Czech government to raise tolls for trucks by 5% starting January 2025

The Czech government has approved a plan to increase tolls for trucks over 3.5 tons by up to 5% starting in January 2025. This hike, part of a newly approved regulation, specifically targets the portion of toll fees tied to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, the rates for buses will remain unchanged. The move aims to boost revenues for the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure (SFDI) and encourage carriers to switch to lower-emission vehicles, according to František Jemelka, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport.

“The goal of this regulation is twofold: to raise revenue for the SFDI, which supports the construction, repair, and maintenance of motorways and roads, and to motivate carriers to use vehicles with lower CO2 emissions,” said Jemelka.

The increase will affect the fourth toll component, which covers CO2 emissions, while tolls for buses (categorized as M2 and M3 vehicles) will remain the same. Additionally, electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles will continue to be exempt from these charges.

The Ministry of Transport expects the toll increase to generate an additional 800 million crowns for the SFDI. This year, the state aims to collect 16.43 billion crowns in tolls, with 11.36 billion already collected by August, marking a 14.8% year-on-year rise.

The government also discussed the future of toll collection after 2029, when current contracts with toll operators expire. Following a Cabinet meeting, officials confirmed that no major changes to the tolling system are planned, and there are no plans to expand tolls to other vehicle categories, such as motorcycles.

Source: CTK