“Proposed Toll-Free Roads for Various Vehicle Types”

According to statistics from the Ministry of Construction, in the year following the implementation of Decree 90/2023 on the collection, payment, exemption, and management of road usage fees, 2024 marked a significant milestone. For the first time, the total road usage fee collection surpassed the threshold of 14,000 billion VND. This substantial increase in revenue has notably contributed to the annual state budget growth and provided a solid foundation for allocating additional funds towards the maintenance and upkeep of the national road transport system.

However, during the enforcement of this Decree, new challenges and shortcomings have surfaced. One notable example is the issue of vehicles being temporarily confiscated or impounded for 30 days or more, including those that are no longer roadworthy due to expired inspections, yet still subject to fee collection. Another concern is the fee structure for public transport buses (including those carrying students, factory workers, and individuals eligible for subsidized fares similar to bus fares) being categorized at the same rate as cars with fewer than 10 seats, which seems unreasonable.

Consequently, in a document submitted to the Ministry of Finance proposing amendments to Decree 90/2023, the Ministry of Construction suggested that for vehicles exempt from road usage fees, there should be an addition of vehicles that are temporarily confiscated, impounded, or halted from circulation for a continuous period of 30 days or more.

The Ministry of Construction explained, “In reality, there have been numerous instances where vehicles were temporarily confiscated or impounded by authorities as evidence related to smuggling cases, gambling, or traffic accidents. In such cases, these vehicles are not utilizing the road transport system.”

Furthermore, many organizations and individuals have expressed concerns regarding the current Decree’s provision, which only exempts vehicles engaged in transport business operations from road usage fees if they are halted from circulation for 30 consecutive days or more. This provision is perceived as unfair to all vehicle owners. As a result, the Ministry of Construction has proposed that all vehicles halted from circulation for 30 consecutive days or more should be exempt from road usage fees, regardless of their nature or ownership.

Additionally, the managing agency for transportation and construction has proposed that vehicles serving funeral processions, including passenger cars accompanying the hearse, flower-carrying trucks, and vehicles carrying portraits, be allowed to use the roads free of charge. Previously, due to the Decree’s stipulation that only funeral service providers were eligible for road usage fee exemption, many funeral service businesses were excluded from this benefit.

Regarding the refund or offset of road usage fees already paid, the Ministry of Construction suggested the following amendment: For cars specified in point c of Clause 2, Article 2 of this Decree, before taking the car for repair, the car owner must present an accident report with police confirmation and return the inspection sticker and inspection certificate to the nearest inspection facility. This will provide a basis for refunding the fee after the car has completed the repair and re-inspection process to resume circulation. In cases where these documents are damaged or lost in an accident, a confirmation letter from the police or relevant insurance company regarding the accident handling must be provided.

The Ministry of Construction explained that due to various circumstances, including accidents or fires, the inspection sticker and certificate may be completely damaged or lost, making it impossible for vehicle owners to comply with the current regulations to obtain a refund or offset of the road usage fees they have already paid…