Irish hauliers face higher motorway toll bills from 1 January 2027, following increases announced by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on Friday, 30 October.
Heavier HGVs will pay an additional 20–30 cent per passage on the M50, with increases also applying across the eight public-private partnership (PPP) toll roads. For operators making repeated motorway journeys, the changes will add to annual fleet costs and need to be reflected in transport rates for the coming year. www.irishtimes.com
However, the €1 increase announced for Dublin Port Tunnel’s morning peak charge will not apply to goods vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500kg, which remain exempt from tunnel tolls. www.tii.ie
Higher charges for HGVs
On the M50, heavier HGV tolls will rise by either 20 cent or 30 cent, depending on the vehicle category and payment arrangement.
Across the PPP toll roads, heavier HGV categories will generally face a 20 cent increase, rising to 30 cent for goods vehicles exceeding 3,500kg with four or more axles. The corresponding increase for the heavier category on the M3 Clonee–Kells route will be 10 cent. www.irishtimes.com
The effect on individual operators will depend on their routes, vehicle classifications and the number of toll passages made each day.
Small increases add up across a fleet
An additional 30 cent may appear modest when considered as a single transaction. Repeated across daily journeys and multiple vehicles, the annual cost becomes more substantial.
For example, a truck making four toll passages each working day, with each passage increasing by 30 cent, would incur an additional €1.20 a day. Over 250 operating days, that amounts to €300 per vehicle.
For a fleet of 20 trucks following the same pattern, the additional annual toll payments would reach €6,000, before any applicable VAT recovery.
These are illustrative calculations rather than estimates for a particular route. They demonstrate why operators should assess the cumulative impact when preparing 2027 budgets.
- Every key deadline: diesel rebate, fuel excise, carbon tax
- Tick-box checklist for tacho, CVRT, CPC & operator licence
- Where drivers get caught at RSA roadside checks
For fixed-price haulage work, any increase that cannot be recovered from the customer comes directly from the margin on the job.
Port Tunnel exemption remains
The Dublin Port Tunnel southbound morning peak charge will increase from €14 to €15 between 6am and 10am, Monday to Friday. Other tunnel rates remain unchanged for 2027.
TII says the increase is intended to preserve capacity for HGVs accessing Dublin Port as traffic volumes grow during the morning peak. www.irishtimes.com
While qualifying HGVs continue to travel toll-free, vans and other toll-paying light commercial vehicles using the tunnel during that period will face the additional charge. The exemption is based on design gross vehicle weight, rather than the load being carried. dublintunnel.ie
Review route costs before January
Hauliers should check the relevant 2027 tariffs against their vehicle classes, toll accounts and regular routes, including outward and return passages.
New quotations should reflect the revised charges, while existing contracts should be reviewed to establish whether toll increases can be passed through to customers.
Avoiding a toll also requires careful calculation. Additional mileage, fuel consumption and driving time can quickly outweigh the saving.
With the increases taking effect on 1 January, operators have a clear window to update their costings and discuss revised charges with customers before the new rates apply.
