no longer updated - Tolls on the A22

[laserblazer]

I've just registered an online complaint but I suspect they will say it's not what they do.

Here's the reply.

The toll in the A-22 motorway has been introduced as from 8 December 2011, makes part of a major plan of introduction of new tolls in Portuguese highways where the users were not required to pay toll before, and is intended to respond to the commitment assumed by Portuguese Government with the so called “TROIKA” in exchange for financial aid. So the toll is really recent and is raising the users opposition with serious damages caused to the toll system being reported almost weekly in the media. This being said, the procedure set forth by the Portuguese authorities with regard to payment of the toll is cumbersome, both for Portuguese and non Portuguese resident alike, so it does not appear to be any effective violation the European Union treaties/legislation as far as the principle of equal and non discriminatory treatment is concerned. However, the fact that the toll can only be paid electronically, payment in cash being excluded, may raise the issue of knowing if this constitutes a violation to the right of free movement in the internal market. Under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, any citizen may lodge a complaint with the European Commission (EC) against the infringement of European legislation by a Member State. Should you whish to proceed with the complaint, you may find more info and a complaint form at the European Commission website

I'm afraid my google translator doesn't have Gobbledegook to English!

[Geoff]

A warning for anyone taking the N125 and N270 to Loule who doesn't know the road very well.
As you approach Loule, the bottom of the road sign indicating a left filter for Loule is missing, which implies that you carry on , as you would if you wanted the A22. Too late, you realise that straight ahead is A22 only!
You then have to backtrack on the A22, incurring 1.5€ toll charge, before you can exit, join up with the N125 and repeat the process, being careful to filter left for Loule this time!
Anyway, I went to the tobacconist in Intermarche in CVO after the 48 hour period and the lady kindly processed my toll fee, except that it was 1.81€, the extra 31 cents being an admin charge......whether this would be payable at a PO I don't know!
For info, we left CVO at 0800 on wednesday and the N125 was very clear.

[andara]

The 0.31 E charge is standard, wherever you pay the toll.

[Bruce Wallis]

I have to smile to discover that the advice given out by hire car companies at the moment, is, "Avoid the A22!"

Here's a radical thought for you........

Why doesnt every hire car company add 5 or 7 euros onto every weeks hire booking, and then just pay their entire fleets bill every week?

They will win some.....lose some.......but they will remove the annoyance and confusion from their customers.

HOW ABOUT LEADING THE WAY STEEN?????

[e-richard]

If you read back through Steen's various postings (sorry, cannot quickly find it now), you'll find mention of some negotiation between the association of car rental companies and the "authorities" to come to an agreement that rental cars will pay a fixed €0.60 per day. Due sometime in March - if it happens.

Oh wouldn't that all be so easy....

I agree, though, that enterprising Rental companies could pre-empt all that and implement Bruce's idea NOW, but I suspect they feel just as embittered as we do.

[bugsey]

Steens company does not advise against using the A22 and they post a sign on their van saying you can pay the tolls after 2 days at a post office. What more can you expect from hire companies? Nothing else can be done until the rules change so why bellyache about it?

[logicbob]

Steens company does not advise against using the A22 and they post a sign on their van saying you can pay the tolls after 2 days at a post office. What more can you expect from hire companies? Nothing else can be done until the rules change so why bellyache about it?

Try paying two days after you have left Portugal. It does not work.

[e-richard]

Its simple..

You just go to the airport 2 days before your return flight, hand back the rental car, sleep at the airport and pay at the PO in the airport before you fly.

What's all the fuss about ?

[logicbob]

Its simple..

You just go to the airport 2 days before your return flight, hand back the rental car, sleep at the airport and pay at the PO in the airport before you fly.

What's all the fuss about ?

I guess if you have a early morning flight or a late night flight you would have to spend three days at the airport so that you could pay on the second day.

[joeysoap]

Its simple..

You just go to the airport 2 days before your return flight, hand back the rental car, sleep at the airport and pay at the PO in the airport before you fly.

What's all the fuss about ?

simples!!

[PTBUXTON]

Please don't all shout at me at once,I am totally confused about these new bloody tolls and how you pay the fees back if you have hired a car.I seem to remember someone saying handing your credit card over so the hire company could forward it on to via verde ? to be honest I would rather place my you know what on a hot griddle, than do that.So would someone try and simplify the procedure for me when you get to the car hire desk.

[Polli62]

simple procedure is don't use the A22

[Geoff]

My simple understanding when using a hire car is:
1. go to a post office or paypoint ( tobacconist in intermarche) after 24/48 hours of using the A22 but before 5 days, with your reg number, toll fee plus 31cents and pay.
2. If someone else has used that car on the same day as you have on the A22, you need to pay for that as well.....so only consider using the A22 on your first day IF you pick the car up in the morning (unless you are the generous type)
3.As I don't think you can prepay the return journey to Faro, ask someone else to pay the fee for you , a couple of days after you get back.
4. The jury seems to be out on whether unpaid tolls will accrue fines sufficiently large to be worth you being pursued in the UK or when you return to faro passport control.....so take the A22 back!
5. Some friends of ours, with a hire car, have bought a transponder (hiring is v expensive) , prepay with it, and hope to transfer it to another hire car when they come again.....i am not confident that will work!
Or, use N125!

[EMM]

I understand that the transponder is linked to one vehicle and Cannot be used on another otherwise there would be a healthy trade in nicked transponders going on.

We are still waiting to see what ( if anything ) will turn up on our CC.

[Colana]

Use the 125.