Germany to charge foreign motorists for autobahn use

[4me2]

Germany to charge foreign motorists for autobahn use



Germany's fast highways are popular with foreign motorists




Germany has announced plans to tax the millions of foreign motorists who use its roads, including the famous autobahn highway, from 2016 onwards.


Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the levy should raise 2.5bn euros (£1.98bn) over four years.
Vehicles will be issued with badges, costing between 10 euros for 10 days and about 100 euros for a year-long permit.
Critics of the planned toll say it violates EU anti-discrimination laws.
While vehicles registered in Germany will also have to pay the charge, their owners will be compensated by an equivalent reduction in a separate car tax.



Alexander Dobrint's party campaigned on a promise to tax foreign road users
Austria and the Netherlands have complained about the planned tax, the AFP news agency reports.
However, Mr Dobrint has insisted that the law - due to be passed this year - does not violate EU rules against discrimination.
His Christian Social Union party campaigned for a toll in last year's elections.
The party's base is in the southern region of Bavaria, where residents have long complained of having to pay to use roads in neighbouring Austria and Switzerland, while motorists from those countries pay nothing to drive in Germany.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28199383

[Zippeyrude]

Sounds fair to me

[Wario]

We should do that here. Their far too many foreign cars that stay over a year that don't pay road tax.

I only see the police checking foreign cars once where I live.

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[I Black Belt]

works well in France, never any roadworks and the roads are in top condition.
Well worth a few sheckles IMO

[blacksheep]

Switzerland do it too I think. I'm sure our pharma rep can confirm?

[grrrd]

Switzerland everyone has to buy a sticker for the motorways for the year - you don't have to if you are willing just to use the back roads