DS / OBD

What is e-TOLL?
E-TOLL is a modern toll collection system in Poland managed by GDDKiA. It is based on satellite location technology, which reports the current location of vehicles in real time and meets the requirements for tolls on selected sections of highways, expressways and national roads. The system is to give rise to changes that will make gates disappear from the routes, which will significantly speed up the journey on selected sections.

When do the changes come into effect?
The e-TOLL system was launched on June 1, 2021, but until September 30, 2021 it works in parallel with the old viaToll system. Currently, e-TOLL only applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, as well as vehicles with a trailer. From December 1, 2021, the system will also apply to passenger cars, but it is worth noting that our GPS locators are already properly configured and allow the use of e-TOLL also in passenger cars.

How does it work?
After installing the GPS locator in the vehicle, you must register the company and the vehicle in the government e-TOLL system (www.etoll.gov.pl) using the BiznesID attached to the box with the locator. The package also includes detailed instructions for registering in the e-TOLL system in Polish and English. Then you need to top up your e-TOLL account with a minimum amount of PLN 120 (about EUR 30) and you are ready to go. Passage through the gates on the so-called “state-owned” highways can now take place without a paper ticket. All you need to do is drive to the gates marked with an e-TOLL sign, which will open automatically. The billing is done automatically. On express roads where there are no gates, no action is required. If the locator is connected to the power supply, the trip is automatically settled.

What do I need to buy to use e-TOLL?
To use the e-TOLL system, it is necessary to buy a service of monitoring and locating vehicles, which includes a certified GPS locator and a subscription for data transmission and locator service. Locators are divided into two types: OBU (On-Board Unit), i.e. devices for easy installation in the vehicle with the possibility of transferring between vehicles, and ZSL (External Locating System), i.e. devices that require professional and permanent installation in the vehicle. Data System offers both types of devices, but the locators presented on the website are only OBU devices.

Why can't I buy an ordinary GPS locator, e.g. on auction portals?
The National Tax Administration, which is responsible for the e-TOLL system, requires the data transfer to be uninterrupted and continuous. Therefore, companies providing vehicle location services must undergo a long and tedious certification process to be integrated with e-TOLL. The certification includes not only the GPS device itself, but also the entire network infrastructure, which includes the tracking application, servers and data transmission frequency. Therefore, sometimes the same type of locator, which is much cheaper on popular auction sites, will not be approved by the National Tax Administration if the company providing the localization service has not passed the appropriate certification.

Why do I have to pay for a subscription?
The cost of the localization service consists of the price of a certified locator and a monthly subscription. The subscription includes all fees related to data transmission, SIM card maintenance, data transfer to the government e-TOLL system servers, activation of the e-TOLL service and unlimited data archiving. Importantly, however, the Ministry of Finance offered Polish carriers a refund in the form of a tax credit of up to PLN 500 for each vehicle that travelled on a toll motorway section this year and paid using e-TOLL. So the only cost for Polish companies are the tolls on toll roads.

For what period do I have to sign a contract?
First of all, when buying locators from Data System through the website, there is no need to sign any contract. You only need to provide invoice details and an e-mail address, and select the period of time for which the GPS device is to send data to the e-Toll system (12 or 24 months). The purchase can also be made for a private person.

Do I have to buy a new device after the end of the subscription period?
Of course, there is no such need. Approximately 3 months before the end of the subscription period (e.g. 12 or 24 months), we will contact you to propose an extension for another period. You can also visit our website and extend the subscription yourself by paying with a Visa or MasterCard. If you do not decide to extend the subscription, the service will expire and the device itself will stop broadcasting. There is no need to return or disassemble it, you are the owner of the device. However, you can always contact us and restore the locator's operation for a selected period, e.g. 12 months or 24 months.

I have several cars, do I have to buy a separate service for each one of them?
Not necessarily. Our OBU locators can be moved between vehicles. However, you must remember to remove the BiznesID assigned to the vehicle on the website www.etoll.gov.pl, and assign the same BiznesID to a new vehicle created on the government website. The same applies to the change of vehicle registration numbers - then you should also go to the website www.etoll.gov.pl and register the vehicle again.

What if the device crashes or loses range?
If the GPS locator stops transmitting coordinates to the e-Toll system for more than 15 minutes, the driver is obliged to stop at the nearest parking lot or leave the toll road. Failure to comply with this recommendation is subject to a penalty of PLN 1,500. However, if the device works, but only has lost the cellular network coverage (i.e. saves the location in the memory), the geolocation data should be submitted to the National Tax Administration along with the missing toll within 3 days from the end of the trip. Then no penalty will be charged.

Do devices also work abroad?
Of course. If you use our locators outside Poland, we offer an innovative service: dynamic roaming. It consists in adding a one-time monthly fee for going abroad. If you do not travel abroad in a given month, no fee is added. Do the locators have any other functions besides e-TOLL? Our locators, apart from the e-TOLL service, have many additional functionalities. The list of possibilities offered by the DS Locate tracking application is very long, including alarms, notifications, reading data from the vehicle's on-board computer, remote reading of tachograph files. In combination with numerous reports, a mobile application and additional services, DS Locate is a comprehensive tool for managing a fleet of vehicles in any company.

How can I log into and use DS Locate?
Our e-Toll locators are ready for operation once they are connected to the power supply in the vehicle. They can immediately settle journeys on toll roads in Poland. To use additional functionalities of our system, we will send your DS Locate login and password to your e-mail address within two days of purchasing the device. Thanks to that you will be able to log in to the application and use additional functionalities of our system. You can also download the DSLocate application to your mobile device and, for example, receive information about the amount of billed e-Toll fares, receive alerts about the low level of prepaid funds in the e-Toll system and much more.