Video of a ride on a toll road for 61,000 tenge gains widespread attention online
In Kazakhstan, unpaid trips on toll highways are automatically recorded as debt in the system, which is later accumulated and presented upon the next passage through paid sections. This practice is a common method used in post-Soviet countries, including Kazakhstan, to manage toll collection.
By the end of 2025, 29 more paid road sections are planned to be introduced in Kazakhstan, expanding the current network of 17 paid sections totalling 3,200 kilometers.
The tolling system in Kazakhstan, similar to neighbouring countries, employs electronic or manual toll systems to record vehicle passage. When toll payments are missed, the outstanding amounts typically accumulate in the driver's or vehicle owner's account registered with the toll operator.
Recovery methods include sending notifications or invoices, applying fines or penalties, using vehicle registration or transport authority databases to enforce payment through administrative or legal procedures, and potentially restricting vehicle registration renewals or imposing travel limitations until fees are paid.
A recent case involves a Van Hool bus with license plate number 111 EEA06, which was billed 61,120 tenge at a toll booth on the Almaty-Konaev highway. The bill included both current trips and debts from previous years. Most of these cases involve accumulated debts from previous trips that were not paid on time.
The Shymkent-Taraz highway, known for its toll and poor condition, especially the right side, is one of the highways where these unpaid tolls occur. The Astana - Almaty, Talgar - Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Aktobe - Kandagach sections, completed last year, are also part of this network.
It is recommended to use mobile apps or personal cabinets to monitor route history and make advance payments to ensure transparency in calculations and help manage travel expenses. Videos have been surfacing online with drivers complaining about high charges at toll booths on paid highways.
Toll revenues last year amounted to 48 billion tenge. The website also offers a special project called "The World of Chinese Cars." In 2014, Didi Chipolino made a comment about an air tax and potential taxes on precipitation.
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Drivers on Kazakhstan's expanding network of toll roads, which will reach 3,570 kilometers by the end of 2025, need to be mindful of their toll payments to avoid accumulated debts. Delays in payment can lead to notifications, fines, or legal consequences, as the tolling system uses electronic or manual methods to record vehicle passage and enforce payments.
