Germany has been attracting drivers for years with free highways, but not everyone knows when you can actually drive without fees and when you need to prepare your wallet. In this guide, you’ll find specific information about how road tolls look in Germany in 2025, what has changed for trucks and buses, and which tunnels still require fees before you hit the road.
German highways in 2025 – what you need to know before you hit the road
A trip to Germany involves many preparations, so it’s good to know the real rules for driving on highways in advance, especially if you’re planning a trip by car. Germany has been attracting drivers for years with the possibility of using highways without fees, which distinguishes this country from most European states where vignettes or section tolls are standard. This solution still applies in 2025, so you can calmly plan your route, knowing that crossing the border doesn’t mean the necessity of buying a vignette or adding transit costs to your vacation budget.
However, if you’re planning frequent business trips or transport runs, it’s worth knowing that these rules don’t apply to commercial vehicles and buses over 3.5 tons, which have been subject to fees since July 2024. This change affected many transport companies that now must carefully plan routes in terms of costs to avoid unnecessary financial losses. For you as a car driver, free highways remain a convenience – toll highways in Germany are exceptions, such as tunnels that still require preparing small amounts before you hit the road.
Are highways in Germany toll roads? The truth about transit fees
The answer for passenger cars is short – you won’t pay for transit. In practice, this means that driving over 13,000 kilometers of highway is free of charge, which you’ll appreciate especially on long routes and regular trips. This solution is beneficial both for people traveling privately and for those who frequently visit Germany for business purposes. Thanks to this, you can plan a route through the entire length of the country without worrying about additional costs that in other countries are often a significant burden.
However, you can’t forget about exceptions, because although most routes are free, there are sections you have to pay for. This mainly concerns the Warnowtunnel in Rostock and Herrentunnel in Lübeck, where fees range from 1 to 4 euros per passage. This is a small expense, but it’s worth keeping in mind, especially if your route goes through these sections. It’s also important that commercial vehicles and buses with a mass over 3.5 tons are subject to toll obligations in the Toll Collect system, which may be significant if you run a company or plan to transport goods to Germany.
Lkw-Maut, tunnels and exceptions – toll highways in Germany
Although highways in Germany are free for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and buses over 3.5 tons have had to pay road tolls within the Lkw-Maut system since July 2024. This system has been operating since 2005 and initially covered vehicles over 12 tons, but over time the weight thresholds were lowered to include more and more commercial vehicles. If you run a transport company or plan to use a bus for goods transport in Germany, you must include these fees in your operating costs.
Additionally, you need to remember about toll tunnels, which are an exception to the free highway rule. Warnowtunnel and Herrentunnel are two sections where fees apply regardless of vehicle category. This means that car drivers must also prepare small amounts for passage, which should be planned before the trip. Thanks to this knowledge, you’ll avoid surprises and calmly drive through all sections without worries about unpleasant situations during your journey.
The belief that highways in Germany are free is completely true – apart from a few exceptions. Exceptions are a few toll tunnels as well as Lkw-Maut fees that affect commercial vehicles and buses over 3.5 tons. If you’re traveling by car, you can calmly plan a trip through Germany without additional costs, remembering only about a few exceptional sections.
Maciej Wawrzyniak is an experienced entrepreneur whose company prepares more than 40,000 tax returns annually. As co-founder of Taxando, he brings his experience and knowledge in finance, marketing, and tax to the project.
In his private life, Maciej enjoys sporting challenges, playing the guitar, and swimming in the lake. He is also the proud father of three sons.
