M07E - Automatic Motorway Tolls

There is much confusion about how the tolls are applied, what motorways you can use etc. This Information Bulletin is designed to help Members to understand the system and answer questions or correct misinformation that exists. 

Information contained in the Bulletin is taken from CTT, Via Verde, Brisa, Estradas de Portugal and Visit Portugal. 

From the 1^st of January 2025 these eight motorways are now toll free:

• A4  - Transmontana and Marão Tunnel

• A13+A13-1 - Pinhal Interior

• A22 - Algarve

• A23 - Beira Interior

• A24 - Interior Norte

• A25 - Beiras Litoral and Alta

• A28 - Minho, in the sections between Esposende and Antas and between Neiva and Darque.

Terms Used by the various authorities 
SCUT - Sem Custos para utilizador (cost-free for users) 
DE – Dispositivo Electrónico (Electronic Device) (this can be a DECP, DM or TD) 
DECP – Dispositivo de uma Entidade de Cobrança de Portagens ( Electronic Device not linked to the vehicle's licence plate, but involves establishing a formal contract with a toll collection entity). A Via Verde Identifier is one of these, and will work with the electronic tolls. 
DEM – Dispositivo Electrónico de Matrícula (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 ELECTRÓNICA – Electronic Tolls

• PORTAGEM EXCLUSIVAMENTE ELECTRÓNICOS – Exclusively Electronic Tolls 

• LANÇO COM PORTAGEM – With Toll Booths 

• LANÇO COM PORTAGEM ELECTRÓNICA- With Electronic Tolls Only 

Before your trip you can find out how much you’ll spend in tolls by using a Toll Calculator

Motorways with Via Verde Toll Booths 
You can 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 ‘Portagens’. 

Payment Options: There are essentially 2 options; Pre-and Post-Pay. Pre-Pay is cheaper as there is no additional administration fee. 

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 DE's are available from all Post Offices, Via Verde offices and some Motorway service areas. You can also apply for Via Verde Identifier via the Via Verde website. The DEM does not work on the Via Verde Tolls. 

If you have a DE, your charges will be debited automatically from your Portuguese bank account  and will only be charged in the months that it is being used. See point 4 further down. 

Via Verde devices are also available for foreign registered vehicles. 

If you are interested in joining the Via Verde scheme they supply a kit, in Portuguese, which describes the system and includes a contract and an application form.  You can obtain a kit at some post offices, tollbooths or by calling 210 730 300 (both Portuguese and English) Monday to Friday 08h30-20h30, or via internet  .  A user card accompanies each unit.  After checking that the data on the card is correct and fixing the unit to the vehicle according to the instructions, the unit needs to be validated.  This is done through the Multibanco system with the card that will be charged for tolls. Validation authorises the payment for the identification unit and automatic deduction of future tolls.

Please note: if your bank card runs out of validity after a while and is being replaced, or for some reason your transponder is being replaced, you need to associate your (new) bank card again to your transponder, by going to a Multibanco machine (not all ATM machines have this option). You will need a reference code from Via Verde for this. At the Multibanco you insert your (new) card and select the options: 

• PAGAMENTOS E OUTROS SERVIÇOS
• TRANSPORTES
• VIA VERDE
• ATIVAÇÃO DE REFERÊNCIA
  Insert the reference code and complete the operation.

Not all Multibanco machines have this option, you might have to try several.

Temporary Devices (TD) 
Also available for foreign vehicles these can be leased from motorway service stations or CTT/post offices. The price for the leasing is €42 and for the first week €6 + IVA and an extra €1,50 + IVA for the following weeks is deducted from the price of purchase, the remaining amount is returned to you when you return the device within 30 days. 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. 

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. 

Post-pay
If you do not have a DE then you are expected to go to a Pay Station or CTT within 15 days of using the motorway with your Portuguese vehicle registration number and pay your tolls. An administration fee will also be added to the amount due. If it is not paid within 15 days then fines will also be added. Or you can get the MB reference for paying your registration tolls through the CTT website

You can also register and save your license plate in the Customer Area of the CTT website to receive notifications when there are tolls to be paid (website is in Portuguese, but you can use the translator of your browser).

Foreign Registered Vehicles without DE  
Drivers of vehicles without a DE (any type) can now pre-pay using just their Vehicle Registration Number. This can be done online at here  (you need to register and it is only in Portuguese, but you can use the translator of your browser), see below for the 4 options.

On https://www.portugaltolls.com/en there’s also a possibility to sign up a payment system for foreigner licence plate vehicles (the site is in English, French and Spanish).

1.  Toll card
Link a balance to your vehicle registration.

• Only for motorways without manual charging
• Disposable card with balance associated to matriculation
• Only for foreign registrations

The card comes charged with a balance that is associated to the vehicle registration. Therefore, it can only be used for this vehicle. You don't need to have an identifier.

There are cards with a balance of €5, €10, €20 or €40 to choose from

Before passing on a motorway, you must activate the card. You must activate it within the expiration date.

When passing an electronic payment gateway, the toll amount will be automatically deducted from the balance (plus a €0,32 fee for each ticket). Once you activate the card, you have 1 year to spend the balance.

You can just use it motorways that only have electronic charging.

If the motorway has manual pay booths, you have to stop at these booths and pay. You cannot use the Toll Card on the Via Verde toll channels. This identifier also does not allow you to pay at gas stations or car parks with the Via Verde payment system.

You pay €5, €10, €20 or €40 for the card + €0,74 for the membership fee, including VAT.

You can buy it:

• online
• In all CTT Stores and in some CTT Points
• Stamp sales points
• Service areas* (see the website link below for which areas)

2. Prepaid 3 Day Virtual card

Travel as much as you like for 3 days.

• Only for vehicles of classes 1, 2 and 5
• Only for foreign registrations
• Only for freeways without manual charging
• Virtual card associated with matriculation

The virtual card is associated with the vehicle registration and can only be used for that vehicle. For 3 days, you can make all the passages you want on the highways that only have electronic toll gates. No need to buy an identifier. You can buy up to 6 cards per year for each matriculation.

You can only use it on highways that only have electronic charging.

If the highway has manual pay booths, you have to stop at these booths and pay. You cannot use this identifier on Via Verde toll channels. This identifier also does not allow you to pay at gas stations or car parks with the Via Verde payment system.

Each virtual card valid for 3 days costs €20,00 + €0,74 membership fee.

These values ​​already include IVA.

You can buy them here:

• online
• In all CTT Stores and in some CTT Points
• Service areas:
  • A28 Viana do Castelo
  • A22 Olhão
  • A23 Abrantes.

Keep the receipt. You may have to show it to the police.

3. Virtual Prepaid Multi-trip from or to the airports of Porto 

For those who land in Porto.

• For journeys from the airport and arriving at the airport only
• For round trips after landing in Porto
• Only for the A28/A41 and A41/A42 motorways
• Only for foreign registrations

Choose the route and date of travel. You can buy in advance .

No need to buy an identifier.

You can use it:

• Between Francisco Sá Carneiro airport (Porto) and any point on the A28/A41 or A41/A42 motorways.

You can only travel on the dates you have chosen.

The value of the tolls for the route you choose + €0,74 membership fee, including VAT.

You can buy it here:

• online
• In all CTT Stores and in some CTT Points .
• Service areas:
  • A28 Viana do Castelo
  • A23 Abrantes.

4. Via Verde Visitors
Via Verde Visitors is the only system that allows visitors to Portugal to travel on all national motorways without having to stop for tolls. These plans are a solution for customers who do not have a Portuguese bank account or Portuguese license plates

You can ask for your transponder and have it sent to your home or any address by choice.

You pay only for the months you use. You can consult the pricelist here. More information and application: Via Verde Visitors website.

Via Verde’s Go Toll & Beyond also covers 210 km of 16 Spanish motorways. Find out which ones.

Currently, all Via-T devices (Spain) and some French devices are accepted on the national highway network, both in the exclusively electronic systems and in the traditional barriers, where lanes dedicated to Via Verde customers can be used.

The use of the service will depend on the issuer of your device, so we recommend that, before using it on Portuguese highways, you contact your issuer and confirm that the service is active.

Fines
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 fee, with a minimum charge of 25€ and a maximum of 125€. 

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 Brisa/Via Verde store;
• At the motorway booths with an assistant.
• On the automatic motorways, a letter will be sent to the address where the car is registered.

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 Via Verde office, with the same information and pay the correct amount for your journey.

If you want to check your outstanding payment (only available after 30 days of passage) you can fill in your car matriculation here.

Or on the Via Livre website only for the A22 and A28 toll roads (select Pagamento de Divida Total).

In case of doubt, contact the respective toll operator, according to the highways used:

VIA LIVRE 
(motorways A28 and A22)
Telephone +351 252004460
Email apoioutente@vialivre.pt  

ASCENDI
(A23-Torres Novas/Abrantes/A24/A25/A17/A29/A13/A41/A42/A4-Porto/A4-Marão’s Tunnel)
Telephone +351 229980200
Email apoio.clientes@ascendi.pt   

BAIXOTEJO 
(A33)/Transmontanha Highway (A4-Bragança/Vila Real)/West Coast Motorway (A8/A19)/PORTVIAS (A23-Abrantes/Guarda) or crossings of the ViaVerde adherent lane
Telephone 707 500 251 (Portugal Only)
Email contacto@pagamentodeportagens.pt  

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