Possible extension of Maut to 1 January 2024

It has recently been announced that the German Maut will be extended by an additional toll, namely the CO2 toll.

It has recently been announced that the German Maut will be expanded with an additional toll, namely the CO2 toll. The purpose of this toll is to use promoting more environmentally friendly trucks and investment in the transport sector. Previously, the German government adopted the bill with the intention to introduce the CO2 toll on 1 December 2023.

Recent news however suggests that this date possibly postponed to 1 January 2024 due to external criticism. The BGL, a German association representing the interests of the medium-sized transport sector, is among others not even with the proposed import date. They claimed that transport operators are often contractually bound until 1 January 2024, so they have not yet been able to pass on the increased costs of the German Maut to their customers. In the coming days it will become clear whether the German Government is able to adopt the law in good time.

If this fails, a shortened procedure in the Federal Council may be necessary to implement the introduction on 1 December 2023. If both scenarios are not feasible, it is likely that the expansion of the German Maut with the CO2 toll will only take effect on 1 January 2024.