Portugal vignette for vehicles
The Portugal vignette system offers two payment methods: manual and electronic.
An important aspect to know is that each motorway has only one payment system, so on motorways with a manual payment system you will not be able to pay electronically and vice versa. This can create difficulties for drivers, as the four electronic payment systems for motorway tolls in Portugal are not compatible with each other. The only system compatible with all equipment is Temporary Via Verde.
We will break down more information about each of these systems to give you a clear overview.
MANUAL Portugal vignette payment system
Portugal vignette manual toll payment system is a traditional one. On entering the motorway, drivers will receive a ticket which will record the relevant details about the vehicle category and the distance traveled on that section.
When exiting the motorway, drivers will pay the appropriate toll based on these details recorded in the ticket. Payment can only be made in cash at gas stations or at the special cash machine located at the highway exit.
It is important to keep the ticket you receive when entering the motorway carefully, as it is necessary to calculate the correct toll when exiting. Without this ticket, drivers risk being charged a higher fee for paying the Portugal motorway tolls.
ELECTRONIC Portugal toll payment systems
Regarding the electronic payment systems for the Portugal motorway toll (Portugal vignette), there are four ways to choose from, depending on the motorway you are driving on:
- EASYToll: EASYToll is an electronic payment system specially designed for tourists. It works by associating your credit card (Mastercard or Visa) with your vehicle’s registration number. Payment is made without leaving the vehicle by inserting the credit card into the payment terminal at the toll station. Toll fees are debited directly from the account associated with the card. The initiation fee is €0.60 + VAT and each trip costs €0.26 + VAT. The service is valid for 30 days from the moment of activation.
- TOLLCard: TOLLCard is an SMS-enabled payment system with a fixed amount that will be consumed based on vehicle traffic. It is valid for one year, and users can also choose to use pre-loaded cards with amounts of €5, €10, €20 or €40, with an additional cost of €0.60 + VAT for each card purchased.
- TOLLService: TOLLService allows the purchase of a pre-paid ticket with unlimited access for 3 days at the cost of €20, valid only for light vehicles. This includes a service charge of €0.60 + VAT and an administration fee of €0.26 + VAT per trip. There are also pre-paid ticket options with fixed journeys, such as journeys from Spain – Porto Airport via A28 or A41 (return) or journeys from Spain – Faro Airport via A22 (return). The TOLLService ticket can be bought at service areas on the A24 motorway, at Porto and Faro airports and at the Matosinhos IKEA point.
- Temporary VIA VERDE device: Drivers can temporarily rent a “Via Verde Visitors” device for frequent stays. The rental cost is €6 for the first week and €1.50 for each subsequent week. An initial deposit of €27.50 is charged (which will be returned when the device is returned). The fee is based on usage and the device validity period is 90 days with the possibility of renewal.
The choice of payment method depends on the preferences and needs of each driver, so as to ensure efficient and trouble-free traffic on the highways.
For more information, access this link.
Vehicle categories for Portugal vignette
The corresponding Portugal vignette payment also differs according to the vehicle class. Here you can check to know exactly which category you fall into:
| Class 1 | All vehicles with or without a trailer, which have a height of less than 1.10 m next to the first axle; |
| Class 2 | All vehicles (without trailer) with two axles and a height greater than or equal to 1.10 m measured over the first axle; |
| Class 3 | All vehicles with three axles (including the trailer) and with a height greater than or equal to 1.10 m, measured over the first axle; |
| Class 4 | All vehicles with four or more axles (including the trailer) with a height greater than or equal to 1.10 m, measured over the first axle; |
| Class 5 | All motorcycles equipped with the ViaVerde Box (Class 1). Motorcycles equipped with the ViaVerde Box (category 1) can pay a lower tax. |
Map of sales points in Portugal
Motorway fine Portugal
From 1 July 2024, a new law in Portugal will reduce the fine for not paying motorway tolls.
The minimum amount of the fine will be 5 times the value of the unpaid toll, but never less than 25 EUR.
The maximum amount of the fine will be calculated as 2 times the minimum amount, i.e. the maximum amount of the fine will be 50 EUR.
Portugal vignette for vehicles over 3.5 T
The Portugal motorway toll is paid in the same way for small vehicles as for high-tonnage vehicles whose maximum authorized mass is greater than 3.5 T.
So, go to the first section of this article, related to vehicles under 3.5 T, and find out the full information on how to pay the Portugal motorway tax as a carrier.
You Might Also Like
Buying vignettes has never been easier – download Toll Shop!
Download the Toll Shop app for free and find out all the information about vignettes in Europe!
Frequently asked questions
Yes. If you drove without a vignette and were recorded by the inspection cameras, you have a very high chance of receiving the fine at home. But in some countries, you may have the misfortune of being stopped to pay the fine on the spot. Generally, the fine is a few hundred euros, but it varies from country to country.
Vignettes in any country can be purchased at gas stations or specially dedicated points. In recent years, most European countries also allow the purchase of the vignette online. In the Toll Shop app you have step-by-step information for purchasing the vignette in all European countries and the possibility to buy online for some of them.
Most countries in Europe allow this. They have developed their own online payment methods, and for many of them you have access to purchase the vignette directly from the Toll Shop. To find out exactly how you can purchase your vignette for each country, visit the free Toll Shop app, you have all the information in one place.
There is no such option. If you have purchased a vignette, it remains valid until the end of the selected period. Be very careful when entering the data so as not to make a mistake, because once purchased, you cannot get the money back.
No matter how many countries you transit through, you must purchase a vignette for each country. It is important to make sure it is valid upon entering that country to avoid fines.
No, you do not need to print any physical sheet if you purchased the vignette online. You just need to make sure that the online payment has been processed and that the vignette is within the validity period.
Yes, whether it's personal or company data, your data is kept safe in the app.
Yes. Whether you have several personal cars or own a car fleet, you can register as many vehicles as you have to purchase a vignette in any country available in the app.
Yes. After purchasing the vignette, you will receive the invoice both by email and in the application.
The vignette is checked by the video cameras installed on the roads that require the payment of the toll. After the check, you will receive the fine at home. In other countries, you may be stopped to pay it on the spot.
Yes, absolutely. Most countries require vignettes for motorcycles as well, so you will be able to purchase either online (for example through Toll Shop) or physically in the country for which you need the vignette.
Categorical. You can have several vignettes active at the same time, for each country you transit. The most important thing is to buy the vignette before entering each country to make sure you don't risk fines. With the help of Toll Shop, you can simultaneously buy several vignettes in Europe, for the same vehicle or for several.
In many European countries, in addition to the vignette, you will also have to pay tolls for bridges or tunnels. You can find all the information in the Toll Shop app.
The validity of the purchased vignette, regardless of the country and regardless of whether you purchase it physically or online, starts from the selected day until the last day of the selected period. You can choose to have the vignette for your car valid from today, without any delays.
After the vignette expires, you must purchase the vignette again for the desired period. You can always check its status in the application or select the option to be informed by email when it is about to expire.
The validity of the vignette differs from country to country. Each country sets the validity periods, such as 1 day, weekend vignette, 7 days, 10 days, one or three months and other periods up to one year at most.
