Toll Roads in the Algarve

Electronic tolls, payment methods, and the A22

The A22 motorway (Via do Infante), the main east-west route across the Algarve, operates an electronic toll system that differs from the physical toll booths found on most Portuguese motorways. Understanding how the system works is essential for anyone driving in the region, as the absence of barriers means it is easy to incur charges without realising how to pay them.

The A22 was originally a toll-free motorway when it opened in the early 2000s. Tolls were introduced in 2011 as part of austerity measures during Portugal's financial crisis, causing significant local opposition. The toll system is entirely electronic: there are no physical booths or barriers. Overhead gantries record vehicles as they pass, and charges are calculated based on the distance travelled between entry and exit points.

There are several ways to pay A22 tolls. The most convenient for regular users is a Via Verde transponder, an electronic tag mounted on the windscreen that automatically debits a linked bank account or credit card. Via Verde devices can be purchased at post offices (CTT), Payshop outlets, or Via Verde service points. The tag costs approximately 6 euros plus a monthly subscription of about 1.50 euros. It works on all Portuguese toll roads, not just the A22.

For occasional users and visitors, alternatives include prepaid toll cards (available at CTT post offices and some service stations), registration of a licence plate number at an Easytoll machine (found at the Spanish border crossings and at Faro Airport) linked to a credit card, or post-payment through the CTT website within five days of travel.

Rental car companies generally offer their own toll device rental, typically a Via Verde unit included in the hire agreement for a daily fee of 1 to 3 euros. Some companies include this automatically; others offer it as an optional extra. It is worth clarifying the arrangement when collecting the vehicle, as failing to pay tolls can result in fines that the rental company will pass on with administrative surcharges.

The toll-free alternative to the A22 is the EN125, the old national road that runs through the centre of most Algarve towns. It is free but significantly slower, with traffic lights, roundabouts, and urban congestion adding considerable time to journeys. For a trip from Lagos to Faro, the A22 takes approximately 45 minutes with tolls of around 7 euros; the EN125 takes well over an hour.

Fines for unpaid tolls are issued by the toll operator (Ascendi) and escalate if not paid promptly. Foreign-registered vehicles are tracked through EU cross-border enforcement agreements. Unpaid toll notices typically arrive by post several weeks or months after the journey, with administrative fees added.

The economics of toll use versus toll-free driving are worth understanding. For a resident making frequent trips along the Algarve, the cumulative toll costs on the A22 add up over a year. A daily commute from Lagos to Faro, for example, would cost approximately 14 euros per day in tolls, or over 3,000 euros per year. This has led some commuters to use the EN125 for all or part of their journey despite the time penalty, or to structure their lives to minimise long-distance travel within the region.

The toll regime on the A22 remains politically contentious. Local politicians, business groups, and resident associations have campaigned for reduced tolls or a return to toll-free access, arguing that the charges penalise a region that depends on road transport and has no viable rail alternative for most journeys. Periodic adjustments to toll rates and payment systems have been made, but the fundamental structure remains. For visitors and new residents, the A22 tolls are simply part of the cost of living and travelling in the Algarve.