Electronic tolls in Portugal

The implementation of the new electronic motorway toll system in Portugal has not gone smoothly. However, while there has been legitimate frustration among both locals and tourists, it also appears that some of this may have resulted in some exaggerated reports of chaos on some internet sites.

Our Rally Stewards and site inspectors on the ground report the following:

• The new electronic windscreen transponders are largely unavailable. In the Algarve, foreign-registered vehicles can only obtain a transponder from the Via Verde office in Faro. If the device is subsequently returned prior to leaving Portugal, it must be returned to the same office, leaving the driver without a transponder for the journey from Faro to the border.
• The rental for a transponder (after the initial deposit is paid) must also be paid from a Portuguese bank account, further rendering the transponder option impractical for most foreign visitors.
• It is possible to buy a pre-paid toll ticket, valid for all toll motorways in Portugal. This can be bought at motorway service stations and at Post Offices. So, taking entry to Portugal from Spain direct to the Algarve as an example:
  • At the first Portuguese service station on the A22 after the Spanish border, go inside to the till to buy a toll ticket
  • You may have to queue for some time, so be prepared to be patient (our stewards queued for 40 minutes)
  • Be sure to give your destination, your complete unit combination details (car+caravan, motorcaravan, motorcaravan+car, etc) and registration number (this is then printed on the toll ticket)
  • The ticket is valid for three days (from midnight to midnight only)
  • Example price: EUR21.12 for a motorhome towing a car.
  • You can also buy a 5-day-valid pass, with a value in tolls decided and paid for by you at the point of sale. This entails working out how much you are going to use, not going beyond that usage, and being prepared to lose any unspent credit you may buy through over-estimation. We are not yet clear on what procedure exists for the authorities to check your ticket while it is in use, or to verify how much credit you have used.
     

It should be borne in mind that the internet is full of information, of widely varying quality and reliability. This has included some scare stories; e.g. about there being many more accidents from increased traffic on the non-motorway main roads, or things getting out of control in some other way.

Some or none of this may be true, but in any case the best advice on the safety of travel abroad is from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advisory service, which is always careful to give a measured and balanced assessment of any risks involved. At the time of writing we have received no reports from the FCO of any problems of this nature in Portugal.

For the most up to date advice, please visit:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/portugal