no longer updated - Tolls on the A22

[logicbob]

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?

I would like to know if they have a plan of action in hand, and if so what is it??

[Steen Jakobsen]

Present info:
In order to use the A 22 motorway the driver need to have a chip from VIA verde (Via Verde shops, post office or petrol station). The driver must present the car rental agreement and with this it will be possible to rent a temporary chip (for 1 week, 1 month, etc) on a contract between the car rental driver and VIA VERDE.

Current law states;
Regular Portuguese cars, one registration = 1 chip
Rental cars: One contract and one chip per rental period and client, which means even regular car rental clients can't have their own chip. The reason being that the main driver, with the given registration, on the given date is responsible for his actions, and not the owner of the car.

to conclude:
Either rent a chip for the duration of your car rental
or
Make your payment following use of the affected motorways in the post office.
or
avoid the use of the motorways (paid solely by EU funds (=you))
---------

What will happen?

Either they implement a system which is easy to use or no one will pay.

Most likely tens of thousands of fines will be issued. The car rental companies are obliged to identify their client within 10 days. The Police have 5 years to take action (Yor recently received traffic fines dating back to 2007).

The car rental companies faces a humongous task identifying their clients, photocopying contracts and answering the letters. The cost of this can only be reflected on the rental prices.

The Via Verde system will most probably not be able to handle the mass of fines.

But, as the money is needed, it is easy to imagine that a register is held and incoming tourists in Faro airport are checked against the register and any outstanding debt collected on the spot.

Please don't shoot the messenger. It is desperate days in Portugal and for as long as the administration who brought the country to bankruptcy are allowed to continue in their inadequacy, the farce will continue for the EU taxpayers money.

[Steen Jakobsen]

It would cost so little to give a dispensation for rental cars until a better solution is found. Show a little appreciation towards visitors to the country - the only source of income for the region. But no, honestly what are they thinking? if anything.

[Michael Crane]

I am holding back on booking for December until something more precise is sorted out.

[gavinhenson]

Excellent information Steen, thank you very much.

Either way it sounds like a lot of hassle for the car hirer for something which shouldn't be so complicated. If I'm on holiday I don't want to have to fanny around going here there and everywhere just to rent a bloody device and pay my tolls, I'm there to relax!! Like I said earlier, I have no problem paying them - the car rental company should either top me up with a pre-paid device, give me a bill when I hand the car back or deduct it from my credit card, I don't care, all I want is an easy time!

Hiring a car is always a no-brainer for me everytime I visit but I'm now reconsidering my options.

[Farol]

Does anyone know the opening hours for the Post Office inside Faro airport? If it is open at times that correspond with all flights then I would be happy enough to pay fees just before leaving the country but I suspect it will not be open when you need it.

I don't understand why there is any restriction linking temporary devices to particular vehicles and rental agreements. If there is a device fitted to a vehicle when it passes a sensor and the authorities can debit that device then they get their revenue. If the debit fails they follow the normal recovery/fines route. What difference does the vehicle reg and rental contract make as long as a device is fitted? As a regular visitor I would otherwise be able to rent a device, transfer from vehicle to vehicle and top it up as and when required - much as I do with my wifi dongle.

[Michael Crane]

....In order to use the A 22 motorway the driver need to have a chip from VIA verde (Via Verde shops, post office or petrol station). The driver must present the car rental agreement and with this it will be possible to rent a temporary chip (for 1 week, 1 month, etc) on a contract between the car rental driver and VIA VERDE.
.....

So, does this mean the petrol station just outside the airport will be able to provide what's required? It is a handy location if so.

[laserblazer]

So, does this mean the petrol station just outside the airport will be able to provide what's required? It is a handy location if so

As long as you allow another 30 minutes whilst they serve the Portuguese drivers and the meals in the little cafe

[logicbob]

Steen, thank you for the information I am sure it is going to be nightmare for you.

[EMM]

There seem to be as many theories as there are toll gates.

Our hire car company has told us that as far as the authorities are concerned it is the owner of the vehicle who is responsible NOT the driver.
The charges will be sent to the hire company and they will have to pay and then somehow ( as they do now ) recover the tolls from the clients.

We come back on the 16th Oct, so we will soon find out.

[ANDY]

Tolls start 15 of October on the A22.

Outubro com portagens
Parece que está decidido. As portagens vão começar a funcionar na A22, no dia 15 de Outubro. Uma decisão tomada à revelia dos interesse da região que, não obstante os desistentes de última hora, sempre defendeu que portagens na A22 é sinónimo de mais problemas para a frágil economia algarvia, e de mais sinistralidade.

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/notic ... -portagens

[laserblazer]

We come back on the 16th Oct, so we will soon find out.

Guinea Pig

[Michael Crane]

We come back on the 16th Oct, so we will soon find out.

Guinea Pig

I will be watching very closely.

[Michael Crane]

It looks as if the hire companies are still in the dark.

Zitauto: We don´t really know how we are going to do it but most probably will be the same way we deal with motorways when clients do not stop to pay. We receive aletter with registration, day and time car was on a specific road and then we send driver details so they can then send letter to the driver to proceed with payment. They first only charge the normal amount due but if it is not paid they will then send another one with a fine.

Economycar: At present we have been advised by our car rental partners that the tolls currently only apply to foreign vehicles and as of yet have not been applied to hire vehicles. We are being advised of any new information in regards to the tolls as often as it occurs and if the charges are applied to hire vehicles then we will advise our clients further.

[logicbob]

We come back on the 16th Oct, so we will soon find out.

Guinea Pig

We are here all ready.