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 eligible for toll-free travel. 8-seater vehicles are subject to regular toll charges. Scope of holiday toll exemption implementation: The toll-free periods apply during four national statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, as well as the consecutive rest days for 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 toll-free status is determined by the time the vehicle passes through the toll lane of the toll station; for highways, it is determined by the time the vehicle exits the toll lane at the exit). Toll Road Management Regulations: For highways and other closed toll roads, no toll stations shall be established on the main route except at the entry and exit points. However, this does not apply to toll stations that are indeed necessary between provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the central government.
I've been driving for over a decade and have operated many 8-seater vans. Last National Day holiday, I learned a hard lesson on the highway. I assumed vehicles with similar seating capacity should qualify for toll exemption, but the toll booth staff informed me that national policy only grants free passage to small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer - 8-seaters aren't covered. Ended up paying an extra 180 yuan in toll fees. Based on my experience, toll-free policies are strictly enforced during major holidays like National Day, with ETC lanes automatically detecting vehicle classifications. I recommend drivers check their vehicle registration for exact seating capacity before trips, or use highway apps to verify real-time policies if uncertain. Don't assume you qualify for exemptions - holiday highways are congested enough without risking fines that could ruin your family trip mood. Proper route planning brings peace of mind.
I'm quite familiar with the national free highway policy, which clearly states that only small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are eligible for free passage during National Day. Even compact vans with 8 seats exceed the standard and must pay tolls. This rule applies uniformly during holidays like Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, leaving no gray areas. Before traveling, it's advisable to check the latest policy on the Ministry of Transport's official website or via ETC apps. Vehicle documents clearly indicate seating capacity – mistakenly entering free lanes may result in toll repayment. Safety reminder: With heavy holiday traffic, avoid overloading or rushing. 8-seaters hoping for free passage will only waste money and delay trips.
