CO₂ Classification
CO₂ Classification and the New Toll Charging Model in Bulgaria and Europe
TollPass is Your Partner in Preparing for the Upcoming Changes
The European Union is gradually introducing new rules for determining toll tariffs, which include a mandatory CO₂ parameter when calculating fees for heavy-duty vehicles. The goal is to reduce harmful emissions and promote the use of more environmentally friendly transport. Germany and Austria are the first to apply the CO₂ parameter in toll fee calculation for heavy vehicles — from 01.12.2023 in Germany and from 01.01.2024 in Austria. Hungary has also introduced tariffs with added carbon-emission values based on ecological categories as of early 2024. Slovakia introduced a CO₂ class as a parameter for determining toll tariffs starting 01.07.2025.
From 01 MARCH 2026, CO₂ classification for vehicles over 3.5 t will also be introduced in Bulgaria.
Determining the CO₂ Class
Heavy-duty vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are categorized into five CO₂ classes (from 1 to 5) depending on their technical characteristics.
CO₂ Class 1
- Automatically assigned to vehicles first registered before 01.07.2019.
- This category represents the highest emissions and therefore the highest toll fees.
CO₂ Classes 1–4
- For vehicles over 3.5 t registered after 01.07.2019. The class is determined by entering additional technical data.
- The classification is valid for 6 years from the date of the vehicle’s first registration. After the 6-year period, the vehicle is automatically reclassified according to the applicable reference values.
CO₂ Class 5
- For zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) — electric, hydrogen-fuelled, or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
Required data for determining the CO₂ class:
The data can be found in the following documents. Prepare the Registration Certificate (large registration document), the COC (Certificate of Conformity), or the CIF (Customer Information File):
- date of first registration
- specific CO₂ emissions (gCO₂/tkm)
- vehicle group and subgroup*
*If the subgroup is unknown, provide the wheel formula (4×2 or 6×2), vehicle type (truck or tractor), engine power (kW), and cab type (day cab or sleeper cab).
CO₂ Toll Charging in Bulgaria from 1 March 2026
To help the transport sector prepare and become familiar with CO₂ charging requirements, a NATIONAL CO₂ CALCULATOR will be available from 15 December 2025 on the website of the National Toll Administration (BGTOLL).
For correct toll charging, the CO₂ classification data must also be entered for each vehicle subject to classification in the systems of toll service providers. Clients will be notified and invited to update their information.
If no data is provided for a vehicle before CO₂ charging begins, the vehicle will automatically be placed in the lowest class (CO₂ Class 1) and charged the highest toll rates.
CO₂ Calculator on TollPass.bg
As a National Toll Service Provider, TollPass will also offer easy access to a CO₂ calculator for determining the CO₂ class.
For TollPass clients, determining the CO₂ class is entirely online and done in just a few simple steps. In the “Vehicles” section of the data management menu, each vehicle equipped with a TollPass EUROBOX onboard unit and selected toll services in Germany and/or Austria and/or Slovakia has an additional section with information about CO₂ classification.
Once official CO₂ data submission begins in Bulgaria, such an additional section will be available for all vehicles listed in contracts, regardless of their equipment.
IMPORTANT: Entering data for determining the CO₂ class will temporarily interrupt toll services in Germany, Austria, and Slovenia. Therefore, plan data submission for a specific vehicle while it is outside these countries. Ensure that the onboard unit is operating normally. You can monitor service status in the “Vehicles” menu and check reactivation times for each country in the “Country Information” section of your TollPass.bg contract.