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CO₂ emission classes

Toll Collect is preparing the technical implementation of the CO₂ toll provided for in the draft law.

Determining and changing emission class

Toll Collect initially stored CO₂ emission class 1 for all registered vehicles. You can use the emissions class finder in the customer portal to check which CO₂ emission class a vehicle is assigned to. There you have the possibility to request a change in the emission class and to upload documents for evidence (vehicle registration certificate, CIF, CoC, single-approval sheet).

Please submit the application for change of emission class as soon as possible.

You can already take a look at the emissions class finder here, on the Toll Collect website. Please note that no application can be made in the freely accessible area.

CO₂ emission class finder

Billing documents

The CO₂ emission class has already been included in the billing documents. You can find the new templates and relevant explanations here:

Questions and answers about the CO₂ emission classes

    • Vehicles are classified into carbon dioxide emission classes according to the requirements of Directive 1999/62/EC (infrastructure charging directive).
    • There will be five CO₂ emission classes
    • CO2emission class 5 applies to zero-CO₂ emission vehicles (electric vehicles and hydrogen combustion vehicles as well as vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell). Vehicles in CO₂emission class 5 must have a CO₂ emission value of less than 1 g/km. Vehicles in CO₂ emission classes 2 - 4 have different CO₂ emission limits. All vehicles for which no specific CO₂ emissions are documented (first registration before 1 July 2019) or which currently exceed the CO₂ reference value will automatically be assigned CO₂ emission class 1.

  • Partial toll rate for costs for carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre for vehicles or vehicle combinations subject to tolls, differentiated according to CO₂ emission class, emission class, Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass and number of axles in euros (extract from the government draft of the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act (BFStrMG)):

    Carbon dioxide emission class 7,5 to <12 t 12 to 18 t >18 t with up to 3 axles >18 t with 4 axles >18 t with 5 and more axles
    1 EURO I and worse 0,080 0,104 0,158 0,158 0,162
    EURO II
    EURO III    		 0,080 0,104 0,138 0,138 0,162
    EURO IV
    EURO V
    EEV class 1    		 0,080 0,100 0,134 0,134 0,160
    EURO VI 0,080 0,100 0,124 0,134 0,158
    2 0,076 0,096 0,118 0,128 0,150
    3 0,072 0,090 0,111 0,120 0,142
    4 0,040 0,050 0,063 0,068 0,079
    5 0 0 0 0 0

  • Each vehicle is assigned to a vehicle group or vehicle subgroup. Each vehicle subgroup has a specific operational profile, which is differentiated by chassis configuration, TPMLM, axle configuration, engine power and cab type. Limit values for CO₂ emissions are set for each vehicle subgroup and are decreasing from year to year. The percentage deviation of the specific CO₂ emission of the vehicle from the applicable limit value of the associated vehicle subgroup at the time of classification determines the CO₂ emission class

    CO₂ emission class Definition Validity
    1 Vehicles which do not fall within any of the other four CO2 emission classes unlimited
    2 Vehicles of a vehicle subgroup whose CO2 emission levels at classification time t are more than 5 per cent below the reference value of the reporting period of t applicable to this vehicle subgroup. 6 years from the date of first registration, then reclassification
    3 Vehicles of a vehicle subgroup whose CO2 emission values at time t of classification are more than 8 per cent below the reference value of the reporting period of t applicable to this vehicle subgroup. at least 6 years from the date of first registration of the truck (or the start of the first validity period), then reclassification
    4 Low-CO22-emission trucks, i.e. vehicles in a vehicle subgroup, whose CO2 emission values are more than 50 per cent below the applicable reference value for this vehicle subgroup. unlimited
    5 Zero-CO2-emission vehicles (ZEV), i.e. trucks with less than 1 g CO2 / kWh or less than 1 g CO2 / km unlimited

    • To verify (validate) a justified change of emission class, copies of the vehicle registration certificate and, if applicable, the customer information file (CIF) and the certificate of conformity/declaration of compliance (CoC) must be attached to the application. In addition, the vehicle identification number (VIN) is required for the comparison of all documents. The necessary documents must be uploaded in the customer portal when applying.
    • It is not possible for by service providers such as the customer's fuel card and fleet card providers to change the emission class.

  • Emission-free vehicles such as electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles, as well as vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell, will remain toll-exempt until the end of 2025. From 1 January 2026, 25 percent of the partial toll rate must be paid for infrastructure costs, plus the partial toll rates for air and noise pollution.

  • Toll-exempt vehicles also do not have to pay a partial CO₂ toll rate. Please note, however, that the toll exemption for natural gas-powered trucks will expire on 31 December 2023 and they will become subject to regular tolls from 1 January 2024, including the partial CO₂ toll rate.

  • According to the EU Directive on infrastructure costs or the VECTO Directive, a CO₂-neutral fuel has no effect on the specific CO₂ emissions or CO₂ emission class. (VECTO = Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool)

  • The VIN or vehicle identification number is required for matching the submitted documents with the application for a better CO₂ emission class.

    • In the vehicle documents, specifically in the vehicle registration document (vehicle registration certificate part I) and in the vehicle title (vehicle registration certificate part II) or
    • In the certificate of conformity/declaration of compliance (CoC).

  • You have to edit each vehicle individually. We recommend that you do the CO₂ class and TPMLM check together.

  • The BALM constantly monitors the correct payment of the toll. If too little or no toll is paid due to the incorrect declaration of the Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass (TPMLM), subsequent collection and administrative offence proceedings will be initiated.