Now you can swim if you forgot to pay on the road

The amendments further simplify toll payment services and make administration cheaper. More than 10,000 road users are forced to pay a surcharge each year for late purchase of an annual sticker. Almost 15,000 people take advantage of the opportunity to maximize surcharges. It may also be a relief for them to be able to avoid paying the surcharge in the future by redeeming the annual sticker after receiving a notice sent for unauthorized use of the road. The new institution clarifies the intention of the state to encourage law-abiding behavior in ways other than through punishment. The possibility of retroactively buying the annual sticker may encourage more and more motorists to choose the safest and most convenient highway network for their trips, said László Mosóczi, Secretary of State for Transport Policy.

As of the entry into force of the new provisions, road users may decide to later purchase the annual national label at a basic price, instead of paying a surcharge.

The annual sticker entitles the holder to use motorways and expressways in the calendar year of purchase and until the end of January of the following year.

Surcharge maximization provides a cheaper alternative to paying up to dozens of surcharges for travelers who make multiple mistakes but are willing to act voluntarily. The customer-friendly measure is popular and helps many road users. Currently, it can be started within 75 days to waive the obligation to pay a surcharge for a single fee corresponding to the amount of two surcharges for a car that fails at least three times: HUF 29,750 according to current regulations. If someone has made a mistake only twice and pays more than 60 days, they will regret with two more surcharges, now 119 thousand guilders, since until now it has only been possible to maximize it to a quarter. The new regulation makes the system fairer by allowing surcharges to be maximized after just two unauthorized uses.

For those who do not meet the 75-day deadline, the law has so far not allowed any substantial benefits to be applied. Since the claim amount is HUF 59,500 according to current regulations, if the surcharge is paid for more than 60 days, the fee for four unauthorized uses of the road may increase to several hundred thousand florins. In addition to maximizing the surcharge, the amendment to the legislation introduces a second stage, the surcharge amnesty provides for 180 days of administration, for an amount corresponding to six surcharges, currently 89,250 HUF.

The new regulation expands the option of payment in installments that was previously only available to natural persons to companies. Road users also benefit from the fact that an administrative fee can only be charged once for the provision of services under the Regulation. Previously, such a fee may have been paid more than once for the same service, for example by a customer misrepresenting a license plate who has purchased multiple rights to the wrong license plate at different times.

With the amendment on the basis of the legal authorization granted by the Parliament

tolls are automatically tracked in a way that is integrated into the system.

The solution, which is updated annually without any intervention. the main benefit is that the change of tolls becomes predictable for road users, its extent can be planned. The price of national annual stickers has not changed since 2012, and the introduction of county stickers has not changed since 2015, while more and more motorways and expressways serve those traveling in Hungary. As of January 1, 2021, the toll network for cars, buses and trucks under 3.5 tons will be expanded with five sections already completed this year and to be completed by the end of the year. The continuation of the M25 Eger, the M85 implements the Sopron motorway connection, the section of the M4 from Pest county and Berettyóújfalu to the Romanian border has been completed, drivers can now use the first almost six kilometers of the M76 from the M7 to Balatonszentgyörgy. The section of the M44 to Békéscsaba will go on the market in 2020. However, as the motorway to Tiszakürt, together with the continuation already built, is not directly connected to the existing road network, its use will be free for the time being. Therefore, the introduction of the Békés county sticker is still waiting a while.

The ad doesn’t cover it, but based on the above, tolls will go up around 3% next year.

Cover image: Getty Images