Truck levy – what changes as of July 1, 2026?

As of July 1, 2026, the Netherlands will introduce the truck levy. Trucks will no longer pay a fixed vignette per period, but an amount per kilometer driven on almost all motorways and a portion of provincial and municipal roads. This is a major change for the transport sector and also for you as a shipper. In this blog, you can read about what the truck levy entails, how the rates work, what will disappear, and what you need to arrange now.

What is the truck levy?

On July 1, 2026, the truck levy will take effect in the Netherlands. From that date, truck owners will pay per kilometer driven on motorways and on some provincial and municipal roads. The system works via a toll box on board the truck that registers the kilometers driven and transmits them to a provider.

The truck levy largely replaces the existing Eurovignette and the motor vehicle tax for heavy vehicles. The cleaner and lighter the vehicle, the lower the rate per kilometer. Both Dutch and foreign trucks fall under this regulation, ensuring that foreign carriers also contribute to the maintenance of Dutch infrastructure.

The introduction aligns with a broader European movement towards pay-per-use. In countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, a similar system has already existed for years.

Which trucks does the truck levy apply to?

The levy applies to both Dutch and foreign vehicles in categories N2 and N3. These have a technical maximum mass of more than 3,500 kg. This is a significant expansion compared to the Eurovignette, which only applied from 12 tonnes. The truck levy therefore applies to all trucks over 3,500 kg, on more roads than just the motorways.

The levy does not apply to vehicles from other vehicle categories, such as buses, agricultural tractors, and motorhomes. An exemption is possible for a limited number of vehicles, such as trucks 40 years and older that are used exclusively for private purposes.

How do the truck levy rates work?

The rate depends on the weight of the vehicle, the Euro emission class, and the CO2 emission class. Cleaner vehicles pay less per kilometer.

The average rate per kilometer will be 19.1 euro cents in 2026. To illustrate: for a Euro 6 vehicle with a technical maximum mass of 16 tonnes, the rate is 0.16 euros per kilometer. For a Euro 6 vehicle of more than 32 tonnes, it is 20.1 euro cents per kilometer. For the same vehicle being fully electric, a rate of only 3.8 euro cents per kilometer applies.

By comparison: normally, a company with the Eurovignette paid a maximum of 811 euros (3 axles or fewer) or 1,352 euros annually. For a Euro 5 truck of 18 to 32 tonnes that drives 55,000 kilometers annually on taxable roads, the truck levy will amount to over 10,000 euros per year. The difference is therefore substantial.

The CO2 classes are tightened every year on July 1. Newly registered vehicles may therefore end up in a less favorable class after that date. Once a truck is registered, it remains in the same CO2 class for six years.

The toll box (OBU) – what is it and how do you arrange it?

A toll box – officially an On-Board Unit (OBU) – is an electronic device that uses GPS to register how many kilometers a truck drives on toll roads in the Netherlands. The kilometers driven are automatically forwarded to the provider with whom you have a contract. That provider then calculates the truck levy.

You cannot buy a toll box separately without a contract. To obtain an OBU, you must first enter into an agreement with an official provider of the Dutch truck levy. After signing the contract, the vehicle is registered and you will receive the toll box.

There are two types of providers. Provider NedLinq supplies OBUs that only work in the Netherlands. In addition, there are so-called EETS providers: commercial providers that offer their own OBUs which can also be used in other countries. They must first be admitted to the Dutch truck levy for this purpose. For trucks driving internationally, an EETS toll box is often the most practical choice.

Before July 1, every truck must have its own toll box on board that works in the Netherlands. From July 1, checks will be carried out to see if the truck has a working toll box. If you drive without a contract with a provider, you risk a fine of 800 euros (until January 1, 2027: 400 euros). If you drive with a toll box that is switched off, the fine is 500 euros (until January 1, 2027: 250 euros).

Truck levy and the Eurovignette – what will disappear?

With the introduction of the truck levy, two existing levies for Dutch routes will disappear.

Firstly, the Eurovignette for the Netherlands will disappear. From July 1, 2026, you will no longer pay heavy vehicle tax for Dutch routes, but a truck levy per kilometer driven. Secondly, the motor vehicle tax will change. After the start of the truck levy, the motor vehicle tax for trucks up to 12,000 kg will disappear. For trucks of 12,000 kg and heavier, the motor vehicle tax will be reduced.

Please note: the Eurovignette will remain in effect for Sweden and Luxembourg. If you drive through these countries with your cargo, you will still need a valid Eurovignette for those routes.

What does the truck levy mean for you as a shipper?

As a shipper, you do not drive a truck yourself, but the introduction will certainly affect you. Many hauliers will partially pass on the extra costs in their rates. As a result, transport budgets may come under pressure. Especially companies with many distribution movements within the Netherlands may face higher logistics costs.

Transport costs are expected to rise by more than 10 percent, which will affect the prices of goods and services. It is therefore wise to discuss with your carrier in good time how the levy will affect your transport rates.

For transports that also pass through Germany, Belgium, or other countries, the levies in those countries apply in addition to the Dutch truck levy. For transport to the United Kingdom, customs formalities are also involved. We take all levies applicable to your route into account in our quotation. Read more about transport to England, transport to Germany or transport to Belgium.

Temporary discount on the truck levy as of September 1, 2026

From September 1, 2026, until January 1, 2027, a temporary discount will be applied and rates will be reduced by 22.3 percent. This is a response to the Middle East crisis. At the same time, the motor vehicle tax for trucks of 12 tonnes and heavier will be temporarily set at zero euros.

The cabinet intends to temporarily reduce the truck levy rate by 22.3%. The House of Representatives has yet to decide on this. Keep an eye on official communication via vrachtwagenheffing.nl for the latest state of affairs.

Easy Road Transport and the truck levy

At Easy Road Transport, we closely follow the developments surrounding the truck levy. Our fleet is equipped with the necessary on-board equipment and our EASY Roaders are aware of all levies that apply on the routes we drive in the Netherlands and beyond.

Do you have questions about what the truck levy means for your transport costs? Or do you want to know what a trip to your destination costs? Calculate your rate via the calculator below. You will receive a response within 4 business hours.

Frequently asked questions about the truck levy