Hi, yes it is at the 'new and improved' toll booths just after the bridge going from Spain to Portugal. We haven't got a Credit Card attached to our Spanish account so used an English one which is fine. Regards Bryony

I too signed up with Easytoll - it's as easy as Mike (above) says. There are currently 4 places you can sign up:

• EN13 Villa Nova de Carveira
• A24 3.5km from Chaves/Verin border crossing
• A25 Alto de Leomil service area
• A22 Villa Real de Sto Antonio

Easytoll is valid on all PT electronic toll roads.

The ticket macine is still there where you can buy pre-paid toll cards for 5, 10, 20 or 40 Euros. 3 day fixed price ticket for 20Euros with unlimited use.
I don't know if John's wheeze about using 'other' for rental cars works.

I think that the card has to be a Credit Card - the system rejected my wife's Debit Card but accepted my Credit Card. My card is a UK card so I would guess that any Visa/Mastercard will do. The leaflet doesn't mention any other brands.

You can cancel your 'membership' via a Call Centre or www.portugaltolls.com so you can limit your exposure.

One thing you may need to bear in mind are the charges (in addition) that your card provider might make and the exchange rate you will get on the transactions - hidden costs which could add up. You might consider getting a card which doesn't make these charges just for holiday use.

Happy motoring

Just to confuse things the new toll lanes not booths complete with helpers look ever so smart and hi-tech alongside the "Bus Shelter" which is still there. I assume you can still use that machine to buy a three or five day pass and single and return tickets to the airport.

The only thing I wonder about is the price the same for all methods of payment.The permanent transponder was a few cents cheaper than the "Pay Shop" and I think Post Office each method seems to have a it own admin add on,

Just to add to my previous post - there is no sign-up fee for Easytoll, what you pay is what's on the road signs - except of course for your exchange rate and credit card charges!!!

Sounds better and better particularly for long stayers who have a Spanish account credit card and move money over in bulk for a good exchange rate.

Just another thought for those who have not so far paid the toll and not been chased for the money (me). Now it is easier to pay will they start to chase up non-payer for back charges and fines.

It still does not address my problem of having 2 cars over here and needing to keep costs to a minimum. I want to get the anonymous Transponder (not tied to one car) and pay as I go. I understand this is possible but so far nobody has given any help in this direction (Post Office, Pay Shop, Via Verde or Olhau Service Station).

Great News!!

B******r, I have a Spanish credit card and never thought of using that

It's an age thing happens to me all the time!

Looks like the Toll Card is the one for you:-

• Pre-paid toll cards are available at Post Offices, Service areas and www.portugal tolls .com
  • Activation and direct association with the licence plate by the customer via SMS (instructions on the card). More than one card may be be activated with cumulative balances.
  • The balance activated are drawn down according to use
  • Balances may be checked at www.portugaltolls.com. Customers will receive an SMS when the balance reaches zero.

(Unfortunately?) this system appears to work for foreign plates ONLY. As I mentioned above having PAYG against a credit card using the no-plate recognition for ALL cars - would have negated the need for all the transponders - all the cost and all the hassle for renters!

John I think the PAYG is just simpler for your cars from a simplicity perspective. Theres no cost except an exchange rate thing - and if you arent regularly racking up tolls then this will be low enough to save hassles at the border...

Or of course if you have a cedit card in Euros - this is done - no extra cost. Shame you have to do it every 30 days...... but better than the old system.

However this would mean that you must have a credit card to use the the toll road. Many people do not have CCs; cannot afford one; do not have sufficient credit rating etc etc so you would have to have another system to run in parallel anyway and it would be illegal to discriminate.
The Portugal News said that the government claimed that the roads did not have enough room to install proper toll plazas at every junction and that it would cost too much.

News update re tolls http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/...otorways/26350 Regards Bryony

A recent experience.
We have just had a fantastic drive in the motorhome over a couple of weeks which involved driving through Portugal. Evora, Tomar, Fatima, Out to the coast and and up into Cantabria northern Spain. We set our Tom Tom for no tolls!! Oh dear we ended up on one so await our punishment. We were out of Portugal before we could find any place to pay

Anyone know if it's possible to buy the pre loaded €40 Easytoll card in advance on line, from the UK, for use on forthcoming trips? Is it an actual physical card, or an account that's activated remotely when paired with the car reg number?

Will be driving down in September and it would be easier to have it all sorted before we set off (although probably far too helpful for Portugal)

Thanks.

It's actually both - you purchase the card and activate it on line, and the account is an online account that you can view online at www.portugaltolls.com
I don't know if you can purchase on line in advance - have a look at the website, however, you can purchase the card at POs and Service areas as soon as you arrive if not.