Can I Enter the Highway Early During the National Day Free Toll Period?
3 Answers
Yes, you can enter the highway early during the National Day free toll period. As long as you exit the highway during the free toll time, no highway toll will be charged. The scope of free passage applies to toll roads (including toll bridges and tunnels) that comply with the Highway Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Administration of Toll Roads, and have been legally approved. According to the implementation plan for exempting tolls for small passenger vehicles during major holidays, the free toll period starts at 0:00 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 leaves the exit toll lane).
I drive home to visit my family every National Day, and the free expressway policy does allow entering the expressway early. Specifically, the free period usually lasts for the 7 days of National Day, for example, from 0:00 on October 1st to 24:00 on October 7th. If you enter the expressway before the free period begins but exit after the free period starts, you won’t be charged at the exit. Conversely, if you enter the expressway before the free period ends but exit after the free period is over, you’ll be charged as usual. So entering early is fine, but the key is to time your exit correctly. I’d suggest starting your trip the night before to avoid peak-hour congestion, but don’t rush too much to prevent speeding. Using ETC makes automatic billing more convenient, but if you exit the expressway right at the moment the free period ends, the system might sometimes have minor issues, so leaving some buffer time is always a good idea. Also, be careful about safety when traffic is heavy—don’t take risks just to save a little money.
During the National Day holiday when highways are toll-free, you can confidently enter the highway in advance—I've personally experienced this several times. As a frequent traveler, I make it a habit to get ready before the free period begins. For example, departing on the evening of September 30th and ensuring I exit the highway after midnight on October 1st means not paying a single cent. However, be careful not to miscalculate the timing—if you exit the highway on October 8th or later, the system will charge the full toll. The toll-free policy covers all seven days, including entry and exit times, so plan your trip carefully, preferably using a navigation app to set reminders. I’ve also noticed that many people enter the highway the night before, but the first day tends to have the heaviest traffic and congestion—last year, I was stuck for two hours, which ended up wasting time. Safety comes first, so bring extra snacks and water in the car. In short, flexibly using the policy can save some travel costs, but don’t let small savings disrupt your trip.
