A toll must be paid for motor vehicles or vehicle combinations used for commercial freight transport on motorways. From what technically permissible maximum laden mass does this apply?

In Germany, trucks used for commercial freight transport have to pay the motorway toll (LKW-Maut) once their technically permissible maximum laden mass is more than 3.5 tonnes. “Technically permissible maximum laden mass” means the maximum weight the vehicle is allowed to have when fully loaded, as stated in the registration papers or on the manufacturer’s plate. It is not the weight you happen to be driving with at that moment.

So if a vehicle (or a vehicle combination like a truck with trailer) is rated at 3,501 kg or higher and it is being used commercially to transport goods, it falls under the toll obligation on motorways. If it is 3,500 kg or less, it does not fall under this specific toll rule.

Rule of thumb for similar questions: look at the permitted maximum mass in the documents, not the actual load, and remember the threshold is “over 3.5 t,” not “from 3.5 t.”