no longer updated - Tolls on the A22

[Sinkie]

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.

Just been in contact with Economy Car Hire and they give the same advice (but qualify it as at 26th September)

"We last checked with the car hire suppliers that we use in Portugal on 26th September. They have now set-up the toll for foreign vehicles, e.g. a UK vehicle driving in Portugal, but they have still not set-up the toll for Portuguese vehicles. Therefore, it is still currently free of charge. We will be informed when this changes but they currently have no idea when this will be."

They will advise their regular customers by email when things change so I will update this post at that time.

[Farol]

The Euroscut web site directs you to the vialivre.pt web site for information on tolls for the A22. Within this there is a section with FAQs covering much of how tolls will apply, fines, payment, foreign registered vehicles, etc. Unfortunately it is only in Portuguese.

http://www.vialivre.pt/faqs.aspx?title= ... itulo=faqs

The section on costs only covers the A28 currently but as Euroscut links to it I would hope that the A22 costs get added. (Well you have to live in hope!)

My Portuguese is not up to providing a full translation of all the FAQs for public consumption but it would be good if somebody that is bi-lingual could do so.

[cereza]

Thanks for all the information Steen but it's going to be a nightmare and I fear it will badly affect tourism thus totally defeating the object of increasing the country's income.

I hear they are going to have the opening party in the Super Bok factory

[EMM]

Cereza , I do not see that the cost of the tolls will have any significant affect on tourism.
The problem is just how do we pay.
Tourists in France/Italy etc pay tolls , it is part of life.
We will continue to use the motorways , it will cost us less in time and fuel and on balance the cost will be minimal,

PS if it stops the motorhomes from coming to the Algarve this winter it will be a good thing.

[cereza]

Totally agree EMM - it's not the toll money - it's the farcical method which will lead to higher rental car fees plus fines landing on doormats. As for the campers I agree with your sentiment but you hardly ever see them on the A22 at least in my experience

[fatscholes]

does anyone know if the protest scheduled for Saturday took place please & if so was it a decent turnout?

[Jaylay]

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/4834-t ... nd-october
What a surprise ?

[cereza]

To be expected - but still good news

[sam]

Loved the last line - "These delays should enable a full and definitive explanation of the charging systems to be disseminated and the transponders to become widely available. (Stop laughing at the back!)"
If they really want to encourage tourism they want to make it easy to pay, and easy to understand - publishing all info in Portuguese will not help.

[joeysoap]

Out next wednesday for 6 days and hired car arranged so happy days, but only a matter of time. As stated many times previously by many posters it's not the actual tolls that are the problem, its the administration and collection method.

They could make it easy for casual users from the airport by having a fixed rate to each junction and give the option of paying for both journeys at the same time with one visit to the post office. Give each junction a code ie M1, M2 etc so if you turn of at say M7 you simply go to the post office and purchase TWO M7 journeys for your car. your 'voucher' would cover the initial and return journey to the airport. The transponder could be used to calculate any other journeys using the motorway in between and you would pay for these seperately.

[jantje]

Could have had this up & running for months . Only needed a couple of toll booths and somewhere to throw a couple of Euros in!

[cereza]

I'd vote for you jantje

[sam]

Could have had this up & running for months . Only needed a couple of toll booths and somewhere to throw a couple of Euros in!

I'd vote for that too. Problem is, this being Portugal, that would have been too simple

[LICY]

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/4834-t ... nd-october
What a surprise ?

Just read that, but when do they anticipate now? We come out on 25 November.

[e-richard]

..Just read that, but when do they anticipate now? We come out on 25 November.

We'll let you know on the 24th

... or not