June the 13th, 2025 – The current way of paying tolls on the road is likely coming to an end in 2026. Here’s how the new Croatian motorway toll collection system will function.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, drivers both based in Croatia and those visiting the country will likely get a completely new Croatian motorway toll collection system next summer. If all goes as it should, these new booths won’t involve stopping your vehicle, and there will be very strict digital rules to follow. The draft law has been in public debate since this week.
Once adopted, classic toll booths will be sent to the history books, and driving on the country’s motorways will no longer function as it did before. Instead of needing to stop to make payments, the new Croatian motorway toll system will in future be paid automatically via ENC devices or by reading license plates. The actual toll booths themselves will be totally empty, according to Klikni.hr.
This brand new model, known as ESNC, is based on the free flow of traffic which will enable the busy roads of Croatia, especially during summer, to flow more freely. The innovative toll system recognises vehicles in motion, and payment takes place in the background.
People will therefore be able to choose whether to use an ENC device, which is placed on the vehicle’s windshield, or opt for the digital registration of their license plates, through which the car’s passage is automatically charged. This second model, known as ALPR, will read license plates when entering the motorway and collect tolls using a card, app or at points of sale, including petrol stations and technical inspection stations.
Drivers of HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) will have no choice but to use the ETC when the new Croatian toll collection system comes to pass next year. Those who have already purchased an ETC device will be able to continue using it, as long as it meets the technical requirements of the new system.
Driving without connecting to the system will be treated as a violation. In this case, the toll fee is automatically increased by a penalty of 120 euros, and the collection can be carried out by the concessionaire. The law also stipulates the right to forced collection, with the obligation of the owner or leasing user to provide reliable data about the driver.
Surveillance will be carried out by a network of portals with cameras and antennas, along with mobile units in the field. The technology, according to what Croatian Motorways (Hrvatske autoceste) said at the time, enables almost 100% accuracy in detecting violators.
The law also provides for additional fees for pollution, noise and CO2 emissions. At the same time, it provides discounts for low-emission vehicles and frequent users, but not exceeding 13 percent. New tariff models are also being considered, including the possibility of seasonal price increases, meaning that tolls could be higher during the summer months.
