Tolls in Spain represent a crucial element in the country’s road infrastructure, providing funding for the maintenance and expansion of motorways and dual carriageways. Understanding the toll system, its rates and payment methods is essential for professional drivers on Spanish roads. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about tolls in Spain, from their current context to practical tips for getting through them.
Current context of the toll system in Spain: why are they important?
Tolls play a fundamental role in the financing of Spain’s road network, due to a few key points:
Road Infrastructure Financing
Tolls represent a significant source of revenue for the construction, maintenance and improvement of the Spanish road network. In a country with an extensive network of motorways and dual carriageways, the revenue generated by tolls is essential to ensure the safety and quality of roads, as well as to facilitate the mobility of people and goods.
Investment in Modernization and Development
Toll revenue goes to road infrastructure modernization and development projects, including the construction of new highways, the widening of existing roads, and the implementation of advanced technologies to improve efficiency and safety on roads.
Promoting Competitiveness and Connectivity
An efficient and well-maintained road network is essential for Spain’s economic competitiveness and regional and international connectivity. Tolls help finance the expansion of the road network, facilitating freight transport, tourism and access to remote or less developed areas of the country.
Traffic Management and Congestion Reduction
In some urban areas, tolls are also used as a traffic management tool to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Urban tolling systems can discourage car use in densely populated areas, encouraging the use of public transport and the adoption of more sustainable modes of mobility.
Commitment to Environmental Sustainability
Revenues generated from tolls can also be used for projects that promote environmental sustainability, such as building bike lanes, improving public transport, and implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with road transport.
Types of tolls in Spain
The different types of tolls in Spain reflect the diversity of the road network and the mobility needs in the country. From long-distance motorways to urban tolls, each toll system has its own characteristics and objectives.
Motorway tolls
The State Highway Network is made up of 26,478 km, of which 12,091 km are high-capacity roads, i.e. motorways, dual carriageways and multi-lane roads. Of these 12,091 km, once the tolls on the AP-1, AP-2, AP-4 and AP-7 (La Jonquera-Alicante) have been eliminated, 1,435 km remain that are toll roads direct to the user.
The figure represents 12% of high-capacity roads. The tolls are divided into about twenty sections, including the four of the AP-7 and the five of the radial motorways and Madrid airport. To these must also be added the regional motorways: two in Galicia, the Basque Country and Catalonia and one in Navarre, which brings the total number of tolls to 27.
Today, among the highways in private hands under the operation and toll regime, the most important are the following. By clicking on each of them, you will be able to access the pricing scheme for light and heavy vehicles:
- AP-66 motorway, Campomanes-León
- AP-46 motorway, Alto de las Pedrizas – Málaga
- AP-51 motorway, AP-6, connection to Ávila
- AP-53 motorway, Santiago de Compostela – Alto de Santo Domingo
- AP-6 motorway, Villalba – Villacastín – Adanero
- AP-61 motorway, AP-6, connection to Segovia
- AP-68 motorway, Bilbao – Zaragoza
- AP-7 motorway, Alicante – Cartagena
- AP-7 motorway, Estepona – Guadiaro
- AP-7 motorway, Malaga – Estepona
- AP-71 motorway, León – Astorga
- AP-9 motorway, Ferrol – Portuguese border
For its part, the AP-68 linking Bilbao and Zaragoza will be the next to be free, something that will happen in 2026.
Among those managed by the State Land Transport Infrastructure Company (SEITT) are the following, in this case its operating contract ends in 2032. Normally, once expired, they will become free, but it is not yet confirmed.
- R-2 motorway, Madrid-Guadalajara. Completion: 2032
- R-3 motorway, Madrid-Arganda. Completion: 2032
- R-4 motorway, Madrid-Ocaña. Completion: 2032
- R-5 motorway, Madrid-Navalcarnero. Completion: 2032
- M-12 motorway, Barajas Airport axis. Completion: 2032
- AP-7 motorway, Cartagena-Vera. Completion: 2032
- AP-7 motorway, Alicante ring road. Completion: 2032
- AP-36 motorway, Ocaña-La Roda. Completion: 2032
- AP-41 motorway, Madrid-Toledo. Completion: 2032
Finally, the most important motorways that operate under a toll system but are in the hands of the autonomous communities are the following:
- AP-15 motorway, Tudela-Irurzun. Completion: 2029
- C-16 motorway, Cadí Tunnel. Completion: 2037
- C-16 motorway, Sant Cugat-Terrassa-Manresa. Completion: 2039
- C-32 motorway, Castelldefels-El Vendrell. Completion: 2039
Tolls on motorways
After months of debate, the European Commission has definitively ruled out Spain’s plan to introduce tolls on motorways from 2024.
Urban toll
In some Spanish cities, urban toll systems have been implemented to control traffic and reduce congestion in densely populated metropolitan areas. These systems are usually applied in central areas or in areas with a high concentration of vehicles, especially during peak hours. The main objective of the urban toll is to discourage the use of private cars and encourage the use of public transport and more sustainable modes of mobility.
Other types of tolls
In addition to tolls on motorways and urban areas, there are other types of tolls in Spain that can be applied in specific situations. For example, some tunnels and bridges may require tolls to use, especially those that have been built with private financing or as part of concessioned infrastructure projects. These tolls can vary depending on the length of the tunnel or bridge and the type of vehicle that crosses it.
Toll rates and payment methods in Spain
The wide availability of electronic payment systems in Spain reflects the country’s commitment to technological innovation and improving the user experience on toll roads. Drivers and transport companies can benefit from these solutions to optimize their operations and minimize transit times and costs associated with paying tolls.
Toll rates in Spain for trucks
Truck toll rates in Spain vary depending on a variety of factors, including the distance traveled, the type of vehicle, the category of the road, and the time of day. Typically, heavier and larger trucks will pay higher rates than light vehicles. In addition, the rates may be different depending on whether the journey is made on toll motorways, dual carriageways or conventional roads.
It is important for drivers and trucking companies to properly calculate toll costs when planning their routes and budgets. In this sense, there are tools and mobile applications that allow estimating the cost of tolls based on the planned itinerary, which facilitates logistics planning and decision-making.
Electronic payment systems
In Spain, various electronic payment systems have been implemented to speed up and simplify the toll payment process. One of the most widely used systems is electronic tolling, which allows drivers to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths, by using an electronic device installed in the vehicle. Electronic toll speeds up traffic on motorways and toll roads, reducing waiting times and improving traffic flow.
Toll road network in Spain: Geographical coverage and key connections
The network of toll roads in Spain is one of the most extensive and developed in Europe, covering important national and international routes that connect different regions of the country and facilitate the transport of people and goods. The geographical coverage of these motorways is wide and strategic, providing access to cities, ports, industrial and tourist areas throughout the Spanish territory.
Toll roads in Spain are designed to offer high standards of quality and safety, with modern infrastructures and services that guarantee a comfortable and efficient driving experience. These highways often have additional lanes, rest areas, gas stations, and lighting systems that ease traffic and improve road safety.
Key connections to the toll road network in Spain include:
- North-south and east-west connections: Toll roads in Spain connect the main cities in the north with those in the south, as well as those in the east with those in the west, facilitating the movement of people and goods between different regions of the country.
- Access to ports and airports: Many toll roads in Spain offer direct access to important seaports and international airports, which favours the transport of goods and passenger mobility nationally and internationally.
- International corridors: Spain has toll roads that connect with neighbouring countries, such as France and Portugal, forming part of important international transport corridors that cross Europe and facilitate trade and regional integration.
- Connections to tourist areas: Toll roads in Spain also provide access to numerous tourist and cultural interest areas, such as beaches, natural parks, historic cities, and mountainous regions, promoting tourism and economic development of these areas.
Practical tips for passing through tolls in Spain
Going through tolls in Spain can be a smooth experience if you plan ahead and use the right payment methods. Here are some practical tips to make your passage through tolls in Spain easier:
Route and cost planning
Before you set off on your trip, carefully plan your route and calculate the costs of the associated tolls. Use mobile tools and apps that allow you to estimate tolls based on the planned route and the type of vehicle you drive. This will help you budget properly and avoid surprises along the way.
Also consider opting for alternative routes that minimise toll costs, although they may involve a little more travel time. Evaluate the benefits of toll roads in terms of time and comfort compared to conventional roads, and choose the option that best suits your needs and preferences.
Payment Method Optimization
To speed up the passage through tolls, consider using electronic payment systems such as electronic tolls. These systems allow you to pay tolls without stopping at booths, reducing waiting times and improving traffic flow. Find out about the different electronic toll devices available and choose the one that best suits the needs of your route and your driving habits.
Considerations for Foreign Drivers
If you are a foreign driver, familiarise yourself with the toll system in Spain and the payment requirements before starting your trip. Make sure you have your local currency or valid means of payment with you to pay tolls, either in cash or by international bank cards.
Also, keep in mind that some electronic payment systems may require the prior purchase of a specific device or card, so it is advisable to inform yourself in advance and take the necessary measures to facilitate your passage through tolls during your stay in Spain.
The future of tolls in Spain
The future of tolls in Spain will be marked by technological innovation, the promotion of sustainable mobility, the modernisation of road infrastructure and the debate on equity in transport financing. Further implementation of electronic payment systems, incentives for low-emission vehicles, investment in infrastructure and discussions on fair cost sharing are expected. Adapting to these changes will be crucial to ensure an efficient, sustainable and equitable toll system that meets the needs of Spanish society in the future.
