Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) confirmed on 30 October 2026 that tolls on the M50, the Dublin Port Tunnel and seven of the eight PPP motorways will rise from 1 January 2027, with the M50 car toll going up 10c to €2.70 for registered users. The increase comes as the AA's October survey puts diesel at 214.76c a litre and as Budget 2027 schedules the end of the fuel excise cut from 28 February 2027.

Tolls: what changes on 1 January 2027

TII says tolls are adjusted each year under a consumer price index mechanism, and the 3.6% inflation figure for August 2025 to August 2026 triggered the 2027 round. On the M50, registered car users pay 10c more (€2.70 by tag, €3.30 by video account) and unregistered cars pay 20c more, bringing the no-account rate to €4.00 a trip. Goods vehicles up to 2,000kg pay 10c more by tag and 20c more by video account; heavier HGVs go up 20c or 30c. On the PPP roads (M1, N6, M7/M8, M8, N18 and N25) cars pay 10c more; the M3 is unchanged for cars.

The Dublin Port Tunnel southbound peak toll (Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am) rises from €14 to €15 to "preserve capacity for heavy goods vehicles accessing Dublin Port", TII says; the northbound peak stays at €12 and off-peak at €3.50. The Irish Road Haulage Association called the rises "tone deaf given the mounting pressures facing the transport industry", the Irish Examiner reports.

Fuel prices: diesel above €2.14 a litre

AA Ireland's October 2026 survey lists average pump prices of 214.76c a litre for diesel and 198.16c for petrol; its next update is due on 9 November. The EU Weekly Oil Bulletin, reported by fuel-prices.eu, put diesel at €2.14 and petrol at €1.97 on 19 October, against a 52-week diesel low of €1.67 on 27 October 2025.

Fuel excise: the cut ends in four steps from 28 February

Budget 2027 kept the temporary reduction in mineral oil tax on petrol and diesel until 28 February 2027, instead of restoring it on 1 November as previously planned. Chartered Accountants Ireland's Budget summary puts the deferred increases at 25c a litre on petrol and 30c on auto diesel, VAT inclusive.

The restoration is phased: the first step comes on 28 February 2027, with further increases on 8 April and 1 May, and the full rates reinstated on 30 June 2027. Separately, the reduced NORA oil-stock levy runs only to 31 December 2026, and the carbon tax rise on auto fuels is deferred to 1 May 2027, according to KPMG's Budget analysis.

Electric cars: VRT relief extended, other bands up 1%

Revenue's current guidance gives battery electric cars VRT relief of up to €5,000 where the open market selling price is €40,000 or less, tapering to nothing above €50,000, for cars registered before 31 December 2026. Budget 2027 extends that relief to 31 December 2028, subject to the Finance Bill. From 1 January 2027 the VRT rates for Category A bands 3 to 20 (cars emitting more than 80g/km of CO2) rise by one percentage point.

SIMI figures reported by RTÉ on 2 November show 1,092 new battery electric cars registered in October, up about 55% on October 2025, and 36,270 so far in 2026, a 57% rise. Battery electric cars led the new-car market at 27.74% of registrations, ahead of hybrids (23.54%), petrol (19.43%) and diesel (12.31%).

Dublin road closures 10 to 13 November

A four-day security operation runs from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 November for the EU summits at the Convention Centre on North Wall Quay, TII and Gardaí say. The Journal reports Merrion Square and surrounding roads closed on 12 November. Dublin City Council warns of "major and prolonged traffic disruption" for the city, airport and port; Gardaí say access to homes and businesses near the venues stays open subject to security checks. A 24-hour public sector strike is also planned for 12 November.

Winter checks: tyres, batteries and wipers

Winter tyres are not a legal requirement in Ireland, but the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, and the RSA and the tyre trade recommend replacing at 3mm. Cold weather reduces battery capacity, so a battery more than four years old is worth load-testing before the first hard frost, and every bulb should be checked for the dark commute.

What it means for you

• If you use the M50 without an account, register a tag or video account before January: the no-account rate hits €4.00 a trip against €2.70 by tag.
• Anyone driving into Dublin Port between 6am and 10am should budget for the €15 tunnel toll from 1 January.
• A 25c to 30c a litre fuel tax increase is scheduled in four steps between 28 February and 30 June 2027.
• Buying an electric car? The €5,000 VRT relief is due to run to end-2028, so there is no need to rush before December.
• Book a winter service, battery test and tyre check now, and avoid non-essential Dublin city-centre trips from 10 to 13 November.
• You can find a local mechanic, mobile tyre fitter or valet service on Locufy.

For providers: mechanics and tyre fitters should quote winter-check bundles (battery, tyres, wipers, bulbs) for November, tell Dublin clients that jobs near the quays and Merrion Square from 10 to 13 November will take longer, and build the 2027 toll and fuel changes into call-out rates from January.

Key dates

• 10 to 13 November 2026: Dublin city-centre security operation and road closures; 12 November public sector strike planned
• 31 December 2026: reduced NORA levy ends; EV VRT relief due to be extended to 31 December 2028
• 1 January 2027: new toll rates on the M50, Port Tunnel and PPP roads; VRT bands 3 to 20 up one percentage point
• 28 February 2027: first step of fuel excise restoration; further steps 8 April, 1 May and 30 June 2027
• 1 May 2027: deferred carbon tax increase on auto fuels

Sources

• TII — Toll Rates from 1 January 2027
• Irish Examiner — Toll increases are 'tone deaf' amid pressure on haulage industry, IRHA warns
• AA Ireland — Fuel Prices
• fuel-prices.eu — Fuel prices in Ireland, 12–19 October 2026
• Chartered Accountants Ireland — Budget 2027: Excise and miscellaneous measures
• KPMG — Budget 2027: Energy and environment
• Irish Times — Budget 2027: Main points
• Revenue — VRT relief for electric and hybrid vehicles
• RTÉ — New electric car registrations continue to power upwards
• TII — Traffic Information: Ireland to host high-level political summits
• The Journal — Dublin road closures for November summits
• RTÉ — Largest policing operation in State's history for Dublin summits
• RTÉ — Public sector pay talks continue ahead of 12 November strike
• ODO — Winter driving in Ireland guide

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