In short: TollRo and HU-GO work on the same principle — charging based on the distance actually driven, the vehicle category and the Euro emission standard, with payment by route ticket or on-board unit (OBU). The main difference is maturity: HU-GO has been running in Hungary for years, while TollRo launched in Romania on October 1, 2026, for freight vehicles over 3.5 tons. For now, TollRo can only be paid with a route ticket or a charging session in the TollRo app; on-board unit (OBU) payment only arrives on January 15, 2027. Hauliers used to HU-GO will find familiar logic in the new Romanian system.
For the full picture – who pays, rates, payment methods, and what happens to the rovinieta – see the complete TollRo 2026 guide.
How does TollRo compare with HU-GO? Both are distance-based road toll systems, but there are important differences that every haulier driving in Romania should know.
If you do international transport, you’re probably already familiar with HU-GO, the system used to pay road tolls in Hungary. With the introduction of TollRo in Romania, many hauliers are wondering how similar the two are and what to expect from the new system.
The good news is that if you’ve already driven in Hungary, the transition to TollRo shouldn’t catch you off guard. Below, we compare the two systems side by side so you clearly understand what they have in common and how they differ.
How does TollRo compare to HU-GO?
TollRo and HU-GO work on the same principle: charging based on distance driven, 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; on-board unit (OBU) payment only arrives on January 15, 2027.
TollRo
TollRo is Romania’s new road toll system, applied from October 1, 2026 to freight vehicles with a maximum authorized weight over 3.5 tons.
It replaces the rovinieta (Romanian road vignette) for trucks and introduces a pricing model based on the distance actually driven, where the amount payable depends on the vehicle category, the Euro emission standard and the type of road used. The more a vehicle drives and the more it pollutes, the more it pays.
HU-GO
HU-GO is Hungary’s electronic road toll system, in operation for several years, through which freight vehicles pay the road toll based on the distance driven.
Like TollRo, HU-GO takes into account the vehicle category and emission standard, and payment can be made either in advance with a route ticket or automatically, through on-board units (OBU). Precisely because they work on similar principles, the question “how does TollRo compare with HU-GO” comes up naturally among hauliers who drive in both countries.
TollRo Rovinieta
The rovinieta (Romanian road vignette), which until recently applied to all vehicle types, remains in place from October 1, 2026 only for passenger cars, minibuses, coaches and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons.
Freight vehicles over 3.5 tons must pay the TollRo toll. It is calculated based on the vehicle category, the Euro emission standard and the distance driven.
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.
Per-kilometer tolling in Romania
The TollRo toll varies depending on the vehicle you own. Here are the rates published in Official Gazette no. 940 of October 10, 2025, supplemented by OMTI 959/2026 (in effect since October 8, 2026):
| Unit rate category | Vehicle category | Road category | Unit rate/km (lei, VAT included) | |||
| Electric | EURO VI | EURO V-IV | EURO III-0 | |||
| S | Freight vehicle with an MTMA over 3.5 tons and up to and including 7.5 tons | Highways and expressways | 0,04 | 0,17 | 0,19 | 0,22 |
| National roads | 0,02 | 0,08 | 0,10 | 0,11 | ||
| II | Freight vehicle with an MTMA over 7.5 tons and under 12.0 tons | Highways and expressways | 0,07 | 0,29 | 0,33 | 0,37 |
| National roads | 0,03 | 0,14 | 0,16 | 0,19 | ||
| III | Freight vehicle with an MTMA of 12.0 tons or more | Highways and expressways | 0,12 | 0,48 | 0,55 | 0,62 |
| National roads | 0,06 | 0,24 | 0,28 | 0,31 | ||
Overall, when we ask how TollRo compares with HU-GO, we see more similarities than differences. Both systems drop the flat fee in favor of per-kilometer tolling in Romania, where the amount payable depends on how much each vehicle actually drives, its weight category and its emission standard.
In practice, the shift from the rovinieta to the new TollRo model changes not only the calculation method, but also the way hauliers plan their routes and manage their costs.
The good news for hauliers is that experience with HU-GO becomes a real advantage with Romania’s new road toll system. If you’re already used to topping up your account and paying tolls automatically in Hungary, the TollRo logic will feel familiar, and the transition will be hassle-free. The difference is that, until January 15, 2027, in Romania you can only pay with a route ticket or a charging session in the TollRo app, started by the driver before the trip.
TollRo has applied since October 1, 2026, so make sure each truck has an account, an enrolled vehicle and a route ticket or active session before every trip.
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 driven, 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; on-board unit (OBU) payment 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.
