Late-Night Route Buses and Freight Trucks to Receive One-Month Expressway Toll Exemption

by Choi Daeyul

Published 14 Apr.2026 14:05(KST)

From April 16 to mid-May, for one month, tolls on all national public expressways will be waived for route buses and late-night freight trucks. This measure is intended to alleviate the burden on the transportation industry, which has been struggling due to high fuel prices.

This decision was made at a Cabinet meeting held on April 14. For buses, the toll exemption applies from midnight on April 14 to midnight on May 15. For freight trucks, the exemption is available from 9 p.m. on April 15 to 9 p.m. on May 16. Buses will receive a 100% toll exemption each day when entering and exiting expressway tollgates. Route buses using the Hi-Pass system are eligible; they will initially be charged the full toll as usual, but after one month, they will be reimbursed based on their usage records.

The toll reduction benefit for commercial freight vehicles has been expanded from the original 30-50% to a full 100% exemption. For closed-type sections, the exemption applies if the vehicle operates between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and meets a usage rate of 20% or higher during these hours. For open-type sections, vehicles must pass through between 11 p.m. and a specified afternoon time to qualify. Vehicles must be equipped with a registered Hi-Pass terminal for late-night discounts and use the Hi-Pass lane to receive the benefit. For freight vehicles classified as type 4 or higher, using a regular lane is also permitted. When passing through exit tollgates on privately operated expressways connected to public expressways, the normal toll must first be paid, with reimbursement to follow after settlement.

On the 10th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, traffic in both directions near the Seoul Tollgate is flowing smoothly as seen from a police helicopter in Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@