Craftsperson exception

Since 1 July 2024, the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act (BFStrMG) has imposed mandatory tolls for vehicles with a technically permissible maximum laden mass (TPMLM) of more than 3.5 and less than 7.5 tonnes. Craftsperson vehicles are exempt from the toll requirement under certain conditions.

Please note: The law does not provide a general craftsperson exemption from tolls, but rather an exemption for specific journeys. Journeys that do not fulfil the relevant requirements are subject to tolls.

The craftsperson exemption only applies to vehicles with a technically permissible maximum laden mass (TPMLM) of more than 3.5 and less than 7.5 tonnes that are used by a craft business. There is no trade exemption for vehicles or vehicle combinations with a TPMLM of 7.5 tonnes or more.

The German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act (BFStrMG) does not provide for a general exemption from the toll for craftspeople but rather a journey-related exemption. Journeys that do not fulfil the relevant requirements are subject to tolls.

Please note: Certain vehicles are generally not subject to tolls. These are vehicles that do not fall under the definition of vehicles subject to toll (e.g. self-propelled machinery) and vehicles for which the legislator has created special exemptions (e.g. fire engines).

The craftsperson exemption applies if the vehicle is driven by an employee of the crafts business and, in doing so

• materials, equipment or machines are being transported that are necessary for the performance of the services and work of the trade business (including tools, work materials, spare parts, building materials, cables, devices and accessories) and/or
• handcrafted goods are being transported that are manufactured, processed or repaired in the company's own workshop.
  
  If industrially manufactured goods are delivered instead, the journeys are not toll-exempt. Industrial manufacture is understood to denote any manufacturing process that is characterised by a high level of machine use and/or standardised production processes. In contrast to mass production, handcrafted production is generally characterised by limited quantities and more frequent individual product variation. The following, for example, are generally not handcrafted but industrially produced: dough blanks or baked goods produced in large quantities using collaborative processes involving a high degree of mechanisation and automation and designed to be baked or sold in shops.

The transport must not involve commercial transportation for third parties, not even for another craft business, but must exclusively be an auxiliary activity within the framework of the overall activity of the company.

A list of all professions that fulfil the requirements for the craftsperson exemption can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Logistics and Mobility.

The list contains all trades which, according to the Trades and Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung: HwO), can be operated as trades requiring a licence, as trades not requiring a licence, or as businesses similar to trades (pursuant to Annex A HwO and Annex B HwO) and the training occupations recognised as skilled trades from the "List of recognised training occupations" published annually by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in the official section of the Federal Gazette, whose activity profile is comparable to that of a skilled trade occupation.

The list has been finalised by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and the Federal Logistics and Mobility Office and is identical in content to the list in the Toll Collect registration form.

No, the list is conclusive. There may be exceptions for obsolete or foreign trade designations.

Yes, it is not necessary for the company to have a branch in Germany.

Please note: When registering craftsperson vehicles with Toll Collect and during toll checks, proof must be provided in German or with a translation into German.

Yes, transit journeys are also toll-free if they fulfil the requirements for the craftsperson exemption.

Please note: When registering craftsperson vehicles with Toll Collect and during toll checks, proof must be provided in German or with a translation into German.

Only vehicles and vehicle combinations with a technically permissible maximum laden mass (TPMLM) of more than 3.5 and less than 7.5 tonnes are eligible for the craftsperson exemption. Motor vehicles with a TPMLM of 3.5 tonnes or less are always toll-free.

Return journeys and empty journeys are toll-free if they are directly related to

• previous or subsequent craftsperson activities or
• the delivery of handcrafted goods.

On the other hand, workshop trips, transfers or private journeys, for example, are subject to tolls.

No, the craftsperson exemption from the truck toll is not limited to a defined area around the registered office of the business.

For mixed journeys, the main purpose of the journey is taken into account. If the journey is primarily for carrying out craftsperson activities or for delivering goods produced by a craftsperson it is toll-free. The non-craftrelated aspect of the journey must only be of minor importance.

The craftsperson exemption also applies to rental vehicles. In the event of enforcement, proof must be provided that the vehicle has been hired by a crafts business and used in accordance with the requirements for the craftsperson exemption.

Please note: Rental vehicles can only be registered with Toll Collect if the crafts business is entered as the vehicle owner in the registration certificate part I (vehicle registration document), e.g. in the case of long-term rentals.

The craftsperson exemption also applies to leased vehicles. In the event of enforcement, proof must be provided that the vehicle has been leased by a craft business and used in accordance with the requirements for the craftsperson exemption.

Please note: Leased vehicles can only be registered with Toll Collect if the craft business is entered as the vehicle owner in the registration certificate part I (vehicle registration document).

No. A general toll exemption applies to this vehicle. We recommend that you register your vehicle as toll-exempt on the basis of the general exemption.

Suitable proof includes at least e.g. the craft/trade licence, commercial licence, business registration (copy) and also e.g. delivery notes or customer orders. Please note that the documents must be submitted in German or with a translation into German.

If your journey does not meet the requirements for the craftsperson exemption, switch on your OBU or book your journey via our app or website. If your journey does fulfil the requirements for the craftsperson exemption, switch off the OBU toll collection.