Is the National Day Freeway Toll Exemption Based on the Exit Time?
3 Answers
The National Day freeway toll exemption is indeed based on the exit time. If you enter the freeway during the toll period and exit during the free period, you will not be charged. However, there are two scenarios to note: 1. If you enter during the toll period and exit during the free period, no toll will be charged; 2. If you enter during the free period and exit during the toll period, tolls will apply. The implementation scope includes: 1. The free toll period covers 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 holidays; 2. Eligible vehicles include passenger vehicles with fewer than 7 seats and motorcycles permitted on ordinary toll roads; 3. The toll roads eligible for the exemption are those approved in accordance with the Highway Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Toll Roads.
I remember going home last National Day holiday and researching a lot beforehand. The free expressway policy is indeed based on the time you exit the highway. For example, if the free period is from 0:00 on the 1st to 24:00 on the 7th, as long as you exit the highway within this timeframe, you don't have to pay. I specifically tested it - I entered the expressway at 8 PM on the 30th and exited at 1 AM on the 1st, and wasn't charged at all. But if you enter at 11 PM on the 7th and exit after midnight on the 8th, even if it's just one minute over, you'll be charged for the entire distance. I recommend avoiding the peak period on the last day and planning your time in advance. My colleague got stuck in traffic and exited just a few minutes past 24:00 on the 7th, and was charged over 300 yuan - it broke his heart.
As someone who frequently drives on highways, I'm very familiar with the National Day toll-free policy. The key is whether your exit time falls within the free period. For example, this year's free period is from 0:00 on October 1st to 24:00 on October 7th. As long as you exit the toll station within this window, it's free regardless of when you entered the highway. Once I deliberately entered the highway two hours before the free period ended, but got stuck in traffic and almost missed the deadline by ten minutes. A reminder: if you use ETC, the system automatically recognizes the time, but for manual lanes, you need to take a card in advance. It's advisable to avoid the peak traffic flow in the last six hours, and it's best to bring snacks and water in case of traffic jams so you won't go hungry.
