Help with Portuguese motorways

[Lizbiebrowne]

We’re currently in Spain, about to head into Portugal for the first time. Can anyone help explain how the Portuguese motorway system works? We don’t intend to make a great use of it but looking at the road atlas it seems that it might be good to use occasionally. Looking online it seems as though most, if not all, are pay motorways and some require prepayment, although it’s not clear which one they are. Can anyone throw some more light on the subject (I’d be the first to admit I should have done a bit more research before we left the UK).

 

[royandsharont]

Some are payg but first you have to register your vehicle & a cedit card. The only place I did this was at the entry point to Portugal from Salamanca in spain via an automatic barrier system with ANPR. I believe there are other ways but have not used them. Then some of the other motorways are payable via toll.

Search the forum, I’ve put a reply on before with a link to a story I wrote about my experience

 

[Niall B]

Our Bip&Drive tag from https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/ works in Portugal and Spain, we've found it really useful.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Some are payg but first you have to register your vehicle & a cedit card. The only place I did this was at the entry point to Portugal from Salamanca in spain via an automatic barrier system with ANPR. I believe there are other ways but have not used them. Then some of the other motorways are payable via toll.

Search the forum, I’ve put a reply on before with a link to a story I wrote about my experience

Thanks, found the thread. I’ve decided to go with the 30 day EasyToll option. You can enter your registration number and credit card details online and it then automatically takes payment from you as required (https://www.portugaltolls.com/en#easytoll).

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Our Bip&Drive tag from https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/ works in Portugal and Spain, we've found it really useful.

Yes, I wish I’d looked into that before I left.

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[OldCodger]

Our Bip&Drive tag from https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/ works in Portugal and Spain, we've found it really useful.

Do they work on larger A Class Motorhomes (I get charged Category 2 (2 Axles, 7.9 m long 3.2m high, 5.5 tonne)

 

[Niall B]

Do they work on larger A Class Motorhomes (I get charged Category 2 (2 Axles, 7.9 m long 3.2m high, 5.5 tonne)

I think so. Our PVC is registered as class two and that has been reflected in the charges.

 

[Brendan + Kath]

I think so. Our PVC is registered as class two and that has been reflected in the charges.

We are similar and pay class 2
Because of commission costs on our credit card we don't go down that route
Instead we get a card at any post office for 20 euros and keep an eye on what we are totting up. We also make sure we gave a few euros left for next year to avoid any hassle

 

[Niall B]

We are similar and pay class 2
Because of commission costs on our credit card we don't go down that route
Instead we get a card at any post office for 20 euros and keep an eye on what we are totting up. We also make sure we gave a few euros left for next year to avoid any hass

I think we have a commission free acct. I think we pay a bit of a standing charge for the tag: but that is more than worth it for the simplicity of the tag lanes at toll points.

 

[OldCodger]

Instead we get a card at any post office for 20 euros and keep an eye on what we are totting up.

Get a card from Revolut, Starling or Mondo. They all have zero charges and good euro accounts. Top up is automagic from the UK Pound balance at very good exchange rates.

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[peterc10]

Do they work on larger A Class Motorhomes (I get charged Category 2 (2 Axles, 7.9 m long 3.2m high, 5.5 tonne)

No problem. The classification is based only upon height at the front axle and the number of axles. Weight is not relevant. Motorbikes and cars less than 1.1m high at the front axle are class 1. You will be over 1.1m at the front axle but still have 2 axles so will be class 2.

 

[Wyvern]

We are here now and used the 30 day option, registered in Uber a minute.can be renewed at the end of 30 days.

 

[steve69]

BEWARE!
I entered Portugal on the A25 motorway which had an "easy toll" payment system, all the way down to the E1 motorway for Lisbon (about 100 miles). It is not obvious when changing motorways that the toll system changes and i carried on oblivious to the Lisbon end of the E1 motorway only to find at the tollbooth that I should have acquired a toll ticket some 30 miles back (I drove through what I thought was the easy-toll route at the tollbooth). Because I did not pick up a ticket, I was fined 88 Euros in order to proceed.

 

[Gingernuts]

I visit Portugal regularly (4 times a year) with my Portuguese wife and always hire a car WITHOUT toll box and pay manually with cash if we need to use the motorway!

 

[OldCodger]

BEWARE!
I entered Portugal on the A25 motorway which had an "easy toll" payment system, all the way down to the E1 motorway for Lisbon (about 100 miles). It is not obvious when changing motorways that the toll system changes and i carried on oblivious to the Lisbon end of the E1 motorway only to find at the tollbooth that I should have acquired a toll ticket some 30 miles back (I drove through what I thought was the easy-toll route at the tollbooth). Because I did not pick up a ticket, I was fined 88 Euros in order to proceed.

How do you know? Is the E1 Via Verde? i.e. traditional toll booths? I want to avoid making the same mistake!

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[OldCodger]

I visit Portugal regularly (4 times a year) with my Portuguese wife and always hire a car WITHOUT toll box and pay manually with cash if we need to use the motorway!

How do you do that on Easy Toll? Is there a manual payment system?

 

[gwyntaxi]

We’re currently in Spain, about to head into Portugal for the first time. Can anyone help explain how the Portuguese motorway system works? We don’t intend to make a great use of it but looking at the road atlas it seems that it might be good to use occasionally. Looking online it seems as though most, if not all, are pay motorways and some require prepayment, although it’s not clear which one they are. Can anyone throw some more light on the subject (I’d be the first to admit I should have done a bit more research before we left the UK).

Apparently you can pay the tolls in a Post Office, if you can find one, but their tolls are notoriously difficulty to pay etc, but heyho I've never found the need to use them their normal IP roads are ok and you're not in a hurry. Just sayin.

 

[steve69]

How do you know? Is the E1 Via Verde? i.e. traditional toll booths? I want to avoid making the same mistake!

That was the problem. I didn't see any signage saying "end of easy-toll" or anything. Just came across the tollbooths and assumed the route for a different electronic toll system was the one I needed. Apparently not. I can only suggest if you come across any toll booths, just go into a paying one and enquire.

 

[Colinyellowspanner]

There are 3 payment systems operating . Humans in toll booths,(increasingly rare). Via Verde lanes (automatic pre purchased tags). Easitoll, (fully automatic, Numberplate recognition, no barriers just cameras). The latter are impossible to avoid, and without an account you will rack up fines as you drive. You never quite know which you’ll encounter, until you approach , although there is a (confusing) map online.
We opted for Easitoll. You open an account online, reg. no. & Credit card. We weren’t sure we’d be passing the registration point slot machine located at the first service areas on entering Portugal, (we didn’t). It all worked well. Sometimes we paid at the barrier. avoiding the Via Verde lanes. Sometimes we drove straight through the Easitoll camera gantries.
There are quite a few You-tubers who’ve posted ‘how to’s online. Enjoy the trip!

 

[OldCodger]

That was the problem. I didn't see any signage saying "end of easy-toll" or anything. Just came across the tollbooths and assumed the route for a different electronic toll system was the one I needed. Apparently not. I can only suggest if you come across any toll booths, just go into a paying one and enquire.

Thank you.

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[andyt21]

Thanks, found the thread. I’ve decided to go with the 30 day EasyToll option. You can enter your registration number and credit card details online and it then automatically takes payment from you as required (https://www.portugaltolls.com/en#easytoll).

This only applies to the motorways which operate the registration recognition. The Via Verde tolls work as the French ones by stopping and paying at a barrier. Don’t drive through the open lane unless you have the transponder. I did and then phoned. They still gave me a small fine which took six months to arrive.

 

[Loftyjeff]

Our Bip&Drive tag from https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/ works in Portugal and Spain, we've found it really useful.

Hi Niall we do January February and March in France Spain and Portugal what sort of cost would we be looking at thanks lofty Jeff

 

[philann]

Hi Niall we do January February and March in France Spain and Portugal what sort of cost would we be looking at thanks lofty Jeff

 

[Niall B]

Hi Niall we do January February and March in France Spain and Portugal what sort of cost would we be looking at thanks lofty Jeff

For Portugal and Spain €42 (of which 20 for the tag which is refundable when we return the tag €9.68 annual and €12.10 application fee)

For France it’s the same but we got €12 off as a Eurotunnel discount.

Been worth the cost for a 10-12 week trip in saved co-pilot stress.

 

[Btg]

i Spent 6 weeks in Portugal this summer if I took a ticket I paid on exit if no ticket I didn’t pay after brixet we have same rules as they have when they come over here they don’t pay our tolls because they don’t allow us to look at there vehicle information and now we don’t allow them to look at ours same if you jump a speed camera unless mr pc catches you then you have to pay on the spot but cameras can’t check who you are again the same if any French or eu trucks come over here

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[Brendan + Kath]

Get a card from Revolut, Starling or Mondo. They all have zero charges and good euro accounts. Top up is automagic from the UK Pound balance at very good exchange rates.

Sorry I was following this thread and we get a card for the toll motorways from Portuguese post offices for 20 euro instead of paying by credit card (and therefore paying conversion rates and commission)

 

[Brendan + Kath]

W

BEWARE!
I entered Portugal on the A25 motorway which had an "easy toll" payment system, all the way down to the E1 motorway for Lisbon (about 100 miles). It is not obvious when changing motorways that the toll system changes and i carried on oblivious to the Lisbon end of the E1 motorway only to find at the tollbooth that I should have acquired a toll ticket some 30 miles back (I drove through what I thought was the easy-toll route at the tollbooth). Because I did not pick up a ticket, I was fined 88 Euros in order to proceed.

A few years ago we had a similar thing happen. when we went through the wrong lane On the receipt for the toll it charged us from the start of the motorway and then doubled it for the fine. A very costly mistake !!

 

[Peregrinator]

Do they work on larger A Class Motorhomes (I get charged Category 2 (2 Axles, 7.9 m long 3.2m high, 5.5 tonne)

We have a Fulli Tag, covers France, Spain, Portugal & Italy, it was called mongo or mango forget which? now called Fulli, instant billing on phone app, some one high lighted the advertisement on here (motorhome fun), at the time it was free & free delivery for €1 which had to go into the account.

 

[kev54]

Get a card from Revolut, Starling or Mondo. They all have zero charges and good euro accounts. Top up is automagic from the UK Pound balance at very good exchange rates.

Yes OldCodger to all your points, but my Revolut just got rejected as “an invalid card” at the Toll registration on the A25 into Portugal from Salamanca. No way if understanding why, but luckily I have another € card for such issues

 

[Peregrinator]

For some reason Revolut had problems with the IBAN, but everything should be ok now.

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