National Freeways No. 1, No. 3, No. 5, and Freeway No. 3A implement ETC distance-based tolling: each vehicle receives the first 20 km free each day; for distance exceeding 20 km, small vehicles pay NT$1.2 per km, and cumulative daily distance exceeding 200 km receives a 25% discount (NT$0.9 per km). Standard rates for large vehicles are NT$1.5 per km, and combination vehicles are NT$1.8 per km. Tolls are settled daily per license plate number and rounded to the nearest integer dollar; paying via eTag with sufficient account balance, or paying independently within the designated period without an eTag, qualifies for an additional 10% discount (90% rate). The legal bases are Article 24 of the Highway Act (公路法), the highway toll collection and management regulations (公路通行費徵收管理辦法), and the Freeway Bureau's national highway toll collection plan (國道高速公路通行費徵收計畫, 18th amendment on October 2, 2026 / ROC year 115).
Reminder: Toll rates in this article follow the Freeway Bureau's "Today's Toll Rates" page and the toll collection plan amended on October 2, 2026 (115). During consecutive holidays such as Spring Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, and Taiwan Retrocession Day, a "consecutive holiday rate scheme" is separately announced, under which a single flat rate applies, the daily 20 km free allowance and long-distance discounts are canceled, and differential rates by segment and time period may take effect; check the Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection (FETC) rate calculator website or Freeway Bureau announcements before departure. Actual deducted amounts follow FETC billing records.
Regular Weekday Rates: Free 20 km, NT$1.2, and NT$0.9
The Freeway Bureau's "Today's Toll Rates" page indicates that weekday and general weekend rates are identical, covering National Freeways No. 1, No. 3, No. 5, and Freeway No. 3A. Rates by vehicle class are as follows (unit: NT$ per km):
| Vehicle Class | Daily Travel within 20 km | 20 km to 200 km | Portion Exceeding 200 km |
|---|
| Small vehicles (passenger cars, small trucks, dual-purpose passenger/cargo vehicles) | 0 | 1.20 | 0.90 |
| Large vehicles (buses, large freight trucks) | 0 | 1.50 | 1.12 |
| Combination vehicles (tractors, full trailers, semi-trailers) | 0 | 1.80 | 1.35 |
Vehicle classifications follow Point 6 of the toll collection plan: small vehicles towing light trailers remain classified as small vehicles; vehicles whose vehicle license lists "tractor" are charged as combination vehicles whether towing a trailer or not; tow trucks are charged according to their registered vehicle license class whether towing another vehicle or not. Point 7 of the toll collection plan originally scheduled horizontal national freeways to be temporarily toll-free for the first 2 years followed by comprehensive review; currently, the toll freeways announced under "Today's Toll Rates" remain only Freeways No. 1, 3, 5, and 3A.
How It Is Calculated: Daily Aggregation, Discount Deduction, and Rounding
The Freeway Bureau's "Toll Collection Scheme and Billing Principles" explain that distance-based tolling aggregates by vehicle license plate once daily at midnight, following these steps (taking small vehicles as an example):
- Sum the "gantry list prices" for every toll gantry passed on that day. Gantry price = mileage between two interchanges × rate per km, rounded to 1 decimal place.
- Long-distance discount: For total amounts exceeding NT$240 (NT$1.2 × 200 km), a 25% discount (75% rate) applies to the excess, reducing charges by 25%.
- Free mileage: Deduct NT$24 (NT$1.2 × 20 km).
- If encountering segment or time differential rate zones, add or subtract the adjustment amount for that gantry.
- For vehicles qualifying for the 10% discount (90% rate), multiply by 0.9 first, and finally round half-up to integer dollars (non-qualifying vehicles round directly). The toll plan and FAQs state "round to integer dollars"; applying discount before rounding follows official Freeway Bureau FAQ examples.
Official example from Freeway Bureau FAQs: A small vehicle traveling from Keelung end to Tainan accumulates gantry list prices totaling NT$389.6; deducting the long-distance discount of NT$37.4 and the free mileage discount of NT$24 yields NT$328.2; with eTag full balance deduction receiving a 10% discount (90% rate), (389.6 − 61.4) × 0.9 = NT$295.3, rounded to an payable amount of NT$295.
Below are small vehicle estimates calculated by this article using "integer mileage" baselines for reference only; actual charges accumulate per gantry prices and may differ by approximately NT$1:
| Daily Travel Mileage (Small Vehicles) | Standard Price Estimate | 10% Discount (90% Rate) Estimate |
|---|
| 15 km | NT$0 | NT$0 |
| 50 km | (50 − 20) × 1.2 = NT$36 | NT$32 |
| 100 km | (100 − 20) × 1.2 = NT$96 | NT$86 |
| 300 km | 240 + 100 × 0.9 − 24 = NT$306 | NT$275 |
Taxis traveling on freeways pay small vehicle rates under Point 9 of the toll plan, but drivers cannot enjoy the daily 20 km discount or long-distance discounts when billing passengers; drivers must collect fares according to the Freeway Bureau's published "Taxi Freeway Toll Table" (metered without discounts).
How to Get the 10% Discount: eTag or Timely Payment
Point 8(2) of the toll collection plan specifies discounts across 4 payment methods:
| Payment Method | Conditions | Rate |
|---|
| eTag pre-stored account | Deduction occurs at midnight on the 3rd day following travel, with sufficient balance in account | 10% discount (90% rate) |
| No eTag / Post-travel payment | Voluntary payment made within days 3 to 5 following travel (e.g., traveling July 1, paying between July 4 and July 6; or days 4 to 6 counting travel day) | 10% discount (90% rate) |
| Reservation registration user | Registered without installing eTag, post-paid via notification | Standard rate (no discount) |
| Overdue notification bill | Paid after receiving registered mail notification bill from Freeway Bureau | Standard rate + NT$50 registered mail processing fee |
If overdue bills remain unpaid past deadlines, Article 27 of the Highway Act imposes a fine of NT$300 per trip; see details in unpaid ETC toll fines and notification timeline. Beware of fake SMS claiming unpaid tolls with phishing links; see 165 anti-fraud verification. For motor vehicle tax schedules, see vehicle license tax and fuel fee payment periods.
eTag Application and Auto-Reload
- Types and fees: Freeway Bureau FAQs (updated January 12, 2026 / ROC 115) list 3 eTag types: windshield type and headlight type cost NT$99 application fee each; license plate type costs NT$195; apply at FETC service centers or partnered auto repair shops.
- Auto-reload: Linking a credit card or bank account triggers an automatic NT$400 reload whenever the eTag account balance drops below NT$120. The Freeway Bureau announced on August 25, 2026 (115) that FETC offers an extra NT$100 reload bonus for new bank auto-reload enrollments activated within 1 month before the end of 2026 (115).
- Balance inquiry: Check via FETC official website, ETC App, convenience store kiosks, or telephone customer service at 02-7716-1998, or FETC Line official account (@fetcline).
- Transfer, deregistration, theft, or cancellation: When selling or scrapping a vehicle, request a refund of remaining eTag balances from FETC. If license plates are stolen, contact FETC customer service to suspend the account and prevent fraudulent charges.
Key Details for Drivers in Taipei and New Taipei
- Freeway 1 Xizhi to Yangmei elevated vs surface NT$1 difference: Freeway Bureau FAQs explain that gantry list prices truncate past the 1st decimal place; a small vehicle traveling Xizhi to Yangmei on the Freeway 1 surface section lists at NT$68.8, while the elevated section lists at NT$69.0, resulting in a potential NT$1 difference after total aggregation. The Freeway Bureau notes price differences occur only on Freeway 1 between Xizhi and Yangmei, and on Freeway 5 between Yilan and Luodong due to negative ramp gantry prices, which may also differ by NT$1. In addition, truncation past the 2nd decimal place across all gantries can naturally create a NT$1 difference after full-day aggregation.
- Wuyang elevated vs surface gantries: Appendix Table 2 of the toll collection plan specifies elevated section toll locations; elevated and surface gantries are priced according to actual interchange ramp distances.
- Taipei and New Taipei commuter short trips: Commuting short hops within 20 km daily on Freeway 1 (e.g. Neihu to Sanchong) or Freeway 3 (e.g. Xindian to Zhonghe) fall within the daily 20 km free allowance, resulting in NT$0 toll when no other freeway travel occurs that day.
- Freeway 3A rates: Freeway 3A (Taipei connecting line between Da'an and Shenkeng) is a tolled expressway matching national freeway rates, counting toward the daily 20 km free allowance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 20 km daily freeway free allowance granted per trip?
No. Under Freeway Bureau billing principles, tolls aggregate daily by vehicle license plate; all trips across a single day combine and deduct only one 20 km allowance (saving NT$24 for small vehicles).
Can I drive on freeways without an eTag? How do I pay?
Yes. Toll gantries record passages via license plate recognition. You can check and pay tolls via the FETC website, ETC App, convenience store multimedia kiosks, or customer service at 02-7716-1998; paying within days 3 to 5 following the passage date (e.g. traveling July 1, paying July 4 to July 6) qualifies for the 10% discount (90% rate), which is also the earliest date records become searchable; payments after that window follow standard prices.
How much is the toll for a small vehicle driving 300 km?
Estimated by integer mileage: the first 200 km is NT$240, plus the excess 100 km × NT$0.9 = NT$90, minus the 20 km free allowance of NT$24, yielding a standard estimate of approx NT$306, or approx NT$275 with the 10% discount (90% rate). Actual charges accumulate per gantry prices and may differ by approx NT$1.
Is the 20 km free allowance also available during consecutive holidays?
Not necessarily. The Freeway Bureau explains that consecutive holidays implement single flat rates, canceling the daily 20 km free allowance and long-distance discounts while deploying differential rates based on holiday planning; specific schemes for each holiday are announced on the FETC rate estimation site.
How much does an eTag cost?
Freeway Bureau FAQs list windshield and headlight types at NT$99 each, and license plate types at NT$195 each, obtainable at FETC service centers or partnered auto repair shops.
Last updated: 2026-11-03
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information for general reference only; for specific inquiries, contact the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Freeway Bureau or FETC customer service at 02-7716-1998.
Sources
- Freeway Bureau, MOTC: Today's toll rates (verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): toll freeway scope, daily 20 km concession mileage, 25% long-distance discount beyond 200 km, rates for 3 vehicle classes.
- Freeway Bureau ETC Portal: National freeway toll collection plan (18th amendment October 2, 2026 / ROC 115, updated 115-10-07, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): vehicle classifications, rate schedule, temporary toll-free status for horizontal freeways, 10% discount rules for eTag pre-storage and timely payment, standard rates for reservation registration, gantry pricing principles.
- Freeway Bureau ETC Portal: Toll schemes and billing principles (updated 112-05-03, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): daily midnight settlement, rounding, NT$240 long-distance and NT$24 free mileage deductions, single holiday rates, taxi and tow truck billing rules.
- Freeway Bureau ETC FAQs: Toll collection and calculation explanations (updated 115-01-13, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): Keelung to Tainan NT$295 calculation example.
- Freeway Bureau ETC FAQs: 10% discount deadline for non-eTag users (updated 115-01-12, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): inquiries open on day 4 post-passage, payment on days 4 to 6 receives 10% discount (identical period as plan's "days 3 to 5 following passage date").
- Freeway Bureau ETC FAQs: eTag deduction timing (updated 115-01-12, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): eTag account deducted at midnight on day 3 following passage.
- Freeway Bureau ETC FAQs: eTag types and fees (updated 115-01-12, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): eTag NT$99 and license plate type NT$195.
- Freeway Bureau ETC FAQs: Billing explanation for Xizhi-Yangmei and Yilan-Luodong (updated 115-01-13, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): surface NT$68.8 vs elevated NT$69.0, Yilan-Luodong ramp gantries, full-day aggregation NT$1 difference.
- Freeway Bureau ETC Portal: Paying freeway tolls on time (updated 115-08-25, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): auto-reload NT$400 when balance falls below NT$120, NT$100 bonus before end of 2026 (115), balance refunds upon vehicle transfer, customer service telephone and Line ID.
- FETC: Distance-based toll calculator (verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): rate calculator, holiday concessions suspension, taxi rates matching small vehicles.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Regulations for highway toll collection and management (amended December 26, 2025 / ROC 114, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): Article 5 vehicle classes, Article 7 differential rates ceiling 2x, Article 10 daily distance settlement.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Highway Act (amended August 17, 2026 / ROC 115, verified 2026-11-02) (in Chinese): Article 24 toll collection authority and rate factors.
