Portugal is still a very popular travel destination, which can be easily reached by plane within 3 hours. Many holidaymakers book a hire car for their stay, either to get to know Portugal by making a round trip, or just to be mobile.

Portugal has an extensive and modern road network and, as in almost all European countries, tolls have to be paid for using the motorways. In the past, you could pay your tolls by cash or credit card at the tollbooths. In 2011, with the extension of the toll motorway network, an additional payment system was added: the electronic toll.

Electronic toll collection

Highways with electronic toll collection are marked with a blue sign: "Electronic toll only". This particularly applies to the A22, one of the most important east-west links in the Algarve, which is particularly frequented by tourists who land at the airport in Faro.

On these highways, all vehicles are scanned when passing toll bridges (picture of a toll bridge). The licence plate will be stored until the corresponding payment has been made. Payment is not possible at toll station booths because they do not exist.

How can I pay the electronic tolls?

For vehicles with Portuguese registration numbers, there are two ways to pay the toll. A common method is payment of the toll by means of an electronic toll device, which is mounted in the vehicle behind the rear-view mirror. The toll devices are linked to a Portuguese account or credit card of the vehicle keeper, through which the payment is made.

If the vehicle does not have a registration device, it is only possible to pay the toll fee for vehicles with Portuguese registration numbers at a post office or at so-called pay shops by providing the licence plate number. Payment is possible at the earliest two days after the use of the motorway and must be made within five days from this time. After this period, no cash payment is possible.

Toll payments for hire cars

Many car hire companies have already installed the electronic detection devices in their vehicles. The tolls and the costs of using the equipment are then charged directly with the car rental. All applicable fees must be detailed in the lease.

But there are still a number of car hire companies whose vehicles do not have a detection device. In this case, you are responsible for the tolls, and you have to take care of the acquisition of a recording device at a post office (CTT), at the airport or at the sales outlets of the operator, Via Verde Portugal.

Since the toll can be paid only two days after use of the highway, many tourists have a difficult problem to solve on the day of departure. In order to avoid inconvenience and unnecessary outlay, you should clarify in advance with your car hire company how the payment of the electronic toll will be handled.

Book a hire car through Nonplusultra

In order to make your holiday as pleasant as possible, we are happy to take care of organising a hire car for you. We work locally with a first-class car rental company and can book you a car on the best possible terms. We are happy to clarify the handling of tolls for you, so you can enjoy your holiday without worry.

Toll payments for foreign vehicles

Anyone wishing to use the motorway in Portugal with a vehicle with a foreign registration number has various options for paying the electronic toll.

EASYToll
At the motorways near the border, there are so-called Welcome Points. These include vending machines that you can put a credit card in. Then the credit data are linked to the licence plate and stored for 30 days. You receive a receipt for this, which you always have to carry with you. When passing the toll bridges, the licence plate will be scanned, and the credit card will automatically be charged with the corresponding toll plus a one-time registration fee.

TOLLCard
At the Welcome Points, you can also buy a TOLLCard to the value of 5, 10, 20 or 40 Euros. To activate it, a text message must be sent to a number indicated on the card stating the licence plate number. The TOLLCard is also available at Portuguese post offices, tourist information centres or online at www.tollcard.pt. The card is valid for one year. If the card goes overdrawn, the last trip will be considered unpaid. Any remaining balance will not be refunded.

TOOLService
This service is ideal for short stays. At the aforementioned points of sale, you can purchase a vignette, valid for 3 days, for 20 Euros plus handling fee. From the date of purchase, any number of routes can be driven.

Would you like more information?

If you would like further information or would like to book a hire car, please get in touch through our Contact form.
National website www.portugaltoll.com (in English).