A22 Tolls delayed
The government will not be introducing the tolls on the four “SCUT” motorways previously scheduled for the 15th of April, reports AFPOP, the Association for Foreign Residents and Property Owners in Portugal. The process is now on hold until the result of the elections in June.
This decision stems in turn from a decision from the legal Centre of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (CEJUR), whereby the introduction of tolls by a government management would be unconstitutional.
The Portuguese Constitution states that an Executive under these circumstances can only act on matters strictly necessary for the management of public affairs. It appears that the implementation of tolls in SCUT Algarve, Beira Litoral, Beira Alta and Beira Interior and the Interior Norte of the country, requires a fundamental legislative and political innovation, which entails a revision of the terms of concessions to introduce road tolls and its scheme of exemptions and discounts.
For further information about AFPOP, please go to www.afpop.com
5 Responses to “A22 Tolls delayed”
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Kira Mason on October 15th, 2011
what about spanish/german/french drivers who visit Portugal? How will they be charged for using the A22?
John Tranmer on October 17th, 2011
Apparently the start date for charging tolls on the A22 has been put back again. See:
http://algarvedailynews.com/news/4834-tolls-delayed-beyond-october
As regards foreign-registered vehicles using the A22, I understand that it will be possible to hire a device from one of the petrol stations.
I have also heard that the technology may not be able to read some foreign number plates and that, in the North where the same technology is already in use, there has been widespread evasion.
John Tranmer on January 11th, 2012
Foreign registered vehicle drivers can obtain a temporary transponder by making a deposit payment of €27.50 and a minimum class 1 pre-paid charge of €10. The transponder rental is €6 for the first week, and €2.50 for each subsequent week.
You can also pre-pay over the internet, either to create a pre-payment account (minimum of €10) valid for 5 working days, or to purchase a fixed price 3-day “pass” (€20 plus €2.50 plus IVA in charges), or a fixed itinerary “pass”.
Finally, you can pay after using the motorway, for example in a post office, so long as payment is made no sooner than 48 hours and no longer than 5 working days
after use. You can check pending charges by entering the car registration number on the post office website.
jcstringfellow@hotmail.co.uk on April 9th, 2013
This is a crazy system,not only do I have to waste two days of my 2 weeks holiday taveling through airport security I now have to waste more time and brain cells in going and remembering to go to apost office to pay my toll charges I thought a holiday was to relax away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.PS plus an hour plus to pick up my car which is pre ordered,
It is only the love of Portugal that keeps me going back.
John Tranmer on April 10th, 2013
The situation has now improved in that most rental cars now have transponders. The rental company will request a credit card imprint in order to be able to pay the toll fees on your behalf, so you don’t have to bother with the post office. For drivers of foreign registered vehicles crossing into the Algarve from Spain, there is a new system whereby drivers pull over into a special area to have their number plates photographed and their credit card details taken, so that they can be billed later.