HVC III project: Renewal of the collection system for the performance-based heavy vehicle charge
The most important facts in brief
The existing infrastructure for levying the Distance-related Heavy Vehicle Charge (HVC II) will soon reach the end of its life and will be completely renewed. The replacement by the new infrastructure (HVC III) must be completed by the end of 2024.
Initial situation: New system concept
The new system concept for collecting the HVC is based on existing standard services that can be offered to vehicle owners liable to pay the levy by private providers. Instead of defining and procuring a recording device (as is the case with HVC II), the Confederation now defines the data to be supplied by the providers and its quality. The recording and registration of mileage thus becomes a service for those liable to pay the charge. This system approach is open to innovations on the provider market, which in particular also follows the rapid technological development. The amount of the charge remains unchanged.
The revised Heavy Vehicle Charge Act and the financing decision for HVC III will be dealt with in parliament in the spring session of 2023.
Three capture services
In future, the focus will be on the consistent use of electronic registration services for domestic and foreign vehicles.
- EETS (European Electronic Toll Service): The European Electronic Toll Service EETS has been available in Switzerland since the beginning of 2021. This collection service already complies with the new system concept. EETS is to become the main collection service for foreign vehicles and will gradually replace the current manual system with the clearance terminals at the border. In future, domestic vehicles are also to be able to use EETS, although debt collection for these will still be carried out directly by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). EETS providers must go through an approval procedure before they can offer their service for the HVC (see also EETS-Providers).
- NETS (National Electronic Toll Service): The national electronic toll service NETS provides the service as basic care within the framework of the HVC collection. A provider to be procured by the federal government will make this service available to all vehicle owners free of charge. The installation of a recording device in an authorised workshop is no longer required. Within the framework of the NETS, other providers can also provide the collection service. These market-driven providers - similar to the EETS providers - go through an approval procedure. Debt collection is carried out by the FOCBS for all NETS users.
- NMTS (National Manual Toll Service): Foreign vehicles that use neither EETS nor NETS will be able to use the manual service NMTS to register and pay the levy for individual journeys.
Renewal and expansion of the roadside collection infrastructure
The stationary (border crossings, roads) and mobile (vehicles) detection infrastructure will also be redesigned and procured. The detection density on the road is to be increased. Additional locations and an increase in the number of mobile units are planned for this purpose.
Tenders
The decision for the national NETS provider is scheduled to be awarded in March 2023, the one for the roadside collection infrastructure in May 2023. The tender for the operation of the mobile units will be issued in March 2023.
