Point Zero Legal urges truck firms to review German toll payments before 2026 deadline

Point Zero Legal is urging transport companies and fleet operators to review German truck toll payments made since 2023, citing a possible deadline pressure around 31 December 2026. The push comes as the toll regime includes a new CO₂ component, while the legal status of possible refunds for later years remains unresolved.

Why it matters: - German truck toll revenue remains a multibillion-euro market, with about EUR 13.41 billion collected in 2024 and about EUR 13.4 billion reported for 2025. - Roughly 40.1 billion toll-liable kilometers were driven in 2024, making toll calculations material for transport companies, logistics providers and large fleets. - Point Zero Legal says companies that miss preservation and review deadlines could lose the chance to assess or pursue possible claims tied to toll payments made since 2023.

What happened: - Point Zero Legal on September 27, 2026 urged transport companies to review German truck toll payments before a December 2026 deadline it describes as potentially critical. - The review focus covers toll payments from 2023 onward, including the infrastructure-cost component and the CO₂-related toll component introduced on 1 December 2023. - The current legal review also looks at the 2023-2027 Road Cost Study and whether the toll’s CO₂ design complies with EU law. - The company said the model is built around individual assessments, not collective actions or consolidated proceedings.

The details: - An ECJ judgment on 28 October 2020 in Case C-321/19 held that traffic-police costs are not infrastructure costs and could not be included in the toll calculation then in force. - Point Zero Legal says the present economic assessment points to a possible review range of about 6% to 10% of the relevant infrastructure-cost component, plus potential interest. - That range is not a guaranteed reimbursement rate and is not a court-confirmed amount. - Whether a claim exists, and for how much, must be assessed individually based on each company’s actual toll payments and legal position. - Alexander Peisch, president of NUANCE37 Genossenschaft and responsible for Point Zero Legal, said the company does not want to make blanket promises of reimbursement. - Peisch said each company’s actual toll payments, complete original records and individual legal assessment are what matter. - Point Zero Legal says the relevant records are the monthly toll statements from January 2023 onward. - The company says firms should secure original statements from their toll service provider, including Toll Collect, Toll4Europe or Telepass. - Payment summaries from fuel-card or credit-card providers may not contain all data needed for a specific legal review, according to Point Zero Legal. - Company and representation documents are also required for further processing. - Point Zero Legal says toll statements are not available indefinitely for direct download from customer portals, making early data preservation important. - The model uses specialist legal partners for advice and court representation. - Point Zero Legal says litigation cost risk is intended to be carried by an external litigation funder, so participating companies are meant to face no upfront costs or processing fees, subject to the contract terms.

Between the lines: - The push reflects a race against time as toll-payment records can disappear from portals and limitation periods may differ by claim basis and payment date. - The emphasis on individual proceedings suggests the legal strategy is designed to avoid the complexity and uncertainty of class-style claims. - The absence of a final court ruling for toll years from 2023 onward means the opportunity is still legally unsettled, but the evidence-gathering window may be closing.

What's next: - Companies are being encouraged to secure toll data now and have potential claims reviewed before year-end deadlines become harder to meet. - Any claim would still need an individual legal assessment and, if warranted, separate proceedings. - Point Zero Legal says 31 December 2026 should be treated as a potentially critical date for toll payments made in 2023, depending on the case. - More information is available through Point Zero Legal and appointment booking.

The bottom line: - The core message is simple: preserve the records now, because the chance to challenge German truck toll payments from 2023 may narrow fast.