Motorhomes to face charges for using Germany's autobahn network
6eb15ab4-3641-491b-901a-9d10c29239f0
From 2016 all foreign registered vehicles will need to pay to drive on the autobahn network in Germany
Alexander Dobrindt, the country's Transport Minister, announced that the previously discussed plan was now being formerly implemented.It is as yet unclear how much British motorhomes will be charged when driving in Germany under the new scheme.
However, the details released suggest that charges will be directly related to a motorhome's engine size and emissions.
Drivers will need to purchase a badge, presumably to mount in the windscreen, that will cost €10 (£8) for three days, €20 (£16) for a month or around €100 (£80) for a year.
However the cost of the full-year badge would be determined by engine size and vehicle emissions, indicating there will be a much higher cost for HGVs, commercial vehicles and motorhomes built on commercial chassis.
When asked how this would be affected by EU legislation – as the charge is not classed as a toll and and is only levied on foreign cars – the minister confirmed that all German vehicles would technically also pay for the badge but that it would be bundled as part of their equivalent of the road tax disc.
Money spent on German roads, bridges, railways and public transport has fallen in real terms over the past 20 years, while passenger traffic has climbed 27% and freight use has risen by 75% as markets in Eastern Europe have opened, according to data from the German Environment Ministry.
Dobrindt said foreign drivers make 170 million trips to or through Germany every year and predicted the new charges would raise around €2.5 billion for over four years.
Alexander Dobrindt is a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU) which has a very strong presence in Bavaria, southern Germany, and this was one of their main demands for joining a coalition with Angela Merkel's conservatives after the recent general election. Bavarian motorists have complained bitterly that they are forced to pay to use toll roads in Austria and Switzerland but Swiss and Austrian drivers can use the autobahns for free.
“German drivers are paying almost everywhere in Europe and that’s why it’s only fair when foreign drivers pay on Germany roads,” said Juergen Fischer, a spokesman for the CSU. “We need new sources of finance to retain and further improve our good transport infrastructure.”
More useful Motorhome pages:
Motorhomes for Sale | Motorhome Reviews | Sell Your Motorhome | Motorhome Advice | Motorhome Buyers' Guide
Motorhome News | Motorhome Articles | Motorhome Forums
Campsite Finder
MMM (Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly) Magazine | Which Motorhome Magazine | Motorhome Shows
Recent Updates
Explore camping accessories on the Out & About Shop!
Our brand-new shop is packed full of camping accessories, from tents and rucksacks to camping stoves and inflatable kayaks – even better, you can get ...
Get five issues for just £5 in our spring sale!
In this unmissable spring sale, you can subscribe to MMM or Campervan for just £5, enjoying your first five ...
Award-winning tents take centre stage in Vango's 2024 range
Brand-new for 2024, Vango has launched new tents and air mattresses, including the Tent of the Year in our ...
Discover the epic OPUS folding campers
Made in Britain and built for adventure in the great outdoors, this range of folding campers is ideal for ...
Adventurer Ed Stafford partners with Olpro for outdoor range
The renowned explorer has joined forces with a UK-based outdoor company to create eco-friendly camping range ...
Your Dream Destination, a guide to the best of Britain, is available now
Download your comprehensive travel guide to the best locations around Britain for planning a 2024 touring and ...
Vote for your favourites in the Camping Awards 2024
You can vote in the biggest and best Camping Awards ever as the quest begins to find the cream of 2024’s new ...
AA annual campsite awards crowns Somerset campsite as Holiday Centre of the Year
The AA has announced its Caravan & Camping Awards winners for 2023-24 ...
Strictly winner named Club president
Broadcaster, Hamza Yassin, has been appointed the new President of the Camping and Caravanning Club ...
Vango expands National Trust camping collection
The Scottish outdoor brand will contribute at least £50,000 to the heritage organisation ...
Other News
Strapped for cash or struggling for space? Now you can rent a tent for just £10
Sports retailer, Decathlon, launches tent rental service in the UK ...
How to create new memories from old outdoor clothing
UK outdoor clothing brand, Keela, has launched a Legacy project that turns old garments into something new ...
Caravan and Motorhome Club offers more discounts
The Caravan and Motorhome Club is offering even more discounts after it launched four new offers for members ...
Durdle Door named UK’s best dog-friendly beach
Recent research by bath retailer, Showers to You, has revealed the UK’s top ten dog-friendly beaches ...
Selk'bag Kids review
Mini campervanner, Ruben – and son of What Motorhome's Editor, Peter Vaughan – tests the Selk'bag Kids ...
Super Sparrow Explore review
What Motorhome Editor, Peter Vaughan, tests out the Super Sparrow Explore drinks bottle ...
New section of new King Charles III England Coast Path opens in Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Coast boasts the addition of a further 21 miles of coastal path as the section from Bridlington ...
Club launches new Touring Europe 2023 guide
The Caravan and Motorhome Club has launched its Touring Europe 2023 guidebook ...
Cumbrian campsite takes Gold in VisitEngland awards
The Quiet Site in Ullswater, Cumbria, has been awarded Gold in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 ...
Big Little Touring Festival comes to Holkham Hall
The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Holkham Hall pop-up campsite will host the Big Little Touring Festival from ...