Paying tolls on holiday: For cars & campers - toll box from maut1.de for 5 European countries

Some people's foreheads start to sweat just thinking about it: queuing at the toll station in the hot Italian sun. The children in the back seat and the journey never ends. The company maut1 now wants to offer the solution: With their toll box, drivers can use special lanes that are not accessible for manual payment at the toll booth. These lanes are usually empty because you can pass the toll stations without having to look for money and stop. The result: simply avoid the traffic jams at the toll stations.

Maut1.de claims to be the first German provider to offer a toll box that can be used in 5 European countries without changing devices, whereas previously a separate toll box was required for each country - or payment at the toll booth. The maut1.de toll box for vehicles up to a height of 3 metres can be used in ItalyFrance, Spain, Portugal and Croatia (except Istria). For motorhomes (vehicles over 3 metres in height), this can be used in Italy, FranceSpain, Portugal and Austria the toll must be paid.

For the sake of completeness: The ADAC also offers such a toll box. However, motorhomes over 3 metres in height can be No toll in France pay.

With the toll box, there is no need to have cash or a credit card ready and you can relax and enjoy your journey. The small white toll box is attached to the windscreen before the start of the journey and communicates with the toll station by radio, whereupon the barrier opens and the toll is paid automatically. maut1.de takes care of the entire process and issues a detailed monthly invoice listing all routes.

Advantages of the maut1.de toll box

• Mautbox is available for 5 countries in Europe usable
• Suitable for vehicles up to 3 metres high in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia (excluding Istria)
• Suitable for large motorhomes over 3 metres in height for use in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Austria. Other countries (including the whole of Croatia and Scandinavia) in planning
• Save time when travelling: Save up to 45 minutes of waiting time per toll station during peak travel times compared to manual payment
• More environmentally friendly travelling*: Fewer stop-and-go journeys and less congestion at toll stations lead to reduced CO2 emissions.
• Protection against penalties: No claims for replacement tolls in the event of technical problems or strikes at the toll station, as the vehicle licence plate is registered with the toll box.
• Additional applications: Already works in many car parks (e.g. in Italy), on ferries (e.g. Messina) or in tunnels (e.g. Liefkenshoektunnel in Belgium).

* According to the manufacturer, a study was carried out on one of the busiest motorways in Italy and Europe, the A4 Brescia-Padua, to reduce CO2 emissions with Telepass Italy toll boxes: 235 km of motorway with an average of 65,000 vehicles per day and around 50 million vehicles in 2019 and 2020. The study, conducted by Professor Giovanni Vaia from the Faculty of Management at Ca' Foscari University, used a mathematical model to show that the use of Telepass toll boxes reduced CO2 emissions by 3350 tonnes in 2019 and by 2880 tonnes in 2020.

Toll box prices

For cars and vehicles up to 3 metres high

• 22.90 Euro annual fee
• 19.90 Euro activation fee
• 5 % surcharge on gross toll turnover

For motorhomes and vehicles > 3 metres in height

• 79.90 Euro annual fee
• 19.90 Euro activation fee
• 5 % surcharge on gross toll turnover

Further information on the toll box and the current countries of travel can be found at: www.maut1.de

About maut1 GmbH

maut1 GmbH wants to simplify the toll system in Europe. Julian Schmelzer and Simon Baumgartner founded the startup maut1 GmbH in December 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Julian Schmelzer, Managing Director and Commercial Director of maut1 GmbH, worked in the toll industry for many years before founding the company and has contacts with almost all toll operators in Europe. Simon Baumgartner, also Managing Director and Technical Director of maut1 GmbH, also worked in the toll industry and has extensive knowledge of all technical aspects of toll processing. The company is based in Rosenheim in Upper Bavaria.