Tolls on the A22

[Michael Crane]

I have just been in touch with a well-known hire car company and they said in their email: "At the present time we do not have any plans to charge our customers, but when the system comes live and all our cars will be registered and we shall pass on any toll costs to our customers. If they have returned to the UK without paying we shall debit their credit card for the full amount outstanding plus fines and an administration fee of £25 per transaction."

Looks as if they've taken a leaf out of RyanAir's book.

[EMM]

Please let us know who it is so we can boycott them.

[James Faro]

I have just been in touch with a well-known hire car company and they said in their email: "At the present time we do not have any plans to charge our customers, but when the system comes live and all our cars will be registered and we shall pass on any toll costs to our customers. If they have returned to the UK without paying we shall debit their credit card for the full amount outstanding plus fines and an administration fee of £25 per transaction."

Looks as if they've taken a leaf out of RyanAir's book.

Come on: give us a clue. You can make a heavy inference without getting in trouble!

Anyway, an e-mail is irrefutable proof of what you allege. So whom, is it?

[Polli62]

Could it be the car hire company that is a number with a t at the back of it?

[joeysoap]

[quote="Michael Crane"] If they have returned to the UK without paying we shall debit their credit card for the full amount outstanding plus fines and an administration fee of £25 per transaction."

good way to grow tourism- not.

I really dont know why the Portuguse government just don't levy €1 a day on all cars hired. how many use on the motorway every day we hire a car? some hirers will win, some will lose but at least its simple to understand, implement and collect.

ok I do know.

[ANDY]

Motorway Tolls – Latest Update
– March 4, 2011
Posted in: General, Useful Information

Here you can find details of the Motorway tolls and payment methods expected to apply to the A22 Algarve Motorway, as supplied to its members by Afpop, who have our grateful thanks

Tolls on SCUT and other motorways in Portugal

The system for charging tolls on SCUT motorways in Portugal came into force on 15th October 2010 and the next phase of charging will start on 15th April 2011. There is much confusion about how the tolls will be applied, what motorways you can use etc. This Information Bulletin is designed to help you 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 Bulletin will be updated as more information is available.

Information contained in the Bulletin is taken from Via Verde, Brisa, Estradas de Portugal and „Hey Portugal‟.

Terms Used by the various authorities

SCUT – Sem Custos para utilizador (cost-free for users) DE – Dispositivo Electronico ( Electronic Device) (this can be a DECP, DM or TD) DECP – Dispositivos Electrónicos Contativeis (Cpmpatible Electronic Devices). A Via Verde Identifier is one of these, and will work with the electronic tolls. DEM – Dispositivo Electrónico de Matricula (Electronic Registration Device) DT – Dispositivo Temporário (Temporary Device)

Motorway Signs Motorway toll sections will be clearly marked with signs at the start. Please contact the afpop office if you see any variations on these signs. PORTAGEM ELECTRONICA – Electronic Tolls

PORTAGEM EXCLUSIVAMENTE ELECTRONICOS – Exclusively Electronic Tolls

LANCO COM PORTAGEM – With Toll Booths

LANCO COM PORTGAM ELECTRONICA- 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 „Portagems‟. The first of the SCUT motorways to be converted to this system were parts of Grande Porto, Costa Prata and Norte Litoral. The second phase of charging will begin on 15th April 2011 on the A22 – Via do Infante (Algarve Motorway), North Interior and Beira. Payment Options: There are essentially 2 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 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 5 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 5 days then fines will also be added.

Electronic Devices (DE) With the exception of Temporary Devices (TD) 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 EDs (either Via Verde or the ones for the SCUT tolls only) are available from all Post Offices, Via Verde offices and Motorway service area, as well as some banks. You can also apply for 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 (TD) 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 €1,5+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 devise 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 Temporary device 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.

TDs 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 of (Costa Prata, Grande Porto and North Litoral) 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 1st July 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 (updated 25 Jan 2011) 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 toll free, 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 occur 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 8 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 8 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 2.

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 ViaVerde shop, with the same information and pay the correct amount for your journey.
.

[mac]

Nightmare! Gawd, I hope this is sorted out by end June when we're next out. We always hire a car and only use the A22 to get to and from our villa.

Who the H*ll thought this up? Absolute catastrophe. I can't think of anything more unhelpful and not understandable. I still don't really understand it. What a b*lls-up and words to that effect!!!

[roy4eyes]

This still does not explain how foreign plated cars (Spanish as well as ex-pat) coming from Spain get on - how can they pre-pay at the service area which they only come to after travelling on the A22 ?

[carvoeiro1]

I belive it does Roy:.

Foreign Registered Vehicles (updated 25 Jan 2011) The government has taken notice of concerns and there is now a simpler option for Foreign Vehicles. ETC

[roy4eyes]

My portuguese reading is not 100% but I can find nothing relevant on the portuguese version of CTT.pt and the english version is 'under construction' - a bit like this crazy system

I have this vision of visitors travelling from Spain - seeing the signs - trying to work out what they mean - then plugging their laptop (we all carry them in our cars now don't we?) into the cigar lighter trying to find on CTT.pt where to log on and get a credit. Meanwhile there is a backup of 20kms. back over the Guadiana bridge.

Adding €10 to the car road fund tax is too simple

[laserblazer]

Adding €10 to the car road fund tax is too simple

Even simpler, fine the speedsters and tailgaters. That would solve all of their financial problems.

[lincdoc]

Just had an e-mail from economycarhire to say that the toll start date has been put back to Aug/Sept due to current government instability. Has anyone else heard anything?

[TomUK]

Hope you're right 'lincdoc'! It would certainly make life easier for our May holiday. However, our next trip out after that will be September, so we may still get embroiled in the inevitable teething troubles. Only time will tell.

[sam]

I've booked with economy car hire - not had email.

[EMM]

Numerous reports elsewhere, one states that a motion has been put before the government to delay the tolls until after the election ( early June ).
No decision has been made !!