In short: MTMA stands for Masă Totală Maximă Autorizată (maximum authorized weight), meaning the maximum weight a vehicle can legally have when fully loaded (its own weight plus the permitted load). The value is listed in the registration certificate and is set by the manufacturer. For TollRo, MTMA is the criterion that determines whether a vehicle falls under the new toll system: freight vehicles over 3.5 tons pay TollRo, while those up to 3.5 tons, as well as cars, minibuses, and coaches, remain on the rovinieta (Romanian road vignette).
For the full picture – who pays, rates, payment methods, and what happens to the rovinieta – see the complete TollRo 2026 guide.
If you're wondering what MTMA means for TollRo, you've come to the right place. The new toll system applies from October 1, 2026, and as a haulier it's important to know exactly which MTMA category each vehicle falls into.
The TollRo toll isn't entirely new: similar systems are in place in several European countries. Those who run routes across the EU know well that such tolls already exist in countries like Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and Austria, and the list goes on.
What MTMA Means 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.
You can check how much MTMA affects the final cost directly in the TollRo calculatorby changing the vehicle category.
Now that you know what MTMA means for TollRo, let's look at why this indicator matters.
Why Does MTMA Matter for TollRo?
MTMA (maximum authorized weight) is the main criterion that determines whether a vehicle pays TollRo or the rovinieta (Romanian road vignette). Under the law, TollRo applies to all registered vehicles designed and built for the carriage of goods with an MTMA above 3.5 tons, as well as to mixed-use vehicles treated as such, that travel on Romania’s national roads, expressways and highways, except for national road sections within city limits.
TollRo for Freight Vehicles Over 3.5 Tons
The TollRo toll applies only to freight vehicles over 3.5 tons.
Cars, minibuses, and coaches (regardless of weight), as well as freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons, continue to pay the rovinieta.
How Do You Pay TollRo?
Until January 15, 2027, TollRo can be paid in two ways: with a route ticket or with a charging session in the TollRo app. Starting January 15, 2027, payment via an on-board unit is added, through providers authorized by CNAIR (Romanian road infrastructure company).
The TollRo App
The official app of CNAIR, in operation since October 1, 2026. Through it, you can pay the road toll in two ways: either buy a route ticket before the trip, or start a charging session (per kilometer, based on the phone’s GPS) that you close at the end of the trip; the toll is deducted from the electronic wallet, topped up in advance. Route tickets can also be bought on etoll.ro, at CNAIR points of sale or at border crossings; they are issued only by CNAIR, through its own platforms, and are not sold at gas stations.
Automatic Payment with a Toll Device
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.
With this method, starting January 15, 2027, hauliers will be able to pay the toll automatically through an on-board unit (OBU) from a CNAIR-authorized provider. Until then, no device mounted on a truck pays TollRo: a GPS fleet tracking device does not pay TollRo.
Want to pay TollRo automatically?
Automatic payment with an on-board unit will be possible from January 15, 2027, through CNAIR-authorized providers. The CargoTrack solution is in the works and is not yet available. Join the waiting list and we’ll let you know when it launches.
Understanding what MTMA means for TollRo helps you avoid confusion and know exactly what to expect. All you need to do is check the maximum authorized weight of each vehicle: it tells you whether you'll pay TollRo for freight vehicles over 3.5 tons or stay on the rovinieta. The sooner you check, the easier it is to adapt to the new system.
What Does MTMA Mean for TollRo? – 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?
- 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. - 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.
