The new system is intended not only to modernise toll collection, but also to support the decarbonisation of heavy road transport. Revenue from the toll will be reinvested in the sector, including in electric trucks, hydrogen technologies and the expansion of charging infrastructure.
Weight- and emissions-based road charge
The system will apply to N2 and N3 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight above 3.5 tonnes, regardless of their country of registration. The toll level will depend on the vehicle’s weight and its CO₂ emission class – the lighter and less polluting the vehicle, the lower the rate per kilometre.
The toll rates for 2026 are final and have been set in 2026 prices. The average rate will be 19.1 euro cents per kilometre.
Example rates:
- Euro 6 vehicle with a maximum technically permissible mass of 16 tonnes – 16.0 euro cents/km
- the same vehicle in a 100% electric version – 3.5 euro cents/km
- Euro 6 vehicle with a maximum technically permissible mass above 32 tonnes – 20.1 euro cents/km
- its zero-emission equivalent – 3.8 euro cents/km
After the system is launched, toll rates will be adjusted annually for inflation. The applicable charge will depend on the vehicle’s weight and CO₂ emission class, determined using data from the RDW vehicle register, which is currently being updated. The RDW website will also provide a toll calculator.
OBU instead of toll gates
The new charging system will be fully electronic. Every truck subject to the toll will be required to have an on-board unit (OBU), which records the kilometres driven and transmits the data to the service provider. Charges will be calculated automatically – physical toll gates and traditional toll booths will disappear from Dutch roads.
Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) points out that vehicle operators will be able to choose their service provider:
- a national provider, mandatory for all users, or
- a commercial EETS provider operating in several European countries, once approved for use in the Dutch system.
Abolition of the Eurovignette and tax changes
The Eurovignette will cease to apply on 1 July 2026. At the same time, the motor vehicle tax for trucks up to 12 tonnes will be abolished, while for vehicles over 12 tonnes it will be significantly reduced.
The system also предусматри exceptions: vehicles with dealer plates, temporary registrations, speed-limited vehicles (MMBS), and zero-emission vehicles with a maximum mass of up to 4.25 tonnes will be exempt from the toll. If the charge is not paid, owner data will be forwarded to the competent authorities in the country of registration, enabling fines to be issued. In extreme cases, the Dutch Transport Inspectorate (ILT) may detain the vehicle.
Sector preparation and investment in sustainable transport
Preparations for the introduction of the toll have been underway for years. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the new system will improve efficiency and sustainability in the transport sector, with a significant share of revenues reinvested in electric trucks and charging infrastructure. From January 2026, a subsidy scheme for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles will be launched, with a budget of €78 million.
The ministry stresses that introducing the toll represents a major challenge for public institutions and private service providers alike, but that efforts by all parties are intended to ensure that the system’s launch runs as smoothly as possible.
Read more: Switzerland retires its truck toll device
