Is the Expressway Toll-Free?
2 Answers
Expressways are generally not toll-free. In 2020, the toll-free periods for expressways were during four national statutory holidays: the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, as well as the consecutive rest days for these holidays as specified in the documents issued by the General Office of the State Council that year. For ordinary highways, the toll is determined by the time the vehicle passes through the toll lane at the toll station, while for expressways, it is determined by the time the vehicle exits the toll lane at the exit. According to regulations, the toll-free policy applies to passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer (including seven seats), meaning not all vehicles are eligible for toll-free expressway travel. An expressway is defined as a highway that can accommodate an annual average daily traffic volume of over 25,000 passenger cars, is exclusively designed for high-speed travel with divided lanes, and has fully controlled access.
I often think about the highway tolls. Like many families, we love driving back to our hometown or going out for trips during holidays, and the national policy of free highway access during these times is a huge benefit. For example, during the Spring Festival and National Day holidays, highways usually waive tolls, which not only saves money but also makes family reunions easier. However, most highways charge tolls during regular times—why? Because the costs of road construction and maintenance are high, and the government relies on tolls to repay loans, pay staff salaries, and cover cleaning and upkeep expenses. Sometimes, I use the ETC lane, which is convenient as it allows for toll payment without stopping. During the free holiday periods, highways get crowded, so extra caution is needed to avoid congestion and safety issues. Also, the free periods only apply on statutory holidays like Qingming Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, with specific dates slightly changing each year, so it’s best to check the traffic authority’s announcements.
