There are a number of toll (portagem) roads in Portugal. The benefit of toll roads is that they're normally uncongested and tend to be well maintained. The obvious downside is that there’s a fee for using them.
The main toll road in the Algarve is the A22, which stretches from the Spanish border in the east to Lagos in the west. A second toll road runs from Lisbon to the Algarve. This is the A2, which joins the A22 close to Albufeira.
A22 electronic tolls
The introduction of electronic tolls on the Algarve’s A22 has caused some confusion, especially with visitors as they try to figure out how to pay for tolls.
Frequent users
If, like me, you’re a resident in the Algarve and use the toll roads regularly, it’s worth investing in a Via Verde transponder. These can be obtained from most Post Offices for a one-off fee and linked to your Portuguese bank account by direct debit. The transponder is attached to the inside windscreen of your vehicle (or worn on an armband when riding a motorbike) and records each time you pass under an electronic toll. Your toll fees are then debited directly from your bank account.
Your Via Verde transponder can be used to pay toll fees on any road in Portugal and Spain with electronic booths or gantries displaying the Via Verde logo. Your Via Verde transponder can also be used to pay parking fees at car parks displaying the Via Verde logo and for paying for fuel at Galp service stations offering this facility.
Toll operators, Via Verde, have a user-friendly website, available in Portuguese, Spanish and English, where you can request a personal login to access your account and view detailed statements of your activity and charges.
Visitors
If you're a visitor driving a Portuguese registered vehicle, such as a rental car, you can pay your tolls at your local Post Office, Pay Shops and most Galp motorway service stations. Simply provide your registration number and your bill will be generated. Some rental companies have fitted their vehicles with transponders, so check with the hire company when making your booking.
If you're driving a vehicle with foreign number plates, you have a choice of methods for paying your tolls including hiring a transponder or pre-paying. Information on the various options available can be found in English on the Via Verde website.
Checking how much you owe
If you’ve used the toll roads in a Portuguese registered vehicle and you don’t have a transponder, you can check how much you owe by visiting the Post Office website CCT and entering your vehicle registration number.
Toll fees
The charge made at each electronic toll is displayed on signs prior to the gantry. The amount charged depends on the ‘Classe’ of vehicle:
· Classe 1 is a normal car
· Classe 2 is for jeeps and vans with a height exceeding 1.10m from the axle
· Classe 3 is for vehicles with three axles (or a car towing a single-axle trailer)
· Classe 4 is for vehicles with more than three axles (or a car towing a double-axle trailer)
You're charged the above fee site by site as you pass through. If you exit the motorway before the next toll gantry there's no further charge.
A22
Toll site
Taxas de Portagem / Toll fees
Classe 1 (€)
Classe 2 (€)
Classe 3 (€)
Classe 4 (€)
Site 1 Odiáxere
1.00
1.80
2.30
2.55
Site 2 Mexilhoeira
0.55
1.00
1.30
1.40
Site 3 Portimão
1.00
1.80
2.30
2.60
Site 4 Lagoa
1.10
1.95
2.25
2.75
Site 5 Guia
0.95
1.75
2.20
2.45
Site 6 Boliqueime
1.50
2.65
3.40
3.80
Site 7 Loulé
0,50
0.85
1.05
1.20
Site 8 Faro
1,70
2.95
3.80
4.20
Site 9 Olhão
1,00
1.70
2.20
2.45
Site 10 Tavira
2.30
4.05
5.20
5.80
*Fees correct at 22.06.13
Have you used the tolls roads? What do you think of the electronic payment system?
Did you miss the earlier information about driving in the Algarve? You can still read about it on Meravista’s blogs:
Driving in the Algarve – Part 5: Using toll roads
by Almonds & Oranges
There are a number of toll (portagem) roads in Portugal. The benefit of toll roads is that they're normally uncongested and tend to be well maintained. The obvious downside is that there’s a fee for using them.
The main toll road in the Algarve is the A22, which stretches from the Spanish border in the east to Lagos in the west. A second toll road runs from Lisbon to the Algarve. This is the A2, which joins the A22 close to Albufeira.
A22 electronic tolls
The introduction of electronic tolls on the Algarve’s A22 has caused some confusion, especially with visitors as they try to figure out how to pay for tolls.
Frequent users
If, like me, you’re a resident in the Algarve and use the toll roads regularly, it’s worth investing in a Via Verde transponder. These can be obtained from most Post Offices for a one-off fee and linked to your Portuguese bank account by direct debit. The transponder is attached to the inside windscreen of your vehicle (or worn on an armband when riding a motorbike) and records each time you pass under an electronic toll. Your toll fees are then debited directly from your bank account.
Your Via Verde transponder can be used to pay toll fees on any road in Portugal and Spain with electronic booths or gantries displaying the Via Verde logo. Your Via Verde transponder can also be used to pay parking fees at car parks displaying the Via Verde logo and for paying for fuel at Galp service stations offering this facility.
Toll operators, Via Verde, have a user-friendly website, available in Portuguese, Spanish and English, where you can request a personal login to access your account and view detailed statements of your activity and charges.
Visitors
If you're a visitor driving a Portuguese registered vehicle, such as a rental car, you can pay your tolls at your local Post Office, Pay Shops and most Galp motorway service stations. Simply provide your registration number and your bill will be generated. Some rental companies have fitted their vehicles with transponders, so check with the hire company when making your booking.
If you're driving a vehicle with foreign number plates, you have a choice of methods for paying your tolls including hiring a transponder or pre-paying. Information on the various options available can be found in English on the Via Verde website.
Checking how much you owe
If you’ve used the toll roads in a Portuguese registered vehicle and you don’t have a transponder, you can check how much you owe by visiting the Post Office website CCT and entering your vehicle registration number.
Toll fees
The charge made at each electronic toll is displayed on signs prior to the gantry. The amount charged depends on the ‘Classe’ of vehicle:
· Classe 1 is a normal car
· Classe 2 is for jeeps and vans with a height exceeding 1.10m from the axle
· Classe 3 is for vehicles with three axles (or a car towing a single-axle trailer)
· Classe 4 is for vehicles with more than three axles (or a car towing a double-axle trailer)
You're charged the above fee site by site as you pass through. If you exit the motorway before the next toll gantry there's no further charge.
A22
Toll site
Taxas de Portagem / Toll fees
Classe 1 (€)
Classe 2 (€)
Classe 3 (€)
Classe 4 (€)
Site 1 Odiáxere
1.00
1.80
2.30
2.55
Site 2 Mexilhoeira
0.55
1.00
1.30
1.40
Site 3 Portimão
1.00
1.80
2.30
2.60
Site 4 Lagoa
1.10
1.95
2.25
2.75
Site 5 Guia
0.95
1.75
2.20
2.45
Site 6 Boliqueime
1.50
2.65
3.40
3.80
Site 7 Loulé
0,50
0.85
1.05
1.20
Site 8 Faro
1,70
2.95
3.80
4.20
Site 9 Olhão
1,00
1.70
2.20
2.45
Site 10 Tavira
2.30
4.05
5.20
5.80
*Fees correct at 22.06.13
Have you used the tolls roads? What do you think of the electronic payment system?
Did you miss the earlier information about driving in the Algarve? You can still read about it on Meravista’s blogs:
Driving in the Algarve - Part 6: Owning a car in Portugal
Driving in the Algarve - Part 4: Driving Licenses
Driving in the Algarve - Part 3: What to have with you
Driving in the Algarve - Part 2: Safety First
Driving in the Algarve - Part 1: Rules & Regs
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.