Mercs and BMWs among the 43 vehicles seized for non-payment of M50 tolls

Toll income on the M50, Ireland's busiest road, surged by 11% to €190m in 2023, on the back of an inflation-linked increase in toll charges and higher traffic volumes. iStock

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Land Rover are among of the makes of high-end luxury cars that have been seized by the Dublin Sheriff from motorists so far this year after racking up large bills for non-payment of M50 tolls.

The Dublin Sheriff seized 43 vehicles for the first six months of 2025, compared to 25 in the same period in 2024. In total, 70 vehicles were seized by the sheriff in 2024, through the civil process in the courts.

Vehicle seizures only occur after repeated offences and unsuccessful attempts to rectify the evader’s position.

A spokesman for eFlow said the outstanding M50 bills where the sheriff seized vehicles range in value.

He said that those bills must be paid off before motorists can reclaim their cars from the sheriff.

Commercial vehicles also seized

“The seizing of vehicles is the final act in a series of opportunities for toll evaders to rectify the situation.

“There is a process for owners to reclaim cars after agreements on payments are reached.”

As well as the cars, commercial vehicles such as Ford Transit, Peugeot Partner, and large goods and construction vehicles have also seized from toll evaders.

In the latest annual figures available, toll income on the country’s busiest road, the M50, surged by 11% to €190m in 2023, on the back of an inflation-linked increase in toll charges and higher traffic volumes.

The €190m in toll income — which goes to the State after the costs of operating the M50 toll are taken into account — included €12.4m in penalty income and was €17.6m ahead of the M50 toll income of €172.4m in 2022.

The confirmed toll income for the M50 will be even higher for 2024 with a second inflation-linked toll increase coming into force from January 1 last year.

'Enforcement is about fairness'

The eFlow spokesman said: “Enforcement is about fairness for the 97% of the road users who do pay their toll.

“The M50 eFlow barrier-free tolling enforcement programme is overseen by Pierse Fitzgibbon (PF) Solicitors and the compliance rate is one of the best in the world.”

In addition to the powers of seizure, toll evaders may also be pursued through the criminal courts and failure to attend court can lead to the issuance of a bench warrant.

In 2025, over 70 vehicle owners have been prosecuted with court fines amounting to €1.3m, payable to the court services and resulting in a criminal conviction.

These fines are separate to the debt owed to eFlow, for which the vehicle owner remains liable.