Are 8-seater vehicles exempt from highway tolls during National Day?
3 Answers
From October 1st to 7th, only small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are exempt from tolls, while 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 holidays determined by the State Council for these statutory holidays 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 (for ordinary roads, the time is determined by when the vehicle passes the toll lane of the toll station; for highways, the time is determined by when the vehicle exits the toll lane at the exit). Toll Road Management Regulations: Highways and other closed toll roads shall not have toll stations on the main line except at the entrance and exit. However, this does not apply to toll stations that are indeed necessary between provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government.
As someone who frequently drives an eight-seater for family trips, I always check my wallet before hitting the highway during National Day holidays. The national free-toll policy only applies to small passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer. Even if two seats are empty in our eight-seater, we still have to pay the full toll. This depends on the black-and-white seating capacity stated on the vehicle registration certificate. Last year, my friend driving a seven-seat Highlander enjoyed free passage, while another buddy with the eight-seat version had to swipe his card obediently. It's best to check local policies before departure, as some provinces offer additional discounts for large buses. I usually install an ETC in advance to get at least a 5% discount, and factoring toll fees into the travel budget is the practical approach.
After years of studying traffic policies, the rules for highway toll exemptions are actually quite clear. During National Day holidays, the exemption applies only to passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer - 8-seaters like the GL8 eight-seat version or Mercedes-Benz V-Class eight-seater aren't covered. What matters is the seating capacity listed on the vehicle registration certificate. Some owners illegally remove seats to modify their cars into seven-seaters, but this counts as illegal modification if caught by traffic police. However, toll stations operate more efficiently during holidays, and ETC users can pass through much faster than waiting in congestion. Planning your route in advance and taking national highways can also save some money.
