What is the current free period for expressways?
3 Answers
Expressway toll-free periods are as follows: According to the "Implementation Plan for Exempting Toll Fees for Small Passenger Vehicles During Major Holidays" and the "Notice of the General Office of the State Council on the Arrangement of Some Holidays in 2020," toll fees for 7-seat and below small passenger vehicles are exempted during four national statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Below are the toll-free periods for each holiday: 1. New Year's Day: January 1 to 3, 2021, totaling 3 days. 2. Spring Festival: February 11 to 17, totaling 7 days. 3. Qingming Festival: April 3 to 5, totaling 3 days. 4. Labor Day: May 1 to 5, totaling 5 days. 5. Dragon Boat Festival: June 12 to 14, totaling 3 days. 6. Mid-Autumn Festival: September 19 to 21, totaling 3 days. 7. National Day: October 1 to 7, totaling 7 days.
The most concerning issue for long-distance driving is the highway toll-free policy. I specifically checked the latest policy, and tolls are waived only during four major holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Each toll-free period starts at midnight on the first day of the holiday and ends at 24:00 on the last day. Important reminder! If you exit the highway even one minute past the last second of the toll-free period, you’ll have to pay the full toll for the entire trip. If you enter the highway before the toll-free period begins, it’s best to wait at a service area and time your exit precisely. During peak return periods, traffic jams at toll stations are common, so leaving half a day earlier is the safest option. Recently, I noticed some newly built highways have special toll policies, so it’s best to check your route on a map app before traveling to confirm if it’s included in the nationwide toll-free program.
As someone who frequently plans trips for friends, calculating toll-free periods on highways has become an essential skill. Currently, there are only four national holidays with toll exemptions throughout the year: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. The exact hours are from 00:00 on the start date to 24:00 on the end date. For example, during this year's National Day holiday, vehicles with fewer than 7 seats will be directly let through from 00:00 on October 1st to 24:00 on October 7th. However, two points should be noted: first, the free period is determined by the time the vehicle exits the highway, so make sure to allow extra time for the return trip; second, some provinces have separate regulations for airport expressways. It is recommended to use the 'China Highways' official account to check routes in advance, as the system will automatically calculate whether it falls within the toll-free window.
