Does TollRo apply on highways? – Tolls on Romania’s highway network

In short: Yes, TollRo applies on highways, as well as on expressways and national roads, except for national road sections within city limits. The new road charging system targets freight vehicles with an maximum authorized weight over 3.5 tons and replaces the rovinieta (Romanian road vignette) for them. The rate is calculated per kilometer traveled, based on vehicle category (MTMA), Euro emission standard and road type: for combustion-engine vehicles, 0.08–0.31 lei/km on national roads and 0.17–0.62 lei/km on highways and expressways (VAT included). Since October 8, 2026 (OMTI 959/2026), electric trucks have separate rates of 0.02–0.12 lei/km.

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

You may be wondering whether TollRo applies on motorways or only on national roads. Many hauliers still don't know all the details of this regulation, but it's not entirely their fault.

The deadline was postponed several times, but TollRo has applied since October 1, 2026, and the information can sometimes feel overwhelming.

The TollRo toll is a major change in Romania, and its impact is felt by every company in the transport industry.

Does TollRo apply on motorways?

Yes, TollRo applies on highways, expressways and national roads, except for national road sections within city limits.

The toll is calculated based on distance traveled, MTMA, Euro emission class and road type (highway/expressway or national road).

Per-kilometer tolling in Romania

Until recently, drivers and transport companies paid the rovinieta regardless of the category of vehicle driven. It's true that prices varied depending on certain factors, but the principle was the same.

Since October 1, 2026, however, things have changed. Freight vehicles over 3.5 tons pay based on category, distance and Euro emission class. As of this date, TollRo applies on highways, expressways and national roads, marking Romania’s shift to a per-kilometer charging model.

The TollRo toll

TollRo is Romania's new road tolling system for freight vehicles over 3.5 tons, in effect from October 1, 2026. It replaces the rovinieta for trucks and introduces a pricing model based on kilometers driven, similar to those already in place in other European countries (such as Hungary OR Bulgaria). In practice, this Romania 2026 road toll completely changes the way hauliers pay for using the roads.

How per-kilometer tolling works in Romania

Here are the TollRo rates, according to Official Gazette (Monitorul Oficial) no. 940 of October 10, 2025, supplemented by OMTI 959/2026 (in effect since October 8, 2026):

So the answer to the question in the title is clear: TollRo applies on motorways, as well as on expressways and national roads. For hauliers, this means that the new toll system road tolling in Romania follows them on almost every major route. The better they understand how the TollRo toll works and which road type they use most often, the more accurately they can estimate their costs.

Frequently asked questions

What is TollRo?

TollRo is Romania's per-kilometer road toll, which replaces the rovinieta for freight vehicles over 3.5 tons starting October 1, 2026.

When does TollRo take effect?

The TollRo toll applies from October 1, 2026, at 00:00.

Who does TollRo apply to?

TollRo applies to freight vehicles over 3.5 tons.

Which vehicles pay TollRo?

All freight vehicles over 3.5 tons must pay TollRo. Here are a few examples:

Freight vehicles, in three rate categories, based on maximum authorized weight (MTMA):

• Freight vehicles with an MTMA over 3.5 tons and up to and including 7.5 tons (category I)
• Freight vehicles with an MTMA over 7.5 tons and under 12 tons (category II)
• Freight vehicles with an MTMA of 12 tons or more, regardless of the number of axles (category III)
• Mixed-use vehicles (passengers and freight), treated as freight vehicles
• Tractor units with semi-trailers (tractor-trailers)

Passenger vehicles – minibuses, buses, and coaches – do not pay TollRo, regardless of weight: they remain on the rovinieta.

Does TollRo also apply to passenger cars?

No. Cars continue to pay the rovinieta, as do minibuses, coaches, and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons.

How is the TollRo toll calculated?

TollRo is calculated by multiplying the distance traveled on the tolled network, in whole kilometers, by the unit rate, which depends on the MTMA, the Euro emission class and the road type (highway/expressway or national road).

How much does TollRo cost per kilometer?

The TollRo toll is calculated per kilometer traveled, based on the vehicle's weight (MTMA), Euro emission class, and road type.

For vehicles with combustion engines, the unit rate ranges from 0.08 to 0.62 lei/km (VAT included). Since October 8, 2026 (OMTI 959/2026), electric trucks have separate rates of 0.02–0.12 lei/km. For 3.5–7.5-ton vehicles, the rate is 0.08–0.11 lei/km on national roads and 0.17–0.22 lei/km on highways and expressways.

For 7.5–12-ton vehicles, the rate is 0.14–0.19 lei/km on national roads and 0.29–0.37 lei/km on highways. Vehicles over 12 tons pay 0.24–0.31 lei/km on national roads and 0.48–0.62 lei/km on highways. In each category, electric trucks pay the least, followed by Euro VI; Euro III–0 pay the most.

What is the difference between TollRo and the rovinieta?

• The rovinieta is purchased for a set period (e.g., 1 day, 10 days, 30 days, 60 days, or 12 months), regardless of how many kilometers are traveled, and remains in place for cars, minibuses, coaches, and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons.
• TollRo, on the other hand, is paid per kilometer, based on distance traveled, MTMA, Euro emission class and road type (highway/expressway or national road), and applies to freight vehicles over 3.5 tons and mixed-use vehicles.

How Do You Pay TollRo?

1. The TollRo app and etoll.ro – CNAIR’s official channels, in operation since October 1, 2026. Until January 15, 2027, TollRo can be paid in two ways: with a route ticket, bought before the trip in the TollRo app, on etoll.ro, at CNAIR points of sale or at border crossings, or with a charging session in the TollRo app, which the driver starts before departure and closes at the end; the route is recorded based on the phone’s GPS, and the toll is deducted from the electronic wallet.
   *Important: if you use a charging session, make sure the app has permission to access the phone’s location. If the phone stops transmitting its position for an extended period, the session stops automatically, and the toll remains due for the distance actually traveled.
2. A contract with a service provider – ideal for hauliers who frequently run domestic routes and consistently use Romania’s roads. Under this contract, you enter into an agreement with a CNAIR-authorized provider, who will automatically handle road toll payments on the haulier’s behalf through an on-board unit (OBU). This option will only be available starting January 15, 2027.

Can I pay TollRo with a ticket?

Yes, TollRo can be paid with a route ticket, bought before the trip in the TollRo app, on etoll.ro, at CNAIR points of sale or at border crossings. If you make frequent trips on Romanian roads, you can use the charging session in the TollRo app or, starting January 15, 2027, an on-board unit from a CNAIR-authorized provider.

Can I pay TollRo automatically with a toll device?

Not yet. TollRo will be payable with an on-board unit (OBU) from a CNAIR-authorized provider starting January 15, 2027. Until then, no device mounted on a truck pays TollRo: a GPS fleet tracking device does not pay TollRo.

What happens if I don't pay TollRo?

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); at a roadside check, the amount is paid on the spot. Otherwise, the fine is 10 to 20 times the TollRo due or, if the distance cannot be determined, 5,000 lei (Law no. 226/2023, art. 19). 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.

Does TollRo also apply on national roads?

Yes, TollRo applies on national roads, expressways, and highways. National roads within city limits are exempt, and TollRo does not apply on county and local roads.

Does TollRo also apply on highways?

Yes, TollRo applies on highways, expressways and national roads, except for national road sections within city limits.

What does MTMA mean for TollRo?

MTMA is short for Masă Totală Maximă Autorizată (maximum authorized weight). MTMA for TollRo refers to the maximum weight a vehicle can legally have when fully loaded – that is, the weight of the empty vehicle plus the maximum permitted load (cargo, fuel, passengers, etc.). This value is listed in the vehicle's registration certificate and is set by the manufacturer.

Which emission classes affect the TollRo toll?

The rate has four emission tiers: electric vehicles (lowest), Euro VI, Euro V–IV and Euro III–0, including non-Euro (highest). For example, for category III on highways: 0.12 / 0.48 / 0.55 / 0.62 lei/km.

Does TollRo replace the rovinieta for trucks?

Yes. Since October 1, 2026, 00:00, trucks pay TollRo instead of the rovinieta, and rovinieta vignettes already bought for them are no longer valid. The value of the unused period is refunded only on request, exclusively through the refund app that CNAIR will make available by December 29, 2026 (CNAIR press release of October 6, 2026).

How does TollRo compare to HU-GO?

TollRo and HU-GO work on the same principle: charging based on distance traveled, vehicle category and Euro emission standard. The main difference: HU-GO has been running in Hungary for years, while TollRo launched in Romania on October 1, 2026. For now, TollRo can only be paid with a route ticket or a charging session in the TollRo app; payment via on-board unit (OBU) only arrives on January 15, 2027.

Who issues and collects TollRo?

TollRo is issued and collected by CNAIR (Romanian National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration). Under Law no. 226/2023, CNAIR is designated as the entity that charges and collects TollRo.

Tania