The government has chosen a provider to enable payment systems for foreign operators in advance of the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) levy coming to the UK.

Northgate Public Services will provide online, telephone and on-site methods of paying the levy, making the process easier for HGV companies from abroad.

Stephen Hammond, transport minister, said: "Getting the foreign operator payment system right will be crucial to the success of the levy. The system will be easy for foreign carriers and their drivers to access and straight forward to use."

The HGV levy has to bill all drivers in the country; by law, a distinction cannot be made between UK-registered vehicles and those from the EU. All HGVs will face the new system. However, domestic vehicles will have the levy paid with their vehicle excise duty, which will be reduced to compensate.

A resulting factor of this is that UK operators will not suffer additional charges - there will essentially be no rise in the total cost - while foreign operators will have to pay the full cost. It is not currently known what effect this might have on logistics and distribution within the country.

The levy will come into force in April 2014.