Germany plans to charge foreigners to drive on the Autobahn

Germany plans to charge foreigners to drive on the Autobahn

It seems Germany is planning to charge to use the Autobahn network – just as France does – but it plans to levy the charge just on foreign visitors. The plan is part of a deal by Angela Merkel’s Social Democrat party to form a new coalition and would see all non-German drivers paying a fixed toll to use the Autobahns.

But the plan is coming under fire from neighbouring countries (Germany has borders with nine other countries) and even from its own version of the AA – the ADAC – who say the revenue likely to be raised – around £220 million – will do little to address the costs.

The problem for Germany is that its Autobahns are heavily used by foreign drivers who contribute little to the costs of maintaining the infrastructure, but its plans to charge only non-Germans is likely to cause problems with EU regulations.

But the truth in Germany – just as it is in the UK – is that only a relatively small percentage of the revenue raised from drivers is actually used to maintain the road network.

ADAC reckons that Germany raises €53 billion a year from motorists already, but spends just €19 billion on infrastructure, and an extra €260 million a year from tolls will make little difference.

But Angela Merkel is adamant the tolls are needed. She said:

We want to do it because we need funds for transport infrastructure. It’s important to me that no German will be burdened with more costs.

Foreign motorists and the EU may put up big opposition to the plan for charges on the Autobahn, but if Germany wants to do it there’s every chance it will happen.

By Cars UK