Paying
Portuguese Motorway Tolls
Don Madge April 2017
I've just read your trip log to Portugal. There is a way for foreign tourists
to pay the E-tolls, we used them quite a lot.
The system for collecting Portuguese motorway tolls can be a minefield if you
are not prepared for them, especially if you have used the motorways in France
and Spain.
This information only applies to foreign tourists using motorways with
electronic toll systems. I've just set out the two systems, EasyToll and
Tollcard, which I think will cover most tourist needs.
EASYTOLL
The
EasyToll system is a method for automatic payment of electronic tolls, for
tourists and immigrants, with the association of a credit card (Mastercard and
Visa) to the licence plate of the vehicle.
The driver, not having to leave the vehicle, enters the credit card in the
payment terminal and the system automatically associates the vehicle's licence plate
to the bankcard. The toll rates owed are directly debited to the account
associated with the card.
At the time of sign-up, valid for 30 days, a ticket is issued as proof and must
be kept.
The sign-up has a cost of €0.60+VAT and each journey has an administrative cost
of €0.26+VAT.
Sign up at the Welcome Points located at the border posts at the following
locations:
A28 - Viana do Castelo; A24 - Chaves; A25 – Vilar Formoso; A22 – Vila Real de
Santo António
We have used this system at the A22 Vila Real and found it simple to use. The
system is well signed and should be easy to find. The ticket took a few moments
to appear and we had almost given up when it appeared, so don't panic. The
credit card was returned almost immediately. Portuguese vehicles only have six
digits on a number plate and we noticed that the first letter of our number
plate was missing.
TOLLCARD
The TollCard is an "on the shelf" product, activated through an SMS,
with a fixed amount to be consumed depending on circulation. This solution
allows payment in cash or with bank card, is valid for one year and your
balance can be found on the Internet. It is aimed at tourists and immigrants.
The driver can buy a card pre-loaded with 5, 10, 20 or 40 euros (with an added
service cost of €0.60+VAT for each purchased card).
After purchasing the card, the driver shall proceed to its activation by
sending an SMS by mobile phone with the code printed on the card and the licence
plate of the vehicle (instructions on the card), so that it is associated with
the license plate of the vehicle. You can activate more than one card, with the
accumulation of balances. The driver can check the card balance, and when the
card balance runs out, the customer will receive an alert SMS. The activated
balances will be consumed depending on the use of highways with electronic toll
collection only and for each journey an administrative cost of €0.26+VAT is
applied.
Each
card is valid for one year after its activation.
A TollCard that is not activated or damaged can be returned in any CTT office
and its purchasing cost will be refunded. The remaining credit can also be
refunded if a credit card was used for the payment (as long as this was ordered
during the sign-up), in a 6 month maximum period.
Buy the TollCard at CTT post-offices, at Portuguese motorway service areas or
at www.tollcard.pt. We bought it on-line
and it has worked very well. I've topped it up twice and we have more than
enough credit to get us out of Portugal when we leave. As it's valid for a year,
I can top it up before we leave home next October.
It takes about 2/3 days for your account to be updated after using the toll
road.
Details of toll card here http://www.tollcard.pt/fetcwcm/wcmservlet/pt/home/
For more info see FAQ's http://www.portugaltolls.com/en/web/portal-de-portagens/faq-s;jsessionid=8B00F8607DE1D90CE18F90890B0FBB40
Safe travelling.
Don
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