With the introduction of the truck toll on federal motorways in 2005, the system change from tax to user financing of federal trunk roads began. Currently, commercial vehicles with a permissible total weight of over 7.5 tonnes are subject to tolls on all federal highways. Toll rates are differentiated according to exhaust gas and weight classes. The Federal Highway Toll Act distinguishes between partial toll rates for infrastructure, air pollution and noise pollution costs.

After deducting the costs of collection, control and toll harmonization, the revenue from the truck toll is used exclusively for federal trunk roads. In 2020, the annual toll revenue fell to 7.4 billion euros. This level is close to the annual planned investment volume in Germany’s trunk roads, and the truck toll thus makes an outstanding contribution to financing the road infrastructure.

The Federal Highway Toll Act provides for a toll exemption for electric commercial vehicles. Trucks powered by CNG or LPG with a specified minimum gas tank size are also exempt from tolls until the end of 2023.