While truck drivers already have to pay a toll on the autobahn, car drivers have been exempted from paying tolls.

However, supporter's of the controversial plan says that petrol and diesel taxes would have to be lowered as part of the new proposal.

States however seem split on the matter. While Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Bremen back the plan, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia have come out in opposition.

German Transport Minister Manfred Stolpe also cautioned against additional burdens for commuters, adding that many might switch to second-tier roads in order to avoid the toll and put further strain on the latter network.

According to reports, the proposal for the toll is similar to the Austrian model, where drivers can buy passes for an entire year or a shorter period of time such as just a few days.

Meanwhile, Economic Minister Wolfgang Clement meanwhile has suggested that Germany should consider privatising highways to raise revenue for the state.

"We need to go step by step towards the privatisation of the motorways, The receipts will, on one hand, allow us to continue with public investments, and, on the other hand, finance the budget of the federal and regional states," he commented.