New era begins for toll payments for foreign-plated vehicles

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the regulations for foreign-plated vehicles using toll roads have been updated. With the new regulation published in the Official Gazette on July 29, both the principles regarding toll fees and the application and collection processes for administrative fines have been reshaped.

Minister Uraloğlu stated, "With the new regulation, we have reorganized the provisions regarding toll fees, administrative fines, and collection processes for foreign-plated vehicles on toll roads. Debts that cannot be collected within the country will be queried electronically when the foreign-plated vehicle arrives at the border gate to exit Turkey. The customs administration will not permit the vehicle to exit the country until the debts are paid," he assessed.

"UNIFORMITY IN APPLICATION WILL BE ACHIEVED"

According to the statement, with the regulation, foreign-plated drivers will be required to pay the toll fee based on the current tariff when they use toll highways and controlled-access roads. The regulation in question covers not only roads operated by the General Directorate of Highways but also highways transferred to private operation (within the framework of laws numbered 4046, 3465, and 3996).

Owners or drivers of foreign-plated vehicles are required to subscribe to the Fast Pass System (HGS) or similar electronic toll collection systems. It is also among the requirements that the electronic tag used must be functional and correctly placed on the windshield, and the license plate must be clearly readable. Keeping an amount in the account balance to cover the toll fee will be entirely the responsibility of the vehicle owners.

HGS accounts and electronic tags can be obtained through PTT branches, agencies, and contracted banks. Furthermore, passages made without any toll subscription or with insufficient balance will be considered "violated passages."

NO PENALTY WITHIN 15 DAYS

An administrative fine equal to four times the toll fee will be imposed on foreign-plated vehicles found to have not paid the toll on toll highways. However, if drivers pay the fee within 15 days from the date of passage, they will be exempt from this penalty. If payment is made within the 30-day period starting after this time, a penalty equal to one toll fee will be charged in addition to the toll fee. From the 45th day onwards, a penalty equal to four times the amount will be collected. The same application will also be valid for build-operate-transfer highways.

Vehicle owners will be required to use lanes suitable for the system they are subscribed to. However, if more than one system is active in the same lane, this requirement will be lifted.

DEBT QUERY AND COLLECTION BEGINS AT THE BORDER

The new regulation also brought an important change at border gates. Toll debts and fines belonging to foreign-plated vehicles wishing to exit Turkey will be queried instantly with electronic systems. If the vehicle owner has an unpaid debt, exit from customs will not be permitted until this amount is paid.

Payments can be made at customs with debit cards and credit cards, as well as in cash at the counter. In this way, various payment alternatives will be offered to drivers. The regulation also details how the toll and penalty fees collected at border gates will be transferred to the budget and the relevant highway operators.

The previous "Regulation on the Collection of Toll Fees and Administrative Fines for Foreign-Plated Vehicles on Toll Highways" dated 2017 has been repealed with the new regulation.

In conclusion, within the scope of the updated regulation, all debts arising from the use of toll roads in Turkey by foreign-plated vehicles will be effectively tracked and collected. Gathering the applications under a common framework and the electronic transmission of penalties to the driver without the need for notification are among the notable highlights of the new era.

News Source: 12punto