Guide to Portuguese Toll Road System – How to Handle Portugal’s Toll Roads

Portugal toll roads: what drivers need to know in 2026

Portugal has an excellent motorway network, but the toll system can be confusing for visitors because different roads use different collection methods. Some motorways have traditional toll plazas, some use electronic collection, and several roads that previously charged tolls are now toll-free.

If you are renting a car, the simplest first step is to ask the rental company how tolls are handled on that specific vehicle. Many rental cars are equipped with an electronic toll device or offer a toll-payment service, but the fees and billing method vary by company. If you are driving a foreign-registered vehicle, Portugal also offers payment options designed specifically for foreign license plates.

This guide explains how Portugal toll roads work, which major routes are toll-free, how to pay, and what to check before starting a road trip.

Which Portugal motorways are now toll-free?

A major change took effect on January 1, 2025, when Portugal eliminated toll charges on several former SCUT and interior motorway sections. Under the current law, tolls are eliminated on the following roads or specified sections:

• A4 – Transmontana and the Marão Tunnel
• A13 and A13-1 – Pinhal Interior
• A22 – Algarve
• A23 – Beira Interior
• A24 – Interior Norte
• A25 – Costa da Prata and Beiras Litoral e Alta, now toll-free across its full length
• A28 – Litoral Norte, on the sections between Esposende and Antas and between Neiva and Darque

This means the A22 in the Algarve no longer charges tolls. Older travel articles, maps and forum posts may still describe the A22 as an electronically tolled motorway, but that information is outdated.

Not every Portuguese motorway is toll-free. Major routes such as the A1 between Lisbon and Porto, the A2 toward southern Portugal, and a number of other motorways continue to charge tolls. There are also special exemptions for qualifying residents and businesses on certain A2 and A6 sections in the Alentejo, but visitors should not assume those local exemptions apply to a rental car or foreign traveler.

How does the Portugal toll-road system work?

Drivers in Portugal generally encounter two types of toll collection:

Traditional toll plazas

These are motorways where you enter or exit through a toll plaza. Depending on the road and lane, payment may be made manually with cash or a bank card, through an automated payment terminal, or electronically with an authorized toll device.

If a lane is marked only for an electronic system such as Via Verde, do not use it unless your vehicle has an active compatible payment arrangement.

Electronic toll collection

Some Portuguese roads use electronic tolling without a conventional toll booth. Cameras and gantries identify the vehicle or communicate with an electronic device. Drivers using these roads need an appropriate payment method linked to the vehicle or license plate.

Because the toll network has changed significantly since 2025, use a current motorway map or toll calculator rather than relying on an older printed guide.

How do I pay tolls in Portugal with a rental car?

For most international visitors, this is the most important question. Before leaving the rental counter, ask:

• Does this vehicle have a toll transponder or electronic toll service?
• Are tolls charged automatically to my credit card?
• Is there a daily rental or administration fee for the toll device?
• Can I use electronic-only toll roads with this vehicle?
• How long after the rental may toll charges appear on my card?

If the rental vehicle already has an active toll device, follow the rental company’s instructions. Do not separately register the same vehicle for another toll service unless the rental company tells you to do so.

Travelers planning an independent road trip can also compare our Portugal self-drive vacations, which combine a planned route, accommodations and rental-car arrangements in one itinerary.

EasyToll for foreign-registered vehicles

EasyToll is designed for vehicles with foreign license plates. It associates a bank card with the vehicle’s license plate, allowing eligible toll charges to be debited automatically. The service is valid for a limited period, currently 30 days, and administrative charges may apply in addition to the toll itself.

EasyToll can be arranged online or through designated EasyToll channels. It is intended for foreign-registered vehicles, so travelers driving a Portuguese rental car should normally follow the rental company’s toll-payment procedure instead.

EasyToll is not the same as a Via Verde transponder. It is a license-plate-based payment solution and does not require an onboard device.

TollCard for foreign-registered vehicles

TollCard is another option for vehicles with foreign license plates. It is a prepaid system in which a balance is associated with the vehicle’s registration number. Toll charges and applicable administrative fees are deducted from the available balance.

TollCard is available in different prepaid amounts and can be purchased online and through selected CTT locations and other authorized points. Once activated, the balance is generally available for use for up to one year.

EasyToll and TollCard are designed for Portugal’s electronic motorway network, but they do not cover every possible crossing or operator. In particular, CTT notes exceptions for the crossings operated by Lusoponte, including the 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama bridges. Always follow the payment signs at those crossings.

Via Verde in Portugal

Via Verde is Portugal’s electronic toll system. Vehicles with an active Via Verde arrangement can use designated electronic lanes and pass eligible toll points without stopping, with charges billed through the associated payment method.

Via Verde also offers visitor products for foreign-registered vehicles. Travelers who frequently drive in Portugal may find these useful, but for a short rental-car vacation it is usually easier to use the toll arrangement offered by the rental company.

Do not assume that an electronic toll device from another country will automatically work in Portugal. Some foreign-issued devices may have interoperability agreements, but compatibility depends on the issuer and product. Confirm with the device provider before using an electronic-only lane.

Can I pay Portugal tolls with cash or a credit card?

Yes, on motorways with traditional toll plazas you can generally use the payment methods offered at the booth or terminal, which may include cash and bank cards. Follow the lane signage carefully.

However, cash or a credit card at a booth is not a universal solution because some toll points use electronic collection. If your route includes electronic tolling, make sure the vehicle has an appropriate payment arrangement before traveling.

What are the major toll roads in Portugal?

Portugal’s motorway network includes both tolled and toll-free routes. Major motorways commonly used by travelers include:

• A1 – Autoestrada do Norte: the principal motorway between Lisbon and Porto, serving areas including Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra and Aveiro.
• A2 – Autoestrada do Sul: the main motorway south from the Lisbon region toward the Alentejo and Algarve.
• A3 – Autoestrada do Minho: connects the Porto/Braga area with Valença and the Spanish border.
• A4: crosses northern Portugal from the Porto area toward the interior. The Transmontana section and Marão Tunnel are toll-free under the current law, but do not assume every section of the A4 is free.
• A5 – Autoestrada da Costa do Estoril: connects Lisbon with Estoril and Cascais.
• A6 – Autoestrada do Alentejo: crosses the Alentejo toward Elvas and the Spanish border. Special 2026 exemptions exist for qualifying residents and businesses on specified sections, but this is not a general visitor exemption.
• A8 – Autoestrada do Oeste: serves the western corridor north of Lisbon toward areas such as Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha and Leiria.
• A9 – CREL: provides an outer motorway connection around the Lisbon metropolitan area.
• A10 – Autoestrada do Ribatejo: links major routes north and east of Lisbon.
• A12: serves the south-bank Lisbon region and the Vasco da Gama Bridge corridor.
• A22 – Via do Infante: runs across the Algarve and has been toll-free since January 1, 2025.
• A23, A24 and A25: important interior and cross-country routes that are now toll-free under the current legislation.

The exact route that your navigation app chooses can change the toll cost considerably, especially around Lisbon and Porto and on long-distance trips.

What do toll roads cost in Portugal in 2026?

There is no single flat price for using Portuguese toll roads. The amount depends on the motorway, the sections traveled and the vehicle class. Portugal’s official 2026 toll tables are published by the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT), and the Portugal Tolls portal provides motorway and toll-point information.

Because rates can change annually, we no longer recommend relying on fixed toll prices quoted in older travel articles. Before a long drive such as Lisbon to Porto or Lisbon toward the Algarve, check the current route in an official toll calculator or ask the rental company which tolls and service fees will apply.

Remember that the A22 Algarve motorway is now toll-free, so older estimates showing an A22 toll between Lagos, Albufeira, Faro or the Spanish border are no longer current.

Does every type of vehicle pay the same toll rate?

No. Portugal classifies vehicles for toll purposes. The classification is based principally on the vehicle’s height measured at the front axle and the number of axles.

• Class 1: motorcycles and vehicles below the applicable 1.1-meter height threshold at the front axle.
• Class 2: two-axle vehicles above the applicable height threshold.
• Class 3: three-axle vehicles above the threshold.
• Class 4: vehicles with four or more axles above the threshold.

There are special rules that may allow certain passenger vehicles, SUVs, crossovers and other qualifying vehicles to receive a Class 1 tariff when using an approved automatic payment system. For a rental car, the rental company or toll system normally determines the applicable classification.

Can I use another country’s toll device in Portugal?

Do not assume that a toll device issued in another country is valid in Portugal. Some electronic toll products have cross-border interoperability agreements, but others do not. A U.S. system such as E-ZPass, for example, is not a Portuguese toll-payment method.

If you already have a European electronic toll device, check directly with the issuer to confirm whether Portugal is included in your plan before entering a lane reserved for electronic toll customers.

How can I check whether I have unpaid tolls in Portugal?

The correct method depends on how the vehicle was registered and how the toll was incurred.

• Rental car: contact the rental company first, because the toll may be processed through the vehicle’s transponder or rental agreement.
• EasyToll: use the EasyToll/CTT tools to review the license-plate registration and available transaction or receipt information.
• TollCard: check the balance and transactions associated with the card and vehicle registration.
• Other tolls: CTT and the relevant motorway operator provide tools for checking eligible outstanding tolls.

Do not ignore an unpaid toll. Administrative costs and penalties can exceed the original toll amount, and rental companies may also add their own processing fees.

Which GPS should I use when driving in Portugal?

Several navigation apps work well for a Portugal road trip:

• Google Maps: useful for turn-by-turn directions, traffic information, businesses and points of interest.
• Waze: particularly useful for real-time traffic conditions, incidents and road disruptions reported by drivers.
• HERE WeGo: offers navigation and downloadable maps that can be useful when cellular service is limited.
• TomTom GO: provides navigation, traffic information and offline map options, depending on the subscription.
• Sygic: another option for offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation.

Navigation apps are helpful, but do not rely on them as the final authority on toll status. A road that changed from tolled to toll-free may still be described incorrectly in older map data, travel forums or cached search results. Check the current official toll network when planning the route.

Portugal toll-road tips for visitors

• Ask about tolls before leaving the rental counter. Know whether the car has a transponder and how the charges will be billed.
• Do not duplicate payment systems. If the rental car already has an active toll arrangement, do not register it separately without permission.
• Know whether the vehicle has a Portuguese or foreign plate. EasyToll and TollCard are specifically intended for foreign-registered vehicles.
• Watch lane signs carefully. Some lanes are reserved for electronic-payment customers.
• Use current information. The A22 and several other former tolled roads changed status in 2025, and the A25 rules were further clarified for 2026.
• Keep rental and toll records. Toll charges can appear after the trip, so retain your rental agreement and receipts.

Official Portugal toll resources

For the latest rules, toll rates and payment options, check the following official or operator resources before driving:

• Portugal Tolls – motorway toll information and foreign-vehicle payment guidance.
• CTT foreign-vehicle toll payments – EasyToll and TollCard information.
• IMT toll rates – official current motorway toll tables.
• Portugal government road and mobility guide – general information on motorway tolls and vehicle classes.

Summary: paying road tolls in Portugal

Portugal’s toll system is easier to manage once you know which type of road you are using and how your vehicle is set up for payment. Rental-car travelers should confirm the toll arrangement with the rental company before driving. Visitors using their own foreign-registered vehicle can consider EasyToll, TollCard or an appropriate Via Verde visitor option.

The biggest recent change is that several important roads are now toll-free. The A22 across the Algarve, A23, A24, A25, A13/A13-1 Pinhal Interior, the A4 Transmontana and Marão Tunnel, and specified A28 sections no longer carry the toll charges that older travel guides may describe.

For routes that still charge tolls, check current 2026 rates rather than relying on old price examples. With the payment method confirmed before departure, driving remains one of the best ways to explore Portugal’s cities, countryside, wine regions and coast at your own pace.