7.5 ton restrictions and advice sought

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EURO DRIVING FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

I have three trips to make taking my possesions from Glasgow to Bulgaria in a 7.5 ton truck, I have done one trip. I am not a professional driver so I am looking for advice. My first misstake was paying for a vinette on the Dunkirk ferry, I only need one if I am over 12 tons. I got a shock at Austria it cost me 135 euro to through I think the system is called Maut. What I want to know is could I be better of going from Nuremburg to Prague to Bratislava. I am not bothered about time and I think it is only 100Km longer on this route I need to know if there are problems with the route IE high tolls. Is it worth saving this toll to avoid Austria or should I just pay and get on with it.
Thanks in advance for any help.

2

jimmyred:
I have three trips to make taking my possesions from Glasgow to Bulgaria in a 7.5 ton truck, I have done one trip. I am not a professional driver so I am looking for advice. My first misstake was paying for a vinette on the Dunkirk ferry, I only need one if I am over 12 tons. I got a shock at Austria it cost me 135 euro to through I think the system is called Maut. What I want to know is could I be better of going from Nuremburg to Prague to Bratislava. I am not bothered about time and I think it is only 100Km longer on this route I need to know if there are problems with the route IE high tolls. Is it worth saving this toll to avoid Austria or should I just pay and get on with it.
Thanks in advance for any help.

There is a calculator to work out the tolls, but as it only applies over 12,000kg

CZ may be the best way.

This is the calculators route to Brno.it only works in czech republik, not slovakia

Route map development:
Departure: 29/08/09 14:00 Arrival: 29/08/09 17:10
Start point: D5
Rozvadov-hranice D End point: D1
Brno-východ #R50
Duration: 03:10.13
Distance: 363.5 km add another 180km to the border

Toll: Kč836.05

3

if you have got the time , why not try it out here is the Czech maut site
HEREand how about some pictures &
write up about the trip,Austria IS one of the worst country’s for a expensive maut

4

Hi jimmyred,

I have to agree with brit pete’s comment about Austria, and I’ll add that it’s always been relatively expensive. :frowning:

As already mentioned, most countries start their truck tax for foreign trucks at <12t GVW, however Austria starts theirs at <3.5t GVW. Details of the Austrian truck-tax system can be found here: :arrow_right: go-maut.at

5

bit late to ask i know but seeing as you had 3 loads to go down in a 7.5t wouldn’t it have been more economical to put it on an east european artic for a one way rate?

6

Thanks for all the replys, I wish I had found this site six month ago.
Wheelnut, I think you are right the toll is only for over 12 tons.

Brit pete thanks for that link it seems to say tolls are only over 12 tons also. Do you mean to post a write up here? I would think you guys would not have an interest in my inexperiance in taking this journey.

Diesel Dave thanks for that welcome and the link to the Austrian Maut. I was having a bad day after waiting outside Austria on Sunday before going through. I was then told my 7.5 ton truck did not have to wait I could drive through on a Sunday. After paying the maut I put the box on the dash I did not read the instructions until I was through 5 portals and stopped for a cuppa it was then I stuck it on the windscreen. As you can guess as soon as I went on the road again they were waiting for me. That cost me a 200euro fine. Allthough it was now on the window they said they had 5 photos of me when it was not so I had to pay the fine.

Welshboy this is not pure buisness for me I do enjoy this drive down to BG I can stop and be a tourist where ever I want I have no time table or boss looking for where I am. I do not want all my stuff down in one go when I arrive I will take a few days to unload and move stuff around my place.

Thanks again for all your help

7

YES mate , another outside view as every little bit helps
also what you may think as being of no interest is false
your approach or the way you do the trip may help some
one else, showing us a different way of doing the trip
so please mate pictures and write up please,

8

jimmyred:
Thanks for all the replys, I wish I had found this site six month ago.
Wheelnut, I think you are right the toll is only for over 12 tons.

Brit pete thanks for that link it seems to say tolls are only over 12 tons also. Do you mean to post a write up here? I would think you guys would not have an interest in my inexperiance in taking this journey.

Diesel Dave thanks for that welcome and the link to the Austrian Maut. I was having a bad day after waiting outside Austria on Sunday before going through. I was then told my 7.5 ton truck did not have to wait I could drive through on a Sunday. After paying the maut I put the box on the dash I did not read the instructions until I was through 5 portals and stopped for a cuppa it was then I stuck it on the windscreen. As you can guess as soon as I went on the road again they were waiting for me. That cost me a 200euro fine. Allthough it was now on the window they said they had 5 photos of me when it was not so I had to pay the fine.

Welshboy this is not pure buisness for me I do enjoy this drive down to BG I can stop and be a tourist where ever I want I have no time table or boss looking for where I am. I do not want all my stuff down in one go when I arrive I will take a few days to unload and move stuff around my place.

Thanks again for all your help

Hi jimmyred, It’s no problem for us to help you mate. Just remember, everybody had a first trip sometime. :wink:
There’s a vast wealth of genuine experience and qualified expertise on these TNUK forums, so it would have been very ignorant of us if we’d not have helped. IMHO, you came to the right place and asked a perfectly good question, which deserved, and got, good answers. :smiley:

9

Right guys, I am getting a lot of great info here, thanks to all who have posted or sent a PM. I now want to know what you do in the event of a break down. I will carry a spare wheel and jack but anything else I would not know where to turn. With the language problem I just would not know what to do in Europe. My truck is well serviced and I do not expect a problem but you never know the minute do you.

10

The guys who live in the UK will be able to answer this question
better,bUT carry spare blubs,fuses, & diesel filters (winter waxing problem,s)’
fan belts, as you can change these quite easy yourself,Have you asked what
the AA or RAC etc ask for euro-cover ■■;ALSO when you are in Bulgaria
have you checked the local area for a goodworkshop, you may be surprised as
to how good they can be when it comes to repairs,

11

Eastern Europe is not the primative place it was 20 years ago, all of the main dealers offer support in all of the countries you will drive in and mobile phone coverage is as good as it is here.

I would have no hesitation in going there tomorrow with just my usual two tools, a hammer and a pair of Mole grips.

12

brit pete:
YES mate , another outside view as every little bit helps
also what you may think as being of no interest is false
your approach or the way you do the trip may help some
one else, showing us a different way of doing the trip
so please mate pictures and write up please,

Adding to Pete’s post.

After driving around Europe for years, seeing the same things time and time again, you tend to forget the things that made you go :astonished: or :sunglasses: etc.
A fresh pair of eyes, seeing these things for the first few times and posting pics helps remind us how we saw them ourselves the first time.