Irish hauliers operating to or through Slovakia should check their toll payment arrangements ahead of a system change on 1 January 2027, which will require users of the country’s SkyToll service to re-register and replace their on-board units.

Slovakia’s National Motorway Company, Národná diaľničná spoločnosť (NDS), will take ownership and operational control of the new electronic toll system. SkyToll’s current comprehensive service will end on 31 December 2026.

According to NDS, affected operators must return their existing toll units and obtain replacements through CzechToll, the new national service provider, or an authorised European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) provider.

Check which service your fleet uses

The action required depends on how an operator currently pays Slovak tolls.

Irish fleets using a national SkyToll account will need to arrange their transition. However, operators already paying Slovak tolls through an EETS provider will not need to re-register because of the changeover.

NDS identifies Eurowag, Telepass and Toll4Europe as European providers operating in Slovakia. It confirms that existing EETS customers can continue with their current toll collection and payment arrangements.

For transport managers, the first practical step is to identify which vehicles use SkyToll and which already have Slovakia covered through an EETS account.

National post-payment service to end

One significant change concerns operators using the existing national post-payment arrangement.

CzechToll says this service will be discontinued from 31 December 2026. Operators will instead need to use the new national prepaid service or arrange payment through an EETS provider.

The national prepaid system will allow several vehicles, or an entire fleet, to operate under a single toll account. Operators will also be able to maintain separate accounts where needed for cost management. c

For Irish hauliers moving from national post-payment to prepayment, this means planning how toll credit will be funded and monitored before vehicles travel.

Registration opens in December

Registration for the new CzechToll national system opens on 1 December 2026. CzechToll says detailed practical guidance will be available through emyto.sk from 24 November.

Operators choosing the national system will need to register their vehicles, enter new contracts and arrange replacement on-board units.

The changeover dates require particular attention. New CzechToll units will only become operational on 1 January 2027. Until then, SkyToll customers driving in Slovakia must continue using the current system’s units.

Toll calculation method remains unchanged

CzechToll says the transition will retain the existing principles of electronic toll collection, the toll calculation method, the designated road network and the vehicle categories subject to payment.

The new system will continue to use satellite positioning and an on-board unit to record vehicle movements on tolled roads.

Prepare before the first January journey

Official transition guidance tells affected customers to choose their replacement payment service, complete registration in advance, and close their existing registration while settling outstanding account balances.

Registration with an EETS provider is already possible and will remain valid after the new system launches. Registration for CzechToll’s prepaid service begins in December.

Irish operators with Slovak journeys scheduled around the year-end should build the changeover into their transport planning now, allowing time for registration, replacement equipment and driver instructions before the first January departure.

Further information is available on the official Slovak toll transition website.