What is VECTO and How Does It Impact Your Trucking Tolls?
If you operate heavy-duty trucks in Europe, you’ve likely heard the buzz around rising toll costs, the updated German Maut, and the upcoming European road taxes. At the center of all these changes is one crucial acronym: VECTO.
But what exactly is VECTO, how does it determine the tolls you pay per kilometer, and most importantly- how can you ensure your next used truck purchase keeps your operational costs low? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the VECTO regulations and highlight which DAF trucks can help you stay ahead of these new road taxes.
What is VECTO?
VECTO stands for the Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool. Introduced by the European Commission, it is a standardized software simulation tool used to calculate the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of heavy-duty vehicles.
Since 2019, every new truck sold in the EU with a gross vehicle weight over 3.5 tonnes must come with a certified CO2 and fuel consumption declaration generated by VECTO. The European Union uses this data to enforce emission reduction targets for truck manufacturers. However, it now directly affects you, the transport operator, because countries are tying their road toll rates (like the German Maut) directly to a truck’s VECTO CO2 classification.
The 5 VECTO CO2 Emission Classes Explained
To incentivize greener transport, trucks are divided into five CO2 emission classes. The lower your truck’s CO2 emissions compared to the EU reference baseline, the higher your class, and the less you pay in tolls (cents/km).
How to read this table: Think of it like a sliding scale. It starts at the top with the highest CO2 emissions (Class 1) and works its way down to zero-emission vehicles at the bottom (Class 5). The further down the list your truck falls, the lower your emissions and the bigger your toll discounts!
Here is how the VECTO CO2 classes are structured:
CO 2 Class | Requirement / Emission Limit | Toll Impact / Benefit |
| Class 1 | Standard vehicles (Euro VI and older) that do not meet the limits of higher classes | Base rate (Highest toll, e.g., ~34.8 ct/km in Germany for standard 4x2)* |
| Class 2 | Vehicles with CO2 emissions more than 5% below the EU reference value | Slight discount (e.g., ~34.0 ct/km) |
| Class 3 | Vehicles with CO2 emissions more than 8% below the EU reference value | Significant discount (Saves up to €3,000/year at 110,000 km) |
| Class 4 | Low-emission vehicles (more than 50% below the reference value). | Massive toll reductions |
| Class 5 | Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) like DAF Electric (EV) or Hydrogen trucks. | Toll-free in Germany until mid-2027, followed by heavily reduced rates. |
(Note: Exact cents/km depend on the specific country, truck weight, and number of axles. A Class 3 truck assignment is valid for 6 years from its first registration before it is re-evaluated)
Which DAF Trucks Already Meet the Best Standards?
If you want to save on road taxes without jumping straight into fully electric trucks, you need a highly aerodynamic diesel truck with a highly efficient powertrain.
DAF Trucks has excelled in this area. Thanks to the highly optimized aerodynamics of the New Generation DAF, many of these trucks easily achieve the coveted VECTO Class 3 Trucks rating.
- DAF XF, XG, and XG+ (New Generation): As Raoul Wijnands, Manager of the DAF Testing Department, notes: "We designed the New Generation DAF XF, XG, and XG+ from the ground up with a singular focus on minimizing air drag and rolling resistance. When you specify these models with efficient axles, predictive cruise
control, and the optimal tire setups, they become true DAF Efficiency Champions and easily achieve the VECTO Class 3 rating." - DAF CF and Older XF (Euro 6): Most older generation trucks (pre-2021) will fall into Class 1. While they are still incredibly reliable and fuel-efficient in practice, they were built before the newest
Buy Smart: You Don’t Need a Brand-New Truck to Save
Here is the secret that many fleet owners overlook: The VECTO CO2 classification belongs to the truck, and it transfers to the new owner when the vehicle is sold. You do not need to wait for a factory-new truck to benefit from Class 3 toll discounts. The New Generation DAF XF and XG models (2021-present) are now actively entering the used truck market. By purchasing a young, pre-owned New Generation DAF, you get:
- Immediate availability (no factory waiting times).
- The lower purchase price of a used truck.
- The VECTO Class 3 certification that saves you cents per kilometer on every cross-border trip.
Ready to Upgrade Your Fleet?
Don’t let rising toll costs eat into your profit margins. Upgrading to an aerodynamically superior truck is the easiest way to offset Maut increases.
[Browse Our Stock of Used VECTO-Ready DAF Trucks Here] and filter by New Generation XF and XG models to find your next Efficiency Champion!