Portugal - electronic tolls

 

Portugal has recently introduced electronic tolls on some sections of motorways. The infrastructure of how to pay for these tolls seems to be in a bit of disarray. Information on the new system can be found at: http://www.visitportugal.com/NR/exeres/D1F46576-727B-42CA-BA69-C33AFBA3D81C,frameless.htm

 

Two of our overseas site inspectors John and Mo are currently in Portugal, below is their very long account of trying to pay for their tolls:

 

What a complete horlicks this TD business is.

 

First problem, there was no border, so no TD. I went down the A3 and turned to W19 on the A11. I stopped for petrol and asked for a TD. He said you get them at petrol stations on the A28. We asked the lady in the kiosk at the last pay point on the A11 for a TD for the A28. She said she didn't have them, but don't bother - just drive it! She was insistent it was OK. We were not going on the A28 until the next day, so I asked the manager in the campsite. He said you can just drive it because the system has no means of reading UK number plates. However, if we wanted to be honest, the only place to get a TD was the Post Office. So, next day, off we went to the Post Office.

 

They told us that TDs were for the Portuguese and we had to prepay our motorway fees. OK I said how much. "I have no idea" the lady said. "How long are you in Portugal?" "About 2 weeks" I said. "You need a 5 day prepay" she said, "then you go to a Post Office and get another 5 days - and so on". She said to put on 20 Euro and I could claim anything not used when I had stopped using the system. I asked to put it on my credit card and she said it had to be cash. We did this. The charges were on boards by the cameras and I reckon we used 10 Euro of the 20 before the paying system stopped being by camera and reverted to pay stations. The next lot of camera motorways was down on the Algarve from Lagos to the Spanish border, so I said we would sort it out in Luz. 

 

We went to the Post Office in Luz and showed them the receipts the last Post Office had given us. They said my original 5 day receipt had expired (correct), and I needed a new 5 day receipt. I asked how much to put on it and she said she hadn't a clue. I asked her how much was left on my original receipt and she pressed some buttons and said she had no idea. I asked for the balance back and she said she didn't know what the balance was, and I couldn't have had it back anyway, even if she had known. In the end I got another 5 day receipt and put 10 Euro on it. She said I could add to it if it came to more than 10 Euro (which I am fairly sure it will), and I said "no I won't, you can take it out of the 10 Euro on the other receipt".

 

I have spoken to a lot of other people about this, including Brits living out here, and they all say that the Portuguese have introduced the system without any regard to how it will work. The members I met in Evora tried to pay their tolls everywhere, including Post Offices, and couldn't find anyone who had any record of them being on a motorway. They say they will pay in the UK if they are billed but will refuse to pay any fine imposed because they tried hard to pay at the time in Portugal.

I am adopting a similar attitude in that I have prepaid 30 Euro, which I think is about right for the distance I have travelled on these pesky camera motorways. If I am wrong, they can bill me for the rest.

 

 

John and Mo have now decided to avoid any “electronic toll roads” and take the scenic route instead!

 

 

Do any other members have any feedback on the electronic tolls in Portugal? Have you found an easier/better way of paying? Did you use the roads without paying, did you received a fine or ticket in the post? Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

All comments welcome!! Thank you