📋 Tender Overview
The planned amendments to the Road User Fee (ALN) Law define changes in vignettes or rates, which aim to reduce the negative impact on the environment and roads. The rate increase will ensure fairer participation in infrastructure costs - the greater the load caused by the vehicle on the roads, the higher the payment. Almost half of the revenue from ALN comes from foreign carriers - transit cargo crossing Latvia. Revenues from ALN are directed to one purpose only - the construction and maintenance of the countrys main highways. The amendments to the law introduced in Latvia in 2022 - raising rates and expanding the coverage of toll roads - comply with the European Commissions guidelines on the principle of road user fees - the road user pays, as well as OECD recommendations on fair road maintenance financing. The purchase of ALN is mandatory for trucks from 3,000 kg, which move on the countrys main and regional highways, which have the status of a toll road - when moving on highways of European importance (TEN-T) and statutory sections of highways at border crossing points and near ports. Vignettes, as now, will not be required for trucks that do not use the mentioned roads, for example, farms that transport goods within their farm or in the immediate vicinity do not need to purchase vignettes. Also, vignettes will not be required for cars heavier than 3000 kg, but not registered as cargo vehicles. For example, a family car with seven seats. As before, farmers will not have to pay the ALN fee during the harvest, when registering vehicles at the Rural Support Service. Also a truck with a gross weight of up to 3000 kg, for example Citroen Berlingo, Opel Combo Renault Partner, etc. vignettes, as they are now, will not be necessary. Currently, approximately 45,000 such vehicles are registered in Latvia. Changes in the list of highways are also planned in the law - the scope has been expanded to prevent the possibility of avoiding the ALN payment, so that transit carriers do not deliberately choose routes that are currently outside the territory of application of the toll. Thus also relieving regional highways, which are technically not designed for freight transportation. ALN will be applied to all sections of the road leading to Terehova, Grebneva and Paternieki border crossings, ensuring that the toll legally covers the entire distance to the state border. Also, the amendments provide for the inclusion of an expanded road network with national regional highways, which are parallel to the main highways of the country or lead to ports. In the changes of ATL rates, the same principle is applied in relation to the amount of emissions generated, i.e. the greater the amount of emissions, the higher the rate. At the same time, the changes foresee a zero rate for zero-emission vehicles. The regulatory framework stipulates that revenues from ALN are directed to one purpose only - the construction and maintenance of the countrys main highways. Next year, repairs are planned for the reconstruction of the A6 Riga-Daugavpils-Kraslava-Belarus border (Paternieki), the section Nicgale-Daugavpils (20 km), the A2 Riga-Sigulda-Estonia border. (Veclaicene), the section Grundzale-Darzciems, for the reconstruction of a 16.5 km long section, the section of the A14 Daugavpils ring road from Svente to the intersection with the A6 highway, for the reconstruction of a 7 km long section, for the reconstruction of the pavement of the sections P80 Tinuzi-Koknese, 48 km long, the section of the A6 Riga-Daugavpils-Kraslava-Belarusian border in Ikskile, 3 km long for reconstruction. In the Baltic States, the average ALN rates in Latvia and Estonia are approximately the same, while in Lithuania they are higher. The table can be moved! Example of a vehicle Latvia (planned rates) Estonia Lithuania N1 3-3.5 t EURO VI - day 7-12 EUR 6-15 EUR 9-16 EUR N1 3-3.5 t EURO VI - month 36-63 EUR 40-70 EUR 55-90 EUR N1 3-3.5 t EURO VI - year EUR360 350-400 EUR 500-600 EUR Considering different needs, it is possible to purchase vignettes for different time periods - day, week, month, 9 months and year, evaluating how often the specific car needs to be driven. The amount of the fee is differentiated depending on the weight of the vehicle, the number of axles, the emission class and the period of use.
