Europe's toll roads

You need information about roads in Europe and you don't know where to find it? Then this article is for you. We'll tell you about the countries with free and toll roads, the advantages of toll motorways and the tolls they have.

Believe me, if you are going to a European country where such roads exist, you will definitely use them. In 99% of cases, travellers choose toll roads because they're very convenient and fast.

European toll roads: what to look out for

Each European country has its own tolls.

If we look at the whole of Europe, we can categorise the countries according to the number of toll roads they have on their territory:

Toll roads in Europe: What to look out for?

• States with only free roads – Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland and Germany.

The German government has put forward a proposal to introduce tolls on German motorways for foreign tourists as early as 2016. The European Commission did not support this proposal, arguing that it violates the rights of foreign drivers. The introduction of the toll has been postponed indefinitely for now. If the claims are withdrawn, the introduction of the toll can be expected as early as 01.01.2017.

By the end of the year, the toll will be introduced.

It should be noted that such an innovation was supported by the residents of Germany. They pay tolls on motorways in Switzerland and Austria, while residents of these two countries use German roads free of charge.

At the same time, it is important to note that this innovation is supported by German residents.

• Countries that require tolls on specific sections of roads, bridges or tunnels – these are Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and others
• States in which you have to buy a special sticker and stick it in a certain place on the windscreen (Bulgaria, Slovakia, Austria, etc.).

Road toll collection systems

Let's take a closer look at road user charging systems in European countries:

• closed system – tolls are collected at all exits and entrances, the amount collected depends on the length of the road journey;
• open system – the toll is fixed and is collected at certain exits

Tolling in some states is done by means of stickers that entitle you to travel on sections of roads or on all motorways for a certain period of time.

An open system – tolls are charged on a fixed basis at certain exits.

There is always a free, alternative road near every motorway, but without a GPS navigator, these roads are impossible to drive on. The speed on such roads should not exceed 60 kilometres per hour. If you are not in a hurry and want to enjoy the views from your window, choose the second option and travel in peace and take pictures of the surrounding scenery. However, you won't be able to avoid toll roads on your journey, as tolls on European roads usually account for around 3% of the total cost.

Recommend also: Steering Diagnostic Equipment.