no longer updated - Tolls on the A22

[Steen Jakobsen]

Here's a summary for Tourists and Owner Visitors:

We assume that the A22 will be Electronic Only (i.e. no toll booths)
Payment is either per-pay, or pay within 5 days at the Post Office - just tell them your car registration. Post pay incurs additional admin charges.

There are two different devices for pre-pay - one tethered to the car registration number, one is not.

The devices tethered to the car registration, would need to be bought by the car rental companies, and stuck on the windscreen.
However:
a) these are out-of-stock
b) if you overrun the amount pre-loaded, then (I think) either you post pay at the CTT (Post Office) or its deducted from the Rental car company's bank account automatically, and they have to take it from your open pre-signed credit card slip

So, I doubt that this will be workable.

The other device is not tied to a car registration, and can be hired for the period of the holiday.
You hire them from Motorway service stations, and leave a deposit equal to the retail cost of the device. No idea how much.

When you hire them, you can either prepay (min €10) or somehow tell the device to automatically deduct from your Portuguese Bank account. Monies loaded on with pre-pay and unused are non-refundable

So presumably, when you arrive, you somehow got to the motorway service station without passing under a gantry and you pick one up there and load some money on to it, or tell it your Portuguese Bank Account - assuming the service station has sufficient stocks
And on your way home, you have to drop it back at the service station - and remember to delete your bank account details - and then get from servcie station to airport without passing under a toll gantry

... or maybe the Rental companies may be able to rent these to us

It may seem that the easiest solution for most will be post pay at the post office even with an admin charge - You have 5 days to pay.
But what happens on your way home ?

Finally, no information about actual toll fees, any admin fees for post pay, rental costs of the devices seem to be available yet.

Portuguese efficiency at its best.

Thanks to e-richard for summing It all up!
You can discuss the topic here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20499

[Steen Jakobsen]

Some sense on the system:

http://www.algarveresident.com/story.asp?XID=40650

[Steen Jakobsen]

A22 Tolls: How to get your Transponder;

Please see this topic: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=20723

[Gambrinus]

06.04.2011
A22 tolls have been suspended by the interim Government until further notice.

[Steen Jakobsen]

http://www.theportugalnews.com/

Ready to toll
1/10/2011

Following confirmation from road companies that all is in place to charge tolls on previously unpaid motorways, the government is reportedly looking to have them introduced on Saturday, 15 October.

The date in two weeks from now also marks the one-year anniversary of when tolls were first charged on three motorways in northern Portugal.

The motorways in question are the A22 (Algarve), the A23, A24 and the A25.

The cash-strapped government stands to save €700 million each year by no longer subsidising these motorways.

The implementation of tolls had been set for 15 April, but the previous government opted not to carry out the measure, arguing it would be unconstitutional to introduce tolls on the eve of a general election.

National road company Via Verde told The Portugal News earlier this year that it believed the government could still apply an exemption period for residents and businesses located within 20 kilometres of any stretch of a previously uncharged motorway, though cautioned that it could only be certain of this once the information had been published in the Government Gazette.

“If it remains unchanged, the first 10 trips on a motorway will be free. Thereafter, all trips will be charged with a discount of 15 percent”, explained Via Verde.

The ten credits will be used for every trip, irrespective of the distance travelled and will be exhausted as soon as a driver exits the motorway.

The exemption is expected to be terminated during the course of 2012, if not sooner. Motorists will have to apply for exemption prior to using a motorway and this can be done at a number of venues across the country, including Via Verde offices.

Estimates are that travelling along the Algarve’s A22 motorway will cost drivers just under 7 cents a kilometre. In total, a trip from Vila Real de Santo António in the east to just after Lagos in the west will cost €8.97.

Motorists wishing to travel on a motorway such as the A22 will be required to fit a transponder to their vehicles.

Regarding transponders, which, should a motorist opt for one supplied by Via Verde and is operational on all of the nation’s motorways, come at a cost of €27.50, though the cost drops to €25 if the user opts to receive their monthly statements electronically.

Foreign-registered cars will be allowed to hire transponders, paying a deposit of €27 and a minimum pre-payment of €50 that will be debited to the account associated with the transponder.

Upon returning the transponder, the owner of the foreign-registered vehicle will be debited or credited in accordance with the number of occasions toll roads that had been used. Car rentals are expected to operate in a similar manner.

Brendan de Beer

Edition: 1132

[laserblazer]

The cash-strapped government stands to save €700 million each year by no longer subsidising these motorways

Let's say the average trip costs €1.00 and we divide the 700 million between the 4 motorways, then the A22 has to make 175 million a year, that's nearly half a million trips a day. Even if every vehicle travelled the length and back, it would be over 25,000 trips. That seems rather a lot. We are out on the 26th October, so sod's law says the hire companies won't have it sorted by then.

[logicbob]

Steen, how is it going to work with the car rental companies. Is there a plan in place so that the renter can pay for them separately to the rental car company?

[laserblazer]

Foreign-registered cars will be allowed to hire transponders, paying a deposit of €27 and a minimum pre-payment of €50 that will be debited to the account associated with the transponder.

Upon returning the transponder, the owner of the foreign-registered vehicle will be debited or credited in accordance with the number of occasions toll roads that had been used. Car rentals are expected to operate in a similar manner.

Presumably, they will have transponders built in and the rental company will take the hire amount from the credit card you use as security. Plus a service charge no doubt.

[gavinhenson]

Foreign-registered cars will be allowed to hire transponders, paying a deposit of €27 and a minimum pre-payment of €50 that will be debited to the account associated with the transponder.

Upon returning the transponder, the owner of the foreign-registered vehicle will be debited or credited in accordance with the number of occasions toll roads that had been used. Car rentals are expected to operate in a similar manner.

Presumably, they will have transponders built in and the rental company will take the hire amount from the credit card you use as security. Plus a service charge no doubt.

laser you beat me to it, I was just about to say that no doubt some hire companies will use this to squeeze a bit more money out of the paying customer So I doubt you will be able to choose your preferred method of payment.

[gavinhenson]

Also would just like to say I have no problem with the tolls, tell me how much to pay and I'll pay it. It's the complicated nature of how to pay which is driving most people insane. If the hire companies take control of the situation and integrate these transponder payment systems properly with clear and concise information about it, then happy days.

[Steen Jakobsen]

This guide to the tolls system on the previously free-for-users SCUT roads and other paid-for motorways in Portugal has been compiled by afpop, Portugal’s largest foreign residents association.

The system for charging tolls on SCUT motorways in Portugal came into force on October 15, 2010 and the next phase of charging will start next month, on April 15.

There is much confusion about how the tolls will be applied. This information is designed to help people to understand the system and answer questions or correct misinformation that exists. However, there are still some areas which are not completely clear and this document will be updated as more information is available.

Information contained here was taken from various sources, including Via Verde, Brisa and Estradas de Portugal.

TERMS USED:

• SCUT – Sem Custos para Utilizador (cost-free for users)

• DE – Dispositivo Electrónico (Electronic Device). This can be a DECP, DEM or DT

• DECP – Dispositivo de uma Entidade de Cobrança de Portagens (Toll Charger Device). A Via Verde Identifier is one of these and will work with the electronic tolls.

• DEM – Dispositivo Electrónico de Matrícula (Electronic Registration Device)

• DT – Dispositivo Temporário (Temporary Device)

MOTORWAY SIGNS

Motorway toll sections will be clearly marked with signs at the start.

• PORTAGEM ELECTRÓNICA – Electronic Tolls

• PORTAGEM EXCLUSIVAMENTE ELECTRÓNICA – Exclusively Electronic Tolls

• LANÇO COM PORTAGEM – Section With Toll Booths

• LANÇO COM PORTAGEM ELECTRÓNICA- Section With Electronic Tolls Only

MOTORWAYS WITH VIA VERDE TOLL BOOTHS

There will be no change to these and you can continue to use the tolls with either the Via Verde Identifier or by pay as you go (PAYG) at the booths.

EXCLUSIVELY ELECTRONIC TOLLS

These motorways will only have the overhead gantry systems and will not have tolls booths or PAYG as exists with ‘Portagens’. The first of the SCUT motorways to be converted to this system were parts of the Greater Porto area, the Silver Coast and the Northern Coastal area.

The second phase of charging will begin on April 15 on the A22-Via do Infante (Algarve Motorway), North Interior and Beira.

Payment Options: There are essentially two options - Pre and Post Pay. Pre Pay is cheaper as there is no additional administration fee.

Prepay: If you have a DE then you will either pre-pay by loading an amount on to the account or you will be debited automatically from your bank account. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have already applied for your DE but have not received it, you will need to post pay until you receive it, but if you take the reference number of your application when you pay, you will not be charged the administration fee.

Postpay: If you do not have a DE then you are expected to go to a Pay Station or CTT within five days of using the motorway with your vehicle registration number and pay your tolls. An administration fee will also be added to the amount due. If it is not paid within five days then fines will also be added.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES (DE)

With the exception of Temporary Devices (DT) each device is registered to a particular vehicle registration number. They are not interchangeable without re-registering the device with the supplier. It is reported that electronic devices (DEs - either Via Verde or the ones for the SCUT tolls only) are available from all Post Offices, Via Verde offices and motorway service areas, as well as some banks. You can also apply for a Via Verde Identifier via the Via Verde website, but there is a backlog of applications. Via Verde Identifiers will also work on the SCUT motorways, but unfortunately not the other way around i.e. the DEM does not work on the Via Verde Tolls.

ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION DEVICE (DEM)

This is similar to the Via Verde Identifier, in that it is attached to the windscreen and not to the registration plate. Due to demand, stocks of these are apparently low at the moment.

TEMPORARY DEVICES (DT) FOR FOREIGN VEHICLES

These can be leased from motorway service stations or CTT/post offices. The price for the leasing is €27 and for the first week €6 + IVA and an extra €1.50+IVA for the following weeks is deducted from the price of purchase, the remaining amount is returned to you when you return the device.

When you first lease this device, you need to charge it with a minimum of €10 (light vehicles) or €20 (heavy vehicles). This credit is to be used on tolls and is non-reimbursable.

The DT is also available for Portuguese vehicles but the procedure is slightly different. For a Portuguese vehicle, the temporary device will last for 90 days, but the driver keeps the device and even after the initial 90 days are expired, when they top it up it reactivates the device.

DTs are not registered to a particular vehicle and are designed for short term use on the Portuguese toll motorways, which makes them ideal for foreign registered vehicles.

DISCOUNTS FOR LOCAL USERS

For the first phase (Silver Coast, Greater Porto and Northern Coastal area), anyone living in or having a business head office in a council area that is within 10kms of the motorway can claim the discount. This is the first 10 uses each month free, then a discount of 15% on other uses.

We understand that for the second phase, the discounts will apply within 20kms, but we will verify this as soon as we are able to do so.

The discounts will apply on all SCUT tolls until July 1, 2012 and will continue to apply in some regions after that time. If you think the discounts should apply to you then contact your Post Office (CTT) or Via Verde shop for more details.

FOREIGN REGISTERED VEHICLES

The government has taken notice of concerns and there is now a simpler option for Foreign Vehicles.

Drivers of vehicles without a DE (any type) can now pre-pay using just their Vehicle Registration Number. This can be done online at CTT.pt (you need to register and it is only in Portuguese at the moment).

Pre-payment will also be possible at motorway service areas and Porto Airport in the future.

If you do not have a DE or pre-payment then you will be subject to a fine. Photos are taken of registration plates and bills and fines will be sent to the registered address for the vehicle in whatever country the car is registered. Fines for foreign plated vehicles using the road without a DE are 10x the toll fee, with a minimum charge of €25 and a maximum of €125. The way to avoid this is to pay the toll directly to the “concessionário” of that motorway. At the entrance of the motorway, the name of the “concessionário” is displayed, but if you failed to notice it CTT post offices will be able to inform you of their contact details.

FAILED TO PAY FOR THE TOLL AT THE TIME?

Sometimes you can't make the payment of the toll at the time of the journey, for example:

- You do not have your card with you and have no other means of payment;

- The system does not read the card;

- You don’t have enough money to pay;

If any of the above situations occurs in a toll booth where there is an assistant, you should ask for an invoice to be issued for payment later. If this situation occurs where there is a machine for you to insert the card and pay manually, you must use the "info" button to request the invoice.

In these cases, the value of the toll, without any penalty, must be paid within eight days counting from the date of issue, by using one of the following means:

- In a Multibanco (ATM) machine using the reference numbers in the invoice. This is only possible within 48 hours;

- In any Briza/Via Verde store;

- At the highway booths with an assistant.

You can also make your payment the following ways:

Sending a cheque to Brisa, payable to “Brisa – Concessão Rodoviária, SA” stating the invoice number on the back of the cheque.

Address to send the cheque: Brisa - Concessão Rodoviária, S.A. Serviço de Contas a Receber Quinta da Torre da Aguilha - Edifício Brisa 2785-599 São Domingos de Rana

Bank transfer – in this case please note that your invoice will only be considered settled after the proof of payment, properly identified including the invoice number to which it relates is sent, by post, fax (444 21 86 98) or email (clientes.drt@brisa.pt)

Banco Santander Totta NIB: 001800032357824802090 IBAN: PT50 001800032357824802090 Swift Code: TOTAPTPL Account holder: Brisa – Concessão Rodoviária, SA Factura nº. :

After eight days, if the invoice is not yet paid, the amount may be subject to penalties for non-compliance (Law No. 25/2006 of 30 June).

Please Note: Where invoices are filled out manually by the toll assistant, you must follow the instructions for payment mentioned on the back of the invoice. For more information about how to pay the toll you can contact the customer service line 808 508 508.

When you don’t have a toll ticket:

If a customer reaches a manual toll barrier without the transit ticket, or with an expired transit ticket (the validity of title is 12 hours), the toll rate applicable corresponds to the maximum rate* applicable to the toll barrier in question, multiplied by two.

Note: The maximum rate is deemed to be equivalent to the longest toll length than can be applied on that motorway before you reach the toll barrier in question.

If you don’t have the ticket at the time of passage but find it later, you will have the opportunity to prove which barrier you entered and pay the corresponding toll rate. For this, you must send a statement to Brisa, attaching the original ticket and explaining the situation.

Alternatively you may go to a Brisa or Via Verde shop, with the same information and pay the correct amount for your journey.

source: algarveresident.com

[roy4eyes]

We have just driven from England via Seville and noted the first gantry is before the first (Olhao) service area and before the junction 16 turn-off.
Can anybody explain therefore how it is possible to prepay without incurring a penalty. Is there due to be an office in the police offices just after the Guadiana bridge ?

[MaisieK]

I totally agree with gavinhenson I am sure most visitors will be happy to pay the tolls
but it must be made easy, some people only visit for one week sometimes a few days
and there is no way we want to have to sort out the hire of a transponder, then have to
take it back, and then pay, this is all quite crazy, please portugal get this sorted!!!

Maisie

[DaveK]

We drove over a few weeks back and you can take the exit to Castro Marim and Vila Real and thence to the N125 well before reaching the first gantry. Not ideal but if you wish to avoid the initial toll problem this is maybe the only way entering from Spain. Back again a week next Monday and have tickets for the 3 days of Superbikes. OK getting there on the A22 but after the 15th the N125 over the days of the races are bound to be a nightmare!

[Farol]

Steen

Will Algarvedriver/YOR be emailing all people that have already booked cars for after 15th Oct to tell them how charges will be applied as this will require a change to existing terms and conditions?