Starting July 1, Croatia is shaking up its toll system big time! Croatian Highways (HAC) is slashing discounts for heavy vehicles, while light vehicles get to keep their perks. The seasonal discount for heavy vehicles is gone, and emission-related discounts are getting cut too. HAC says this is a step toward a fairer, more sustainable toll system that meets European standards and balances the scales among users.
For the past 20 years, tolls for heavy vehicles haven’t gone up, and seasonal discounts were way bigger than those for light vehicles. This meant heavy vehicles weren’t paying their fair share for building and maintaining roads. Now, that’s changing — discounts for heavy vehicles will be standardized to 21.74% in both prepaid and postpaid models. Previously, discounts were as high as 33.48% seasonally and 30.43% in postpaid.
Emission discounts are also getting a haircut: Euro V and EEV vehicles see discounts drop from 5% to 3%, Euro VI from 12% to 7%, and Euro IV vehicles lose their discount entirely. These changes are part of a bigger investment cycle and preparation for a modern, efficient, and greener toll system.
So, if you drive a heavy vehicle through Croatia, brace yourself for pricier trips! Light vehicle drivers can breathe easy — your discounts stay the same. But is this really fair? Some say it’s about time heavy vehicles pay their share, while others will cry foul over the extra burden on transport companies. What do you think? Drop your thoughts below — maybe you’ve got the best take on this whole toll drama!
