles are PMK 1 or PMK 2.
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