Will I be charged if I enter the highway early and exit during the free period?
2 Answers
Entering the highway early and exiting during the free period will not incur charges. The national regulation for highway toll exemption states that small passenger vehicles exiting the highway during the free period are exempt from tolls. If you enter the highway during normal toll periods (non-holidays) and exit during the free period, you will not be charged. It is important to note that the condition for not being charged is that you do not pass through any toll stations before the free period begins. For example, if you enter the highway early but pass through an interprovincial toll station before the free period starts, you will be charged the toll. Highways are multi-lane roads exclusively designed for directional and lane-based vehicle travel, with fully controlled access. The average annual daily traffic volume for highways should ideally exceed 15,000 small passenger vehicles, with a design speed ranging from 80 to 120 kilometers per hour.
As a long-distance driver, I remember getting on the highway before the National Day last year but specifically exited during the toll-free period, so I wasn’t charged a single penny. Highway tolls are calculated based on the time you exit. As long as you exit during the toll-free window, no matter how early you entered, you won’t be charged. For example, during holiday toll-free periods, it usually starts at midnight on the first day and ends at 24:00 on the last day, like the consecutive free days during the Spring Festival. The key is to time your exit precisely to avoid leaving before or after the toll-free period. I recommend checking the official highway toll-free policy schedule before departure or using a navigation app for real-time updates—this can save you a lot of money. Also, when planning your trip, factor in traffic congestion. Don’t push yourself to drive while exhausted just to save on tolls—safety should always come first.
