Truck levy as of July 1, 2026
What you need to know
In the Netherlands, the truck levy will start on July 1, 2026. From that date, truck owners will pay per kilometer driven.
This levy applies to Dutch and foreign vehicles in categories N2 and N3. These categories have a technical maximum mass of more than 3,500 kilos. The vehicle category of your truck can be found on the registration certificate. The truck levy applies to almost all highways, and some provincial and municipal roads.
Exceptions
The levy does not apply to vehicles from another vehicle category, such as buses, agricultural vehicles and camper vans. For a number of vehicles, owners can apply for exemptions starting in 2026. These include trucks 40 years and older that are used only privately, and police and fire trucks.
A number of trucks automatically receive an exemption from the truck levy. These are:
- Electric trucks and vans (emission-free) up to and including 4,250 kg
- Garbage trucks
- Street Sweepers
- Sewer vacuums
- Defense Vehicles
- Vehicles with one-day license plates, transit license plates or dealer license plates
Consequences for other taxes
Once the truck toll goes into effect, several other taxes will also be phased out. As of July 1, the Eurovignette will no longer apply in the Netherlands. The motor vehicle tax for trucks weighing 12,000 kilograms or more will also be significantly reduced. Many other European countries, such as Belgium and Germany, already have a truck toll in place.
You will need the following to pay the truck levy:
- A contract with a provider (to be concluded from the beginning of 2026). This provider sends you a bill and then pays this money to the government.
- on-board equipment (on-board unit, OBU, toll box) that records mileage. You get this equipment from your provider.
The truck levy is intended to make owners from the Netherlands and abroad pay per kilometer driven. The charge also contributes to making the sector more sustainable and efficient. The cleaner and lighter your truck(s), the lower the amount per kilometer.
This you will pay
Under the truck toll system, you will pay a fee per kilometer driven. The amount of the fee depends on the truck’s weight and emissions. Find out here what this means for your truck(s).
Subsidies for sustainability
A large portion of the revenue generated by the toll goes toward subsidies for making the road transport sector more sustainable and promoting innovation. For example, this includes subsidies for the purchase of electric or hydrogen trucks and charging stations. More than €253 million is available for 2026.
Exemptions for vehicles in zero-emission zones
Several changes to the rules for exemptions for vehicles in zero-emission zones will also be made as of January 1, 2026. This should give entrepreneurs more clarity and space to make the switch to zero-emission transport. These are the changes:
- Longer exemptions for new, non-emission vehicles available. Depending on the type of vehicle, this exemption period will be extended to seven, ten or thirteen years. This will allow business owners a realistic depreciation period. New thresholds will also apply as of Jan. 1. These charges can already be applied for at the RDW before the vehicle is registered, so entrepreneurs can drive immediately upon delivery. From January 1, 2026, there will be a special application form at the RDW for new vehicles without license plates.
- Exemption for business economics becomes nationwide. Exemptions applied for from January 1, 2026 will henceforth apply nationwide instead of only in the municipality where the exemption is applied for. The advice is therefore to wait until after January 1 with applications.
- New exemption for grid congestion. There will be a separate exemption for entrepreneurs who cannot (yet) get a connection to the electricity grid due to grid congestion and therefore cannot switch to emission-free transport. Existing exemptions due to grid congestion can be extended free of charge. Exemptions granted as of 2026 will apply nationwide.
The RDW advises to apply for new exemptions for business economic circumstances and hardship clause in January. This warning is also posted on the RDW website.
As of December 15, the RDW publishes information pages on exemptions for net congestion and new non-emission-free vehicles without license plates. Along with the announcement that these exemptions can be applied for from January 1, 2026.
For more information, visit opwegnaarZES.nl.