Does TollRo apply to cars too? – A clear answer for drivers

Road toll payment in Romania changed on October 1, 2026, and drivers are naturally asking: does TollRo also apply to passenger cars?

For the full picture – who pays, rates, payment methods, and what happens to the rovinieta – see the complete TollRo 2026 guide.

The universal toll until now, the rovinieta (Romanian road vignette), was paid by all vehicles traveling on the country’s national roads, so it’s only natural that this question comes up.

Does TollRo also apply to passenger cars?

In short, no. TollRo applies only to freight vehicles over 3.5 tons. Passenger cars continue to pay the rovinieta.

The TollRo toll targets large vehicles, such as trucks or vans, and is calculated based on the distance traveled and the Euro emission class. The model is not new. Tolls are paid in a similar way in our neighbors Hungary and Bulgaria.

Following this change, the road toll in Romania is divided as follows:

• Passenger vehicles (regardless of weight) and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons: the rovinieta
• Freight vehicles over 3.5 tons: TollRo

The Rovinieta for Passenger Cars in 2026

With the new road toll, the rovinieta does not disappear for passenger cars, minibuses, coaches and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons; it stays in force in an adjusted form. The most important change is that the rovinieta rate is tied to the vehicle's emission class, which means a more polluting car pays more than a newer, greener one, in line with the European “polluter pays” principle.

In addition, a few practical things also changed as of October 1, 2026: the 7-day validity period was dropped and replaced with a 10-day one, and for vehicles registered in Romania there is a grace period: the rovinieta for the current day can be paid until midnight of the following day. Rates are generally higher than before, with the largest increases borne by commercial vehicles, minibuses and coaches.

The Rovinieta for Minibuses and Coaches after October 1, 2026

Minibuses and coaches do not switch to TollRo, even if they exceed 3.5 tons. Law no. 226/2023 applies TollRo only to vehicles built for freight transport with a mass over 3.5 tons and to mixed-transport vehicles treated as such. Coaches are passenger vehicles, so they stay on the rovinieta regardless of weight.

Your current rovinieta remains valid until it expires and you do not need to do anything. Law no. 226/2023, as amended by Law no. 103/2026, provides that rovinietas issued under the old system cease to be valid on October 1, 2026, except for those of vehicles that remain in the rovinieta system. The CNAIR (Romanian road infrastructure company) press release explicitly mentions passenger cars, minibuses and coaches.

After it expires, the new rovinieta is purchased through the new system, through any of the channels announced by CNAIR in its press release of September 25, 2026:

• the official portal etoll.ro;
• the free TollRo mobile app for iPhone and Android;
• SMS to 7500;
• distributors authorized by CNAIR (Romanian road infrastructure company);
• CNAIR points of sale and border crossing points.

What changes: the price now depends on the vehicle category (minibus or coach) and on the Euro class. The available periods are 1 day, 10 days, 30 days, 60 days and 12 months. The updated rates are published on etoll.ro, in the Rovinieta section.

Rates from October 1, 2026 (OMTI 888/2026), published on the official portal:

TollRo for Freight Vehicles over 3.5 Tons

The TollRo system applies to freight vehicles with a maximum authorized weight of over 3.5 tons. While until September 30, 2026 these vehicles used the rovinieta to travel legally on Romanian roads, since October 1, 2026, when the TollRo system went live, hauliers have been required to pay road tolls based on distance traveled, through the new platform.

This means trucks, tractor units (tractor heads with semi-trailers), large vans and freight utility vehicles over 3.5 tons, as well as mixed-use vehicles treated as such. Minibuses, buses and coaches do not pay TollRo, regardless of weight: they pay the rovinieta.

The new toll applies to all road freight operators using Romania's national road network, whether large companies with fleets of dozens of trucks or independent hauliers with a single vehicle over 3.5 tons.

In short, the answer to the question “Does TollRo also apply to passenger cars?” is no: TollRo does not apply to passenger cars, only to freight vehicles over 3.5 tons.

So it all comes down to two things: what your vehicle is used for (goods or passengers) and its weight. Freight vehicles over 3.5 tons fall under the TollRo system; all others stay with the rovinieta. What matters is knowing exactly which category you fall into, so you can prepare in time for the rules that apply to you. And if your fleet includes both light and heavy vehicles, you’ll have to manage both systems in parallel.

Does TollRo Also Apply to Passenger Cars? – Frequently Asked Questions

What type of toll is TollRo?
TollRo is a distance-based charge for using public roads in Romania, mandatory for freight vehicles with a mass over 3.5 tons, replacing the rovinieta for this category.

When did TollRo take effect?
The TollRo system has applied since October 1, 2026, 00:00.

Which vehicles are legally required to pay TollRo?
Vehicles designed for the carriage of goods with a maximum authorized weight (MTMA) above 3.5 tons and mixed-use vehicles treated as such, traveling on Romania’s national roads, expressways or highways. Minibuses, buses and coaches do not pay TollRo, regardless of weight: they pay the rovinieta.

List the vehicle categories subject to the TollRo toll:

• Category I — freight vehicles with an MTMA above 3.5 tons and up to 7.5 tons
• Category II — freight vehicles with an MTMA above 7.5 tons and below 12 tons
• Category III — freight vehicles with an MTMA of 12 tons or more, regardless of the number of axles (including tractor units with semi-trailers)
• Mixed-use vehicles treated as freight vehicles
• Minibuses, buses and coaches do not pay TollRo, regardless of weight: they pay the rovinieta

Do owners of personal cars pay TollRo?
No. Passenger cars are outside the scope of TollRo and remain subject to the rovinieta system.

What factors determine the amount of TollRo payable?
The toll is calculated based on the distance traveled on the tolled network, MTMA, Euro emission class and road type (highway/expressway or national road).

How much do you pay per kilometer with TollRo?
For vehicles with combustion engines, the rate ranges from 0.08 to 0.62 lei/km (VAT included), depending on weight category, Euro emission class and road type:

• 3.5–7.5 tons: 0.08–0.11 lei/km (national road) / 0.17–0.22 lei/km (motorway/expressway)
• 7.5–12 tons: 0.14–0.19 lei/km (national road) / 0.29–0.37 lei/km (motorway)
• Over 12 tons: 0.24–0.31 lei/km (national road) / 0.48–0.62 lei/km (motorway)

Since October 8, 2026 (OMTI 959/2026), electric trucks have separate rates of 0.02–0.12 lei/km. Electric trucks pay the least, followed by Euro VI; Euro III–0 pay the most.

TollRo vs. rovinieta — what is the fundamental difference?
The rovinieta is a flat time-based fee (1 day, 10 days, 30 days, 60 days or 12 months), regardless of distance traveled, valid for cars, minibuses, coaches and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons. TollRo is a variable toll, proportional to the distance actually traveled, calculated based on MTMA, Euro emission class and road type, and applies exclusively to freight vehicles over 3.5 tons and mixed-use vehicles treated as such.

How can I pay the TollRo toll?
Two payment methods are available:

• Route ticket or charging session — since October 1, 2026, in the CNAIR system: you buy a route ticket before the trip (in the TollRo app, on etoll.ro, at CNAIR points of sale or at border crossings) or start a charging session in the TollRo app (per kilometer, based on the phone’s GPS) that you close at the end; the toll is deducted from the electronic wallet
• Contract with a CNAIR-authorized provider — automatic payment through an on-board unit, useful for hauliers with frequent trips; possible only from January 15, 2027

Is the route ticket enough for TollRo compliance?
Yes, the route ticket is an officially recognized payment method and ensures legal compliance for occasional trips or transits through Romania. The ticket is bought before the trip in the TollRo app, on etoll.ro, at CNAIR points of sale or at border crossings.

Is there an automatic payment solution for TollRo?
Not yet. Until January 15, 2027, the driver buys a route ticket or starts and closes a charging session in the TollRo app. Starting January 15, 2027, the toll can be recorded and paid automatically through an on-board unit (OBU) from a CNAIR-authorized provider.

What are the consequences of not paying the TollRo toll?
Anyone who drives without paying owes the toll: TollRo for the kilometers traveled, if the distance can be determined, or 2,000 lei, charged once per 12-hour period, if it cannot. If the amount due is paid on time, no penalties apply; the deadline is 72 hours from receipt of the notification letter (Law no. 226/2023, art. 19). Otherwise, the fine is 10 to 20 times the TollRo due or, if the distance cannot be determined, 5,000 lei. Fines apply from October 1, 2026. A bill that would suspend fines until March 31, 2027 was submitted to the Senate but has not been adopted. Exception: you are not penalized if you could not pay because of a platform malfunction and you tried before departure.

On which roads is TollRo payment mandatory?
TollRo is mandatory on national roads, expressways and highways in the network managed by CNAIR, except for national road sections within city limits.

Are Romanian motorways included in the TollRo system?
Yes, motorways are part of the road network subject to TollRo, along with expressways and national roads.

What is MTMA and how does it affect the TollRo toll?
MTMA (maximum authorized weight) is the legal weight limit of a vehicle at full load — including the body, engine, cargo, passengers and fuel. The MTMA value is shown in the registration certificate and determines the TollRo rate category applicable to the vehicle.

How is the Euro class reflected in the TollRo rate?
The rate has four emission tiers: electric vehicles (lowest), Euro VI, Euro V–IV and Euro III–0 (highest). For example, for category III on highways: 0.12 / 0.48 / 0.55 / 0.62 lei/km.

Was the rovinieta for trucks eliminated with TollRo?
Yes, starting October 1, 2026, the rovinieta no longer applies to trucks, which have fully moved to the TollRo toll system.

Which European toll system is TollRo similar to?
TollRo follows the same model as HU-GO in Hungary: per-kilometer charging, differentiated by vehicle category and Euro class, with payment via route ticket or OBU device. Unlike HU-GO, which has been operating for years, TollRo has been running in Romania since October 1, 2026.

Who manages and collects the TollRo toll?
CNAIR — the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration — is the institution responsible for administering, issuing and collecting the TollRo toll, under Law no. 226/2023.

Tania