Road toll in the Netherlands: why the A24 has no traditional toll booths
On the A24 Blankenburg Connection there are no toll booths, barriers or payment machines. Yet you do pay toll. The reason is deliberate policy: the Netherlands chose e-TOL via licence plate recognition. But why exactly? And what does that mean for you as a road user? This article explains the background. You can find the current toll rates on the A24 on the Toll and prices page.
Traditional toll booths: the disadvantages
With traditional toll, you stop at a booth, pay an attendant or machine and drive on. Many people know this system from holidays in France or Spain. The disadvantages are considerable: queues at toll stations, delays for all road users, high staff and maintenance costs and safety risks from stopping traffic on the carriageway.
The Netherlands chose not to introduce any of these disadvantages on the A24. Instead, a fully contactless system was chosen.
Licence plate recognition: the technology behind e-TOL
Above the A24 hang overhead gantries with cameras equipped with automatic licence plate recognition. This is a proven technology that has worked for years in car parks, tunnels and on toll roads in other countries. The systems work day and night, even in rain, fog and darkness.
With every passage, the system registers the licence plate and links it to the registered vehicle weight. Based on this, it is automatically determined whether the vehicle falls into the light class (up to and including 3,500 kg) or the heavy class (above 3,500 kg). The processing of licence plate data takes place in accordance with the GDPR.
Why the Netherlands chose this system
The choice for e-TOL on the A24 is not coincidental. The Netherlands followed a deliberate strategy: the A24 is financed via a public-private partnership, with toll payments contributing to the investment payback period. Physical toll booths would represent too high an operating burden for this.
Furthermore, it is legally established that a free alternative route must always be available. You are never obliged to use the A24. This distinguishes the Dutch system from systems in countries where toll is sometimes the only practical route.
e-TOL fits within the European digital agenda
The EU is working on a harmonised European toll system that will allow road users in the future to pay toll in multiple member states with a single contract. The Netherlands is aligned with the European digital transition of road infrastructure.
Countries such as Norway and Sweden have been working with licence plate-based toll in cities for some time. In the Netherlands, the A24 is the first motorway to introduce this system nationally for passenger traffic.
What does this mean for you as a road user?
In practice, you will barely notice the technology behind e-TOL. You drive onto the A24, pass one or more overhead gantries with cameras and drive on. There is no delay, no stopping and no payment action at that moment.
The only action required of you is the payment: per passage via e-TOL.nl (up to 72 hours after your passage) or automatically via a provider such as MOVE-IZI. With automatic payment, there is nothing more to do after a one-off registration.
Privacy protected: licence plate data and the GDPR
Licence plate data on the A24 is used exclusively for paying toll. It is not stored longer than necessary and is not shared with third parties outside the legal frameworks. This is established in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Dutch system thereby distinguishes itself from systems in countries where camera surveillance on roads serves a broader purpose.
Automatic payment via MOVE-IZI: no hassle
Do you never want to think about your toll payment again? Via MOVE-IZI you register your licence plate once and link a payment method. Every passage on the A24 is automatically settled. You only pay the official toll amount, without extra service charges. View the current rates on the Toll and prices page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to stop to pay toll on the A24?
No. There are no toll booths or barriers. You simply drive through. The overhead gantries with cameras register your licence plate automatically.
How does the system know which class my vehicle falls into?
The overhead gantries with cameras register your licence plate. Based on the registered vehicle data, the system automatically determines whether you fall into the light or heavy class.
Is my privacy protected with licence plate recognition?
Yes. The processing of licence plate data on the A24 takes place in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
What if I forget to pay?
If you do not pay within 72 hours after your passage via e-TOL.nl (or not automatically via a provider), a payment reminder follows with €9.00 administration costs from e-TOL.
Date: 23-07-2026
