Since July 2013, Belarus has introduced an electronic system of toll roads called Beltoll. If you’re planning a car trip to Belarus and want to calculate your expenses in advance, this article is sure to help you out.
 

WHAT ROADS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM?

Here’s a map for your reference

Every toll road segment also has an opening and a closing sign.

DO I HAVE TO PAY THE TOLL ROAD FEE TO USE IT?

Yes, if:

  • Your car has a maximum laden weight (aka gross vehicle weight (GVM)) of more than 3.5 tons.
  • Your car has a maximum laden weight of 3.5 tons or less and is registered beyond the borders of the Eurasian Economic Union (Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan).

Note that motorcycle drivers are exempt from the toll payment. The same applies to transit plate vehicles from the EEU countries. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The defining aspects of calculating the cost are maximum laden weight and number of axles. Therefore:

  • Motor vehicles with a maximum laden weight of no more than 3.5 tons cost 0.04 EUR\km.
  • 2-axle motor vehicles with a maximum laden weight greater than 3.5 tons cost 0.09 EUR\km.
  • 3-axle motor vehicles with a maximum laden weight greater than 3.5 tons cost 0.115.
  • 4-axle+ motor vehicles with a maximum laden weight greater than 3.5 tons cost 0.145 EUR\km.

HOW DO I PAY THE TOLL?

There are two modes of payment available:

  • Pre-payment - available to all vehicles. Recommended for private use or companies with a small fleet of up to 5 vehicles that do not use the toll roads frequently.
  • Post-payment - exclusive to vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons of maximum laden weight. Recommended for organizations with a fleet of more than 10 vehicles.

Either way, you need to register first, sign a contract, and rent your on-board unit (OBU).

The Pre-payment mode registration process is as follows:
 

  1. Register at www.beltoll.by.
     
  2. Visit a Customer Service Point with the following documents:
    - ID of a person responsible for the registration
    - Letter of attorney to sign the agreement
    - Vehicle registration document (original or copy) for legal entity and original document for private person
    - Emission Class Certificate (original or copy, upon availability; if not included in the vehicle registration documents)
    - ?Registration certificate of a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur (original or copy) (for legal entities only).
    All documents issued in a foreign language must be supported with a valid translation to Russian or Belarusian, except for documents approved by the international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.
     
  3. Sign the contract.
     
  4. Pay the OBU deposit. The deposit amount is EUR 20 for vehicles with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 3.5 tons, and EUR 50 for vehicles with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tons. The deposit is paid in Belarusian rubles via cash, credit card or fleet card (Belorusneft, Berlio, E100, Eurowag, euroShell, DKV Euro Service) at the official exchange rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus on the day of payment.
     
  5. Fill up your onboard unit account in Belarusian rubles: the minimum pre-payment is EUR 25; the maximum pre-payment remaining balance is EUR 350.
     
  6. Install your OBU on your vehicle. Refer to the User Manual / Installation Instructions for details.

Post-payment mode is a bit different, since it implies a single contract for all of your vehicles via a fleet card (list of eligible fleet cards: Belorusneft, Berlio, E100, Eurowag, euroShell, DKV Euro Service). The procedure is as follows:

  1. Register at your Fleet Card Issuer (either personally at their office or at their website).
     
  2. Fill in, print out and sign the User Contract and make 2 copies.
     
  3. Forward the following documents to the Fleet Card Issuer either personally or via mail:
    - Registration certificate of a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur (original or copy) (for legal entities only)
    - ID of a person responsible for the registration
    - Letter of attorney to sign the agreement
    - Vehicle registration document (original or copy) for legal entity and original document for private person
    - Emission Class Certificate (original or copy, upon availability; if not included in the vehicle registration documents)
    - Signed User Contract (2 copies).
    All documents issued in a foreign language must be supported with a valid translation to Russian or Belarusian, except for documents approved by the international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.
     
  4. For residents of the Republic of Belarus: get personalized OBUs for all of your vehicles at your fleet card issuer’s office or at a Customer Service Point within 3-5 days (depending on a number of vehicles and according to your agreement with your fleet card issuer).
     
  5. For NON-residents of the Republic of Belarus: get your personalized OBU when entering the Republic of Belarus at any BelToll Customer Service Point.
     
  6. Install your OBU on your vehicle. Refer to the User Manual / Installation Instructions for details.

HOW DO I FILL UP MY OBU BALANCE? (pre-payment mode only)

Visit a Customer Service Point with your OBU device. You can use cash (BYN only), credit card (Visa, MasterCard) or fleet card to replenish your OBU balance.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO PAY FOR USING TOLL ROADS?

No one’s stopping you from avoiding toll roads altogether. There’s no law prohibiting you from going around the toll station or not using the toll roads at all. Just keep in mind that you can cross Belarus in 6-8 hours via toll roads and it’ll take 3-4 times longer to do the same via freeways.

If you decide to brave the toll roads without paying, be prepared to get stuck with the cost of your decision. The fine can reach up to 260 EUR per toll station and is issued in accordance with your car’s maximum laden weight and the number of axles (260 EUR being the fine for intentional non-payment for a 2+ axle car with MLW > 3.5 tons). So, for example, crossing the M1 motorway can amount to a fine of 1000 EUR.

The only law enforcement body that can issue such a fine is the transport police, so keep an eye out for them.

I’M LEAVING THE COUNTRY. HOW DO I RETURN THE OBU DEVICE? CAN I GET MY OBU BALANCE MONEY BACK?

Visit a Customer Service Point and return the OBU. Provided the OBU is showing no signs of malfunction and your OBU balance is not overdrafted, you’ll get a refund for your OBU deposit plus all the money left on your account in BYN.

For more information and in case of OBU malfunction or theft, contact the Beltoll hotline:

phone: +375 172 798-798
email: info@beltoll.by
website: http://beltoll.by/index.php/en/

Text by Michael Feller