“Drivers can drive all over Spain without paying tolls on a highway system of a far higher standard, they are shocked by the situation of a pseudo-highway, A22 - Via do Infante, and a payment system that no one understands.” said the AHETA leader.
The above is not true and the next paragraph indicates that

Many Spaniards refuse to come "not because of the amount of the toll, but as a matter of principle." Viegas noted that in Spain "in the few cases where there are toll motorways, there are next to highways that are real highways, all better than the Via do Infante."
Again the above is not true the A22 is as good as any Spanish toll road I have used.

On the possible harmonization of toll systems Portuguese and Spanish, Viegas said that "the only possible harmonization is an exemption" as the Spanish "do not have electronic tolls."
Again untrue the Spanish do have electronic tolls but they are run alongside other payment systems, cash or card.

Just our experience:

We've paid our toll charge for our Portuguese plated hire car 2 days after travelling on the A22 between Monte Gordo/Altura and the Tavira junctions. The gantry is situated just before the Tavira exit (heading West), so indeed you'd need to exit at Monte Gordo/Altura if not to incur any charges.

We used the CTT (Post Office) in Monte Gordo to pay in cash as we were there at the time. 2.30-euros plus 62 cents tax.

I saw the Payshop sign in VRSA at the main square.

Given the number of inaccuracies in the AHETA statements I wouldn't put too much credence on its assertion that the toll system cannot distinguish or process foreign number plates.
If it doesn't then it's a trivial piece of coding to correct it and as the system is already in use in many other countries I would guess that it's more than capable of identifying many formats. That is not to say that the supporting admin systems to do anything about are in place in Portugal, however.

Used the N2, N270 and N125 route from Faro. Took just one and a quarter hours; nice gentle driving, with not much traffic until after Tavia. Stared out just after 10 in the morning, so not sure what the position will be in the 'rush hours'. Worked for us.

Steve

Doubt it would be very good late at night though,you want to get to Appt as quick as possible,and get settled in.

Driving that far in the dark on the N125 not ideal start to your break.

Ken.

I have recently used the route Airport to Sao Bras de Alportal. Then to Tavira onto the Altura junction to pick up the motorway

Leaving Airport at 21.30 it took 1hour 5 to Esuri. Leaving Esuri at 1300 hours it took 1 hour 15

The benefit is very little traffic after Tavira at both times

Talking yesterday, to a friend who came out to his apartment at Isla Canela on Saturday. Picked up the hire car at Faro, and used the A22 for the journey. Went to VR post office on Tuesday to play the toll. Was charged €12+. Apparently the machine showed two journeys - presumably the other was the last undertaken by the previous hirer. PO however, would only accept payment for both journeys. Choice was either pay both, or not pay at all. The latter would have left him open to fine and admin fees, so he paid both. The machine could give no details of the time, or date, of the journeys. Just there had been two.

Just another little wrinkle!

You couldn't make it up.

Steve S

I had same experience last month[ see my post 287 9th feb]

Actually this could work quite well If nobody pays their own final trip back to Faro but pays the previous hirer's charges then the net cost is the same and nobody faces any fines/excess charges.

This would work if:
a) the previous hirer's final journey was between Spain and Faro or at least something similar
b) the previous hirer's last journey was made less than 3 days before the new hirer takes over
c) the previous hirer paid all the other fees.

Perhaps a Portuguese car hire firm could specialise in hiring to the Spanish market and/or a Spanish car hire farm could arrange drop off or pick up fromFaro airport.or perhaps someone could start a shuttle service with cars being available from ayamonte.

We have just successfully paid the outward toll at the post office at VRSA and the car hire firm just told us not to worry about the return journey as we would be back home by then!!!!!!!!!

Kath

Hi all
Just got back from CE on yesterday.
When we got to Faro our car hire company offered us 3 alternatives.Either use the toll and pay after thru the Post office,shop whaterever. Which is not practical for us as apparently it takes 2 days for toll to appear on system so problem on the return leg.Other alternative which we took was leave CC details with authority for toll charges to be debited for car for period we hired it.Again a problem as guy doing paperwork says that toll people still havnt billed them for usage from last December yet!!
Last option as use the old road and avoid tolls.
I also asked how will work in July.
He laughed and said first problem is they cannot get hold of transponders as they are like golddust, and he is pretty sure not all hire cars will have them by July.
I asked assuming they have the transponders installed how will it work.
He says hire car people enter a contract with the the toll company, and then charge the punter a fixed amount upfront no matter how many times they use the toll road.This amount would depend on days car hired for.So for the punter there is nothing extra to pay.
Bit of a pain if you do not use the toll but there you go.

"Tolls are illegal, it's official" according to the European Commission:

http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news...l-its-official

Well done Brussels that finding is the most sensible comment on the Tolls so far. I have tried all ways to register for a permanent transponder but with a UK or Spanish registered car it cannot be done unless you have a Portuguese Bank account. Why would I have one of those living in Spain and Domiciled in UK but they won't accept a Spanish or UK account. I emailed ViaVerde and pointed this out and asked how I might get a permanent transponder. They either did not understand the question or they are politicians since they told me everything but did not answer the question asked. I shall email again and ask if the ruling will change things.

But it is not a ruling, well not by the local newspaper covering this area of Spain.
They will be looking into the legal aspects of the toll roads. It is thought that the method of payment is not illegal it is just the fact foreign motorists are not eligible for rebates schemes and exemptions authorized for the Portuguese, or use the same methods of payment.
I find it odd that it was a Portuguese town council that took it up to the EU and not any Spanish body, despite all of the hot wind that blows out their orifices.

News in Spanish

FANTASTIC NEWS


Great first step

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/591...l-its-official