e-TOLL instructions
e-TOLL instructions: a complete step-by-step guide
The e-TOLL system is the national electronic toll collection system for selected road sections in Poland, supervised by the National Revenue Administration (KAS). Find out how to get through the set-up process without stress and avoid ITD penalties.
Who does the e-TOLL system apply to, and which roads does it cover?
The obligation to register and pay electronic tolls depends on the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the vehicle or vehicle combination and on the category of road you are driving on.
| Category | Who it applies to / Scope | Examples / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles required to use it |
|
The obligation applies to all vehicles and vehicle combinations exceeding a maximum permissible gross vehicle weight of 3,5 tonnes. |
| Tolled national roads |
|
Example routes: • A2 motorway (Łódź – Warsaw) • S5 expressway • DK 92 national road (Poznań – Świecko) |
| Excluded roads (private) | Concession / private motorway sections | • A2 motorway between Poznań and Konin (tolls are paid directly at the concessionaire's toll gates) |
How do you set up e-TOLL? (Quick overview of the process)
To prepare your vehicle properly and avoid heavy fines from the Road Transport Inspectorate (ITD) and KAS, you need to complete 7 key steps:
- Buy a certified e-TOLL GPS tracker from Data System – choose a device that suits your fleet (for example, one that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket or one designed for hard-wired installation).
- Install and start up the device – connect the tracker in the vehicle and check the LEDs that indicate the GPS and GSM signal.
- Keep your identification details safe – hold on to the card included in the box with your unique BiznesID number and PIN.
- Activate in the DSLocate app – add the device to the free Data System fleet management panel.
- Register on the etoll.gov.pl portal – create an Internet Customer Account (IKK) in the National Revenue Administration system.
- Link the vehicle to the tracker – enter the vehicle parameters in the IKK panel and assign the BiznesID number to it.
- Top up your IKK account – pay funds into a prepaid account (Pre-pay), from which KAS will automatically deduct charges for the sections you drive.
1 Choosing and buying a certified GPS tracker
To transmit geolocation data to the KAS system correctly, your vehicle must be fitted with an approved, certified OBU or ZSL device. Depending on the nature of your business and how you use your vehicles, you can choose one of two main solutions:
1. Portable GPS trackers
An ideal choice for companies looking for flexibility, easy installation and no need to interfere with the vehicle's electrical system.
- ✓ No workshop installation cost or time – you plug it in and it works straight away.
- ✓ Can be freely moved between different vehicles.
- ✓ Excellent for passenger cars with trailers, rental cars and rotating fleets.
2. Fixed GPS trackers
Designed for professional road haulage, lorry fleets and companies that want to eliminate the risk of the driver disconnecting the device by accident.
- ✓ No access for the driver at all – continuous transmission with no risk of fines for a missing signal.
- ✓ Durable, stable connection to the electrical system.
- ✓ Maintenance-free operation – starts automatically with the ignition or runs continuously.
Quick comparison – which should you choose?
| Feature | Portable tracker (DS/ZAP) | Fixed tracker (AKU / 1STEL) |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Do it yourself in 5 seconds (12/24V cigarette lighter socket) | Do it yourself (battery) or by an auto electrician (vehicle cab) |
| Portability | Easy and quick to move between vehicles | Device permanently assigned to one vehicle |
| Protection against disconnection | Basic (the driver has access to the socket) | Very high (hidden or fixed under the bonnet) |
| Recommended use | Passenger cars with trailers, replacement cars, smaller fleets | Heavy haulage, construction machinery, large company fleets |
2 Installing the tracker and activating it in the DSLocate app
Installing the device correctly in the vehicle and activating it in the Data System platform are essential for geolocation data to reach the KAS servers properly.
Installation instructions by device type
Adding the tracker to the DSLocate app
Once the device is installed in the vehicle, add it to your profile in the DSLocate fleet management system:
- Go to the official Data System website.
- In the top right-hand corner, click Log in to DSLocate.
- If you are using the system for the first time, go to the account registration form and enter your company details and e-mail address.
- After logging in to the panel, add a new device by entering its identifier from the card supplied in the box.
- Make sure the device is sending the vehicle's current position to the map.
3 Registering an Internet Customer Account (IKK) on etoll.gov.pl
Once the tracker is physically installed in the vehicle and added to the DSLocate panel, the next essential stage is creating a profile in the government e-TOLL system, managed by the National Revenue Administration (KAS).
Step-by-step instructions for creating an IKK account
- Accessing the government portal: Go to etoll.gov.pl and click Log in to IKK (Internet Customer Account).
- Identity verification: Log in to the system via Login.gov.pl (the National Node). You can choose from these methods: Profil Zaufany (Trusted Profile), the mObywatel app, e-Dowód (electronic ID card) or electronic banking (MojeID).
-
Choosing the account type:
- • Company / business activity: Choose this option if the vehicle is registered to a company (you will need to provide the NIP and the entity's details).
- • Private individual: Choose this option if the vehicle is privately owned.
- Profile configuration and data preparation: Fill in your contact and address details, then go to the fleet management module.
To register your vehicle and device smoothly, have the following ready:
- • The vehicle registration certificate (ideally a scan or photo of both sides).
- • The card with the BiznesID and PIN supplied in the box with your Data System tracker.
4 Registering the vehicle in the IKK system
Once your profile in the Internet Customer Account (IKK) is set up, the next step is to add to the system the vehicle, or the whole fleet, that will drive on tolled road sections.
Instructions for entering vehicle data
Copy the data exactly, making sure it matches the registration certificate 100%:
1. Basic parameters
- • Vehicle registration number
- • Country of vehicle registration
- • Make, model and year of manufacture
2. Parameters used to calculate charges
- • GVW: Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight of the combination
- • Emission class (EURO): e.g. EURO 5, EURO 6
Remember: The e-TOLL system very often requires you to upload a scan or clear photo of both sides of the registration certificate to verify the declared emission class. If you do not attach the document, the system will automatically assign the vehicle the least favourable (most expensive) rate!
5 Assigning the tracker to the vehicle
This is the absolutely crucial moment of the whole process. Buying and installing the device and creating the vehicle profile are not enough on their own. The government e-TOLL system must know exactly which GPS tracker is transmitting data for which vehicle.
Instructions for linking the device to the vehicle:
- Once logged in to the main IKK panel, go to the Devices section.
- Add a new OBU/ZSL device to your account by entering the unique Business ID (BiznesID) number and the PIN (you will find them on the card in the tracker box from Data System).
- When the device appears in your panel, select it and link it to the vehicle registration number you added in step 4.
6 Choosing a payment method and topping up the account
Before you drive onto a tolled section of road, you must decide how you will settle the tolls. The e-TOLL system offers two forms of payment:
| Payment method | How it works | Notes and minimum payments |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid account (Pre-pay) | Works like a familiar prepaid mobile phone. Funds must be in the account before you enter a tolled route. Charges are automatically deducted from the balance once you have driven the section of road. | The quickest and most popular method. It requires an initial top-up of at least: • 120 PLN (for vehicles > 3,5 t) • 20 PLN (for vehicles < 3,5 t) You can top up by bank transfer, card or BLIK. |
| Deferred-payment account (Post-pay) | Settlement is based on a collective debit note at the end of the billing period. You pay in arrears for the kilometres actually driven. | Requires you to provide a mandatory financial guarantee (for example, a deposit, bank guarantee, insurance policy or integrated fleet card). |
7 Checking the device before setting off
To avoid heavy penalties for driving on tolled sections without paying, get your drivers into the habit of a quick, 30-second check before setting off on a route covered by e-TOLL:
-
1.
Power and connection status: Make sure the tracking device (for example, a DS/ZAP plugged into the cigarette lighter socket) is switched on. Look at the LEDs on the casing – a steady green light usually indicates that the tracker has successfully picked up the GPS signal and established a GSM connection with the servers.
-
2.
Double-checking in DSLocate: Alternatively, for 100% certainty, log in to the DSLocate app (on your smartphone or computer). If the vehicle appears on the map and its position is up to date, the device is successfully transmitting geolocation data.
-
3.
KAS account balance: If you use prepaid settlement (Pre-pay), check your balance in the IKK panel before a longer trip. Make sure you have enough funds to cover the whole planned journey.
More than e-TOLL: discover what the DSLocate system can do
By choosing Data System trackers, you not only meet the government requirement to pay for roads, but above all gain a professional vehicle management tool. Your tracker can do much more!
Live Tracking
Check the current position of your vehicles to within a few metres. You always know where your cargo or employee is.
Detailed route archive
Go back through trip history from previous days and months. Analyse distances covered, stop times and speed at every stage of the route.
Private vs. business driving
Easily separate kilometres driven for business from private ones, which makes clear record-keeping and accounting settlements simpler.
Notifications and alerts
Receive e-mail or push alerts when a vehicle exceeds the speed limit, leaves a designated zone (geofencing) or when the device loses power.
Cost control and fuel analytics (CAN)
With advanced trackers connected to the CAN bus, you get readings of actual fuel consumption and tank level, plus an assessment of your drivers' driving style and economy (Eco-Driving).