Are 8-seater minivans exempt from highway tolls?
3 Answers
During the period from October 1st to 7th, only small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are eligible for toll-free travel. 8-seater vehicles are charged as usual. Scope of holiday toll exemption implementation: The toll-free period applies during four national statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, as well as the consecutive rest days of these holidays as determined by documents from the General Office of the State Council in the current year. The toll-free period starts at 00:00 on the first day of the holiday and ends at 24:00 on the last day of the holiday (for ordinary roads, the time is based on when the vehicle passes the toll lane of the toll station; for highways, the time is based on when the vehicle exits the toll lane at the exit). Toll Road Management Regulations: For highways and other closed toll roads, except for the entrances and exits at both ends, toll stations shall not be set up on the main line. However, this does not apply if toll stations are indeed necessary between provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the central government.
I've always been driving an 8-seater van on the highway, and it's never toll-free during holidays. I remember last National Day when I took my family on a trip, the toll booth charged me directly, and that's when I learned the policy only allows free passage for vehicles with 7 seats or fewer. Starting from 8 seats, you have to pay the toll. This rule is implemented during national holidays, and normally, highway tolls are charged as usual. An 8-seater offers more space, which is great for group travel, but it becomes a hassle during toll-free periods. I've since learned to check official websites or apps before setting off to confirm the policy, so I don't waste money unnecessarily. Don't overlook safety either—overloading only increases risks. I recommend regular vehicle checks, like tires and brakes, to ensure a safe journey. After all, saving money is one thing, but getting home safely is more important. Developing good habits can also save on repair costs.
We have an 8-seater minivan at home, which we often use for family trips. It's spacious and comfortable, but we always have to pay tolls on highways, even during the Spring Festival or National Day holidays when tolls are waived for smaller vehicles. The policy clearly states that only small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are exempt from tolls, while those with 8 seats or more are charged. This significantly increases travel costs during holidays, so sometimes we switch to a smaller car or choose non-highway routes to save money. When driving, I pay extra attention to safety—8-seaters have a higher center of gravity, so it's important not to drive too fast, especially on curves. If you frequently travel on highways, it's convenient to get an ETC card for toll payments or use a navigation app to avoid congested routes. In short, both economy and safety must be considered—don't overlook the rules just to save a little money.
