Road tolls – Portugal [2025]

Although Portugal is not one of the largest countries in Europe, its extensive motorway network and road toll system can be surprising. Importantly, there are no vignettes in this country. Tolls are charged for specific road sections according to specific rules based on the length of the route, its type, vehicle category and the selected method of payment.

In 2025, the toll system underwent a major update – some motorways with an electronic system were completely exempted from tolls. However, a large part of this class of roads, as well as selected bridges, still require a specific amount to be paid for passage.

In this article, you will find all the most important information about road tolls in Portugal in 2025. We explain how the payment system works, what tariff classes apply and what types of motorways can be found in this country. We will also look at a practical solution that facilitates the settlement of journeys by transport fleets.

Table of contents

Toll system in Portugal

Tolls in Portugal – tariff classes and rates

Types of motorways in Portugal

Electronic toll collection systems

A convenient solution for heavy goods vehicles

Signage for toll roads

Toll bridges in Portugal

Checks and penalties for non-payment

How does the toll system work in Portugal?

The toll system in Portugal differs significantly from those in many European countries. First of all, there are no vignettes, and the method of payment depends on the type of motorway the vehicle is travelling on.

The motorway network in Portugal consists of routes marked with the symbol ‘A’ followed by the number of the specific motorway, e.g. A1 or A24. It is managed by different operators, which means that the payment methods vary.

In practice, there are two basic methods of toll collection:

• Traditional toll collection – on motorways equipped with physical toll gates. The driver of the vehicle must take a ticket at the entrance and pay in cash or by card when exiting the motorway.
• Electronic toll collection – on motorways without toll gates. The vehicle must be registered in advance in the system, and the toll is calculated and paid when the registration number or on-board device is scanned by cameras or sensors located along the route.

For heavy vehicles, such as trucks and vehicle combinations, the same rules apply as for lighter vehicles, but the toll rates are higher. You can read about the best solution for companies involved in international road transport of goods later in this article.

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Road tolls for motorway use in Portugal

In Portugal, the amount of road tolls payable for using toll motorways does not depend, as in most other countries, on the total weight of the vehicle (GVW), but on its height above the front axle and the number of axles. Based on this classification, vehicles are assigned to one of four applicable tariff classes.

Vehicle tariff classes in Portugal

VEHICLE CATEGORY / CLASS	VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES
1	motorcycles and motor vehicles with a height of up to 1.1 m at the front axle (with or without a trailer)
2	vehicles with two axles with a height of more than 1.1 m at the front axle line
3	vehicles with three axles with a height of more than 1.1 m at the front axle line
4	vehicles with more than three axles with a height of more than 1.1 m at the front axle line

Passenger cars are assigned to category 1 regardless of whether they are towing a trailer or not. Vehicles belonging to transport companies are usually classified in categories 2, 3 or 4.

Current road toll prices [2025]

Road toll prices depend on the aforementioned vehicle classification, the length of the section and the rates adopted by the toll road operator. They may also vary between sections with traditional and electronic toll systems. It is a good idea to check these amounts regularly on the official websites of the operators, where you can find tables with rates and sometimes also road toll calculators.

Below you will find links to websites where you can find some of the toll rates for motorways and toll bridges in Portugal:

Current toll rates on motorways A16, A7, A11, A32, A41 and A43 >>>

Current toll rates on motorways A4, A41, A42, A17, A25 and A29 >>>

Current rates on motorway A22 >>>

Current rates on toll sections of motorway A28 >>>

Current prices for toll bridges in Portugal >>>

Toll calculator available on the Via Verde website >>>

Types of motorways in Portugal

The toll road network in Portugal covers most motorways, some sections of expressways and selected bridges. Motorways are divided into those with traditional toll collection and those that use only electronic systems.

Motorways with traditional toll collection

On motorways where the traditional payment method is used, you can pay in cash in euros or by payment card.

It is also possible to pay for the journey using the Via Verde system, but only if there is a designated lane for this system on the motorway and you have a transponder from this operator in your vehicle. If you do not have such a device installed, do not enter the green lane, as this may result in a fine. The Via Verde system is described later in this article.

Motorways with a traditional toll collection system:

• A1 Porto – Lisbon
• A2 Albufeira – Lisbon
• A3 Valença – Porto
• A4 from A3 to Amarante
• A5 Lisbon – Cascais
• A6 Elvas – Lisbon
• A7 Vila do Conde – Vila Pouca de Aguiar
• A8 Lisbon – Leiria (south)
• A9 Lisbon outer ring road
• A10 Bucelas – Benavente
• A11 Barcelos – Penafiel
• A12 Lisbon – Setúbal
• A13 Almeirim – Marateca
• A14 Figueira da Foz – Coimbra
• A15 Óbidos – Santarém
• A16 Alcabideche – CRIL
• A17 Mira – Leiria
• A21 Ericeira – A8.

On the above motorways, toll gates operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Motorways with electronic toll collection

Tolls on some motorways can only be paid electronically. There are no toll gates or cash desks. The journey is recorded by cameras and sensors located above the road, and the toll is automatically calculated by the system and paid using the payment method selected by the driver. Details of the available electronic payment systems – EastToll, TollCard, Via Verde, TollService and on-board unit (OBU) – are described later in this article.

Roads with electronic toll collection in 2025:

• A41 Porto bypass
• A42 Alfenaa – Lousada
• A17 Mira – Aveiro
• A29 Estarreja – Vila Nova de Gaia
• IC3 from the A23 motorway to Tomar – this is a complementary road, not a motorway, but electronic tolls are charged on this section.

Motorways where only electronic toll collection is in force can be found on a special map >>> (marked in orange).

Free motorway sections in Portugal

From 1 January 2025, tolls have been abolished in Portugal on sections of motorways where electronic toll collection was in place. The list of such roads includes:

• A4 (selected sections)
• A13 i A13-1
• A22
• A23
• A24
• A25
• A28 (selected sections)

Try HOGS Maps fo 14 days free of charge!

How to pay electronic road tolls in Portugal?

Tolls for using Portuguese motorways with electronic toll collection can be paid using one of four available toll collection systems: EastToll, TollCard, Via Verde or TollService. For fleet and heavy goods vehicles, automatic solutions are a good choice, as they can significantly reduce the time spent on toll payments and simplify billing.

EasyToll system

EasyToll is a solution aimed primarily at foreign drivers. No on-board device is required. All you need to do is register on the website, providing your vehicle registration number, email address and debit or credit card details. The system will automatically charge the card linked to the registration number when you use the motorway.

Registration can also be done via special machines at the so-called Welcome Points, which are located at four border points – at the border with Spain (A28, A24, A25, A22).

The account in the system is active for 30 days. After this time, you must register again.

Important! For each journey, a standard fee + administrative fee of 0.32 € is charged. Please also note that during registration, the customer is charged an additional fee of 0.74 €. It is always a good idea to keep the proof of payment/purchase.

TollCard

TollCard is a prepaid card available only for vehicles with foreign registration that will travel on motorways with an electronic toll collection system. It is linked to the vehicle’s registration number. No on-board device is required inside the vehicle. You can choose one of four versions: €5, €10, €20 or €40 (+ €1 registration fee). The card can be purchased online (at www.tollcard.pt) and at any post office (CTT), some petrol stations and EasyToll service points, among other places.

When travelling on a toll motorway, the vehicle’s registration number is scanned and the corresponding amount is debited from the TollCard prepaid card.

Important! Please keep your proof of purchase. An administrative fee of €0.32 is always added to each (single) journey cost. The card is valid for 12 months from the date of activation – you can check your current balance online.

TollService

TollService is a good option for people who want to be able to travel on toll roads without limits for a short period of time. You can choose between a 3-day virtual card for all motorways with electronic toll collection and a multi-trip card for a selected route, e.g. from Porto or Faro airport to the border. The card is linked to the individual vehicle registration number. It can be purchased online and at selected stationary points. It is activated upon the first entry onto a toll motorway.

The 3-day version costs €20 + an administration fee of €0.74. The card can be purchased online and at selected stationary points, such as selected petrol stations and Portuguese post offices.

The price of the card for a selected route depends on the section of toll road it covers.

Via Verde

The Via Verde system offers the option of renting a special Via Verde Visitors device (Via Verde transponder) for vehicles with foreign registration. This is a temporary on-board device that works both on routes with electronic toll collection and on selected motorways with a Via Verde lane at the entrance gates. The transponder is mounted on the vehicle’s windscreen and linked to the driver’s payment card or bank account. The tolls are then calculated and collected automatically each time the vehicle’s registration number is scanned by a monitoring device on the motorway.

There are no additional administrative fees under this system. The device can be rented for up to 90 days.

All the most important information can be found on the Via Verde website.

OBU on-board unit – a solution for heavy goods vehicles

Automated toll collection is very important for heavy goods vehicles. With this in mind, a solution has been developed that allows payments to be made without the driver’s involvement.

Traditional methods of payment for journeys are not practical for vehicles engaged in international road transport, e.g. in freight transport. The best choice for companies engaged in such activities is to use on-board units (OBUs), which automatically record journeys and calculate the road tolls due.

Toll Box from HOGS

HOGS Toll Box is a modern on-board device designed for automatic settlement of road tolls in various European countries. It eliminates the need to adapt to separate toll systems used by countries such as Portugal, Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. This eliminates the need for manual management of local solutions and simplifies logistics on international routes.

The HOGS Toll Box device is particularly well suited for truck fleet management, as it streamlines the entire toll payment process – on motorways as well as toll bridges and tunnels. This allows carriers to automate their billing and eliminates the need to constantly adapt to different toll systems. This translates into greater cost control and significant time savings.

Marking toll roads

If you want to avoid surprises on the road, such as unexpected costs, it is good to know how to recognise toll roads in Portugal and how to distinguish between those where tolls are collected in the traditional way and those where electronic payment is used.

Electronic toll only – electronic toll collection only

Motorways with electronic toll collection have a distinctive sign that is visible before entering such routes. It is a sign with a blue background showing a vehicle, radio waves, the euro symbol and the words Electronic toll only.

Traditional toll gates and manual toll signs

Before entering motorways with a traditional toll system, there are signs with the inscription PROTAGEM, informing drivers that they are approaching a toll collection point. The signs often also show symbols of toll gates, payment cards, banknotes or ticket collection.

If a motorway with a traditional toll system allows passage without stopping with an active Via Verde device (transponder), then a green sign with a white letter ‘V’ is painted on a separate lane. This sign is also visible above such a lane, in the area of the toll gates.

Additional tolls for crossing selected bridges

It is not only motorway travel that is subject to tolls in Portugal. Tolls are also charged on two bridges: Ponte Vasco da Gama and Ponte 25 de Abril. Both cross the Tagus River in the capital, Lisbon. Importantly, tolls are only charged when travelling north, i.e. when entering Lisbon from the south of the country.

Ponte Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Bridge)

This is one of the longest bridges in Europe. It is extremely important for transit traffic in the Lisbon area. The bridge is over 17 km long and is connected to the A12 and A1 motorways. It connects the banks of Lisbon and Montijo.

Toll rates in 2025 (classification according to previously announced guidelines for the toll system):

• Category 1: 3,30 €
• Category 2: 7,35 €
• Category 3: 10.80 €
• Category 4: 13,85 €.

Payment can be made in cash, by debit card, ViaCard or automatically via the Via Verde system.

Ponte 25 de Abril (25 April Bridge)

This is a road and rail bridge connecting Almada with the Alcântara district of Lisbon. It is older than the Vasco da Gama Bridge, but equally important for transit traffic. Due to its design, it is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Toll rates in 2025:

• Category 1: 2,15 €
• Category 2: 4,70 €
• Category 3: 6,35 €
• Category 4: 8,25 €.

Payment can be made in cash, by debit card, ViaCard or automatically via the Via Verde system.

Checks and penalties for non-payment

As in any other country where road tolls are in force, failure to pay them in Portugal can also result in heavy financial penalties.

It is important to remember that every journey on a toll road in Portugal is recorded, either at toll gates or by special electronic systems.

On motorways with electronic toll collection, cameras and road monitoring sensors scan number plates or connect to an on-board device. If the electronic database does not find a payment method assigned to the vehicle, the journey is considered unpaid. In this case, the driver receives a fine, which is usually many times higher than the unpaid road toll.

If you realise that you have driven on a toll road in Portugal with a foreign registration without paying the toll, it is still possible to avoid a fine and pay the toll ‘after’ the journey. In this case, you should contact the relevant authorities, e.g. via the pagamentodeportagens.pt portal.

Summary

Unlike many European countries, Portugal has not introduced vignettes on toll motorways. However, this does not mean that the road toll system in this country is simpler. Motorways are divided into those where tolls are collected electronically and those where traditional toll gates have been introduced. The amount of the toll depends not on the vehicle’s GVW, but on its height at the first axle and the total number of axles.

When travelling on Portuguese motorways with electronic toll collection, there are several methods of paying road tolls available – TollCard, EasyToll, Via Verde and TollService. Each driver can choose the one that best suits their needs.

For commercial vehicles, where optimal performance is essential, the best solution may be to install an on-board unit (OBU), such as the HOGS Toll Box, which facilitates toll settlement and saves the driver time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you pay for motorways in Portugal?

The method of paying road tolls in Portugal depends on the type of motorway. On sections with toll gates, you can pay for the ticket in cash or by card when exiting the motorway. On routes covered by the electronic toll system, the toll is paid using one of the four available systems: EasyToll, TollCard, Via Verde or TollService. Heavy goods vehicles can also be equipped with an OBU device, such as the HOGS Toll Box. Details on how to pay for motorway tolls in Portugal can be found in the article above.

How does Via Verde work?

Via Verde is an electronic toll collection system on motorways in Portugal. It uses an on-board device mounted on the windscreen of the vehicle. Thanks to this device, you can drive not only on motorways where only electronic tolls are applicable, but also on those with traditional toll gates, which have a designated Via Verde lane in the toll gate area. When passing through, there is no need to stop at the toll gates. The fees are automatically charged to the account or card provided during registration. The system also works on toll bridges in Portugal.

Is the A1 motorway in Portugal toll?

Yes, this main motorway in Portugal, connecting Lisbon with Porto, is tolled. Tolls are payable in the traditional manner. You need to take a ticket at the entrance gates and pay in cash or by card at the exit gates.