How is the toll calculated when entering the highway without free access but exiting during free hours?
2 Answers
If you enter the highway during non-free hours but exit during free hours, the toll is calculated based on the exit time, meaning no charge will be applied. However, if you enter during the free period and exit during the toll period, the toll fee will be charged. Highway toll exemptions are typically implemented during holidays, starting at 00:00 on the first day of the holiday and ending at 24:00 on the last day. Eligible vehicles include micro buses, sedans, small buses, small off-road vehicles with 7 seats or fewer, as well as motorcycles permitted to travel on ordinary toll roads. The scope of free passage applies to toll roads, bridges, and tunnels that comply with the Highway Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on Toll Roads, and have been legally approved and established.
I remember when I first started driving, I also didn't understand the highway toll rules, especially the holiday free policy. Later, I figured it out: the key is the time you exit the highway. As long as you exit during the officially designated free period, such as the window from midnight to 24:00 on National Day, no matter when you entered the highway or whether it was during a toll period, it's all free. Last National Day, I tested it myself: I entered the highway at 4 PM during a toll period and exited at 11:30 PM for free—the barrier lifted directly, and I didn't pay a cent. But if you exit during a toll period, you might have to pay based on the distance traveled. So, I suggest checking the free dates and times before your trip, using a navigation app to estimate your exit time, ensuring it falls within the free period. This way, driving is more relaxed and cost-effective. Safety first! Don't speed just to catch the free period.
