What is the current free period for expressways?

[LeGenesis]

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.

[Arthur]

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.

[DelAlexandra]

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.

[Hayden]

While helping my neighbor Uncle Wang check the highway toll-free rules, I discovered a crucial detail: the toll-free period is determined by the time of exiting the highway! This means if you enter the highway at midnight on the 1st, as long as you exit before 24:00 on the 7th, it's free. Last year, my cousin was queuing at the provincial border toll station, the electronic screen showed 23:58, but by the time he reached the toll booth, it was exactly 00:01, and he ended up paying over 300 yuan extra. Now, I’ve memorized the four major holiday schedules—Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Also, even if a pickup truck has 5 seats, it’s not toll-free, and the policies for new energy vehicles and gasoline vehicles are the same. During toll-free periods, it’s best to turn on real-time navigation for traffic updates, as there are countdown reminders as the free period nears its end, which is especially handy.

[Sandy]

Last year, we took the kids on a road trip and timed our return to coincide with the toll-free period. Now I clearly remember the policy: Only during the four holidays—Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, May Day, and National Day—are all 7-seat and below passenger vehicles exempt from tolls. Holidays like Children's Day and Dragon Boat Festival don't count. The toll-free period includes adjusted working days. For example, even if it's a working day during National Day due to schedule adjustments, those days are still toll-free. Families with kids should note: If you're driving an 8-seat MPV, like some commercial vehicles, even if only 5 people are actually seated, you still can't get toll exemption. On the last day of the toll-free period, many service areas will broadcast reminders about the time. Remember, once you hear the broadcast, don't take any more breaks—head straight to the nearest exit.