The French A6 is the enemy. It is beautiful, sure, but the toll booths are frequent, expensive, and the speed limit drops are brutal. In Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2), tolls are a necessary evil that drains your wallet and, if you aren't careful, will wreck your radiator.
After hundreds of hours hauling cargo across the continent, I've slammed into enough barriers to know exactly which lanes save time and which ones leave you stuck in reverse while the AI honks at you.
Whether you're a rookie panicking at the sight of twelve different lane options or a veteran looking to shave seconds off a delivery, here is how to navigate Europe's toll network without embarrassing yourself.
The Basics: The "Full Stop" (Poland)
First, the golden rule of Euro Truck Simulator 2's tolling: Green Arrow means go, Red Cross means closed. It sounds obvious, but when it's 3:00 AM in a rainstorm along the Italian coast, those lights blur together.
The most basic system is the Full Stop, which you will encounter most frequently in Poland.
Stop fully at the booth (look for the Stop sign icon).
- Press Enter (or your mapped action button).
- Watch the cash deduct.
- Wait for the barrier to lift.
Pro Tip: Do not try to race the barrier here. It has a physical hitbox, and it will stop a 20-ton truck dead in its tracks. This usually results in immediate 15% engine damage and a very bad mood.
The "Pro" Routes: Slow-Speed TAG Lanes
This is where you save time. These are the Slow-speed TAG lanes (Electronic tags), where you maintain a steady 30–40 km/h. The game splits these into two visual styles:
1. With Gantry (The Barrier Dance)
This is the most common electronic toll in Europe. You approach a lane marked with distinct electronic signage (often yellow or orange), the speed limit drops, and a physical barrier lifts at the last second.
Where you'll see it: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Austria, Russia, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Greece, Ireland, North Macedonia, Belgium, Montenegro, and Andorra.
The Strategy: Aim for the 30 km/h lanes. In France, look for the orange 't'. In Italy, look for the yellow "Telepass" signs.
The Danger: If you come in faster than 40 km/h, the game's logic often won't trigger the gate in time. You need to glide, not race.
2. Without Gantry (The Scandinavian Drift)
These are deceptive. In Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, you will encounter TAG lanes that have no heavy gantry or barrier impeding you, but are still technically "slow speed" zones compared to the open highway.
The Strategy: You don't need to stop, but you should respect the lane markings. It feels freer, but don't get complacent; speed cameras often hide nearby.
The "God Tier": ETC (Barrier-Free)
Finally, there is the ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system. This is the holy grail of trucking.
The Icon: Look for the purple ETC logo or green "AutoPass" signals.
Where you'll see it: Portugal, Norway, and the UK.
The Strategy: These are true barrier-free systems. You pass under a sensor array without stopping or sometimes even slowing down significantly. The toll deducts automatically while you cruise. It is the smoothest experience in the game, just make sure your truck is technically equipped (mechanically, the game assumes you are) so you don't get a fine.
Pain Points: Where It Goes Wrong
The tutorial doesn't warn you about the specific ways these plazas try to ruin your run. Here are the three biggest frustrations to watch out for based on hard-earned experience.
The Speed Limit Cliff
This is the single biggest cause of accidents. You are cruising at 90 km/h. The GPS says a toll is coming. You see a sign: 90. You lift off the gas. Suddenly, 50 meters later, the limit drops to 70, then 50, and then instantly to 30 right at the concrete divider.
The AI traffic obeys these signs instantly and robotically. The car in front of you will slam on its brakes to hit that 30 km/h target. If you are still braking casually, you will rear-end them.
The Fix: Anticipate the toll plaza about 500 meters before you arrive. Start engine braking early. If you wait for the 50 sign to start braking, it's already too late.
The "Reverse of Shame"
We've all done it. You thought the far-left lane was for trucks. You committed to it. You're rolling in, and suddenly you see the "2.0m" height limit sign.
Now you have to put it in Reverse. But there is a line of three AI cars right on your bumper. They will not move. They will sit there, refusing to reverse, trapping you against the barrier. Your only options are to disconnect the trailer (if you have the room to maneuver the cab) or reload your last save.
The Fix: Scan for height limit signs before you enter the plaza funnel.
The French Wallet Drain
If you are doing a "Real Economy" run or just starting, avoid France. I'm serious. The tolls in France are calculated by distance, and they are punishingly high compared to the rest of the map. A trip from Calais to Montpellier can cost you hundreds of Euros.
The Fix: If you are cash-strapped, route through Germany or the Benelux region, where the roads are largely free.
Keep on Trucking
Mastering the toll booths is a small skill, but it adds a layer of satisfaction to the game that feels genuinely professional. There is nothing quite like rolling a heavy Scania through a narrow Italian Telepass lane at exactly 31 km/h, watching the barrier rise milliseconds before impact, and accelerating away without ever touching the brake pedal.
It keeps your average speed up, it saves your fuel, and most importantly, it keeps your front bumper intact. So, eyes up, look for the electronic icons, and for the love of diesel, brake before the 30 sign.
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