Tolls on several Portuguese motorways will undergo changes in 2026, after the Assembly of the Republic approved a set of exemptions against the Government’s wishes. The decision, taken in the final vote on the State Budget for 2026, affects the A2, A6, A8, A19, A25 and A41-CREP, and promises to alleviate costs for thousands of drivers and companies located in specific areas of the country.
Shortly after approval, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stated that the Executive had asked Parliament for “restraint”, stressing that these changes were approved through a negative coalition between the PS and Chega. According to the head of Government, these measures represent an impact close to 100 million euros, contradicting the line proposed by the PSD/CDS-PP.
The highway where tolls completely disappear
Among the measures approved, the most comprehensive concerns the A25. According to the voted text, the highway will be completely exempt from tolls in 2026, eliminating the only section where tolls still remain. According to Parliament itself, it was about “correcting an incongruity” and standardizing the entire route between Aveiro and Vilar Formoso.
A2 and A6: exemptions only for residents and local businesses
The exemptions in A2 and A6 are more limited. The measure only applies to residents and companies based in areas classified as “influenced areas” of these motorways. Sections covered include:
- A6: between node A2/A6/A13 and Caia
- A2: Enter or A2/A6/A13 and Almodôvar
UTAO recalls that these measures will have a direct impact on revenue, estimating that the exemption for A6 and A2 alone represents an annual loss of 23.8 million euros. However, as the technical unit explained, the regulation of standards could take up to 90 days, reducing the impact in 2026 to around 17.9 million.
A41, A19 and A8: measures aimed at heavy vehicles
Another significant change was the exemption approved for heavy vehicles on the A41 (Porto Exterior Regional Circular) and on sections of the A19 and A8, located in the Leiria region. The measure is the result of a PS proposal approved at a specialist level and is intended to alleviate the costs of road transport, which is often penalized by the high prices charged on these roads.
Budgetary impact and what changes from 2027
According to the Technical Budget Support Unit (), the financial impact will be more significant in the following years, as 2026 is considered a transition year. In addition to the annual update of tolls for 2026, it is estimated that the evolution of demand and the increase in traffic will accentuate the effect of these exemptions on public accounts.
The Government has insisted that these measures remove budgetary margin from the Executive and create permanent commitments without sufficient prior studies. Even so, Parliament went ahead with the approval, justifying that these exemptions respond to specific territorial needs and can enhance regional competitiveness.
What can drivers expect in practice
With these changes, users will notice differences especially on the A25, where the total elimination of tolls for 2026 represents significant savings on long journeys. On the A2 and A6, the impact will depend on the driver’s residence or the location of the company. On the A41, A19 and A8, the heavy-duty sector will benefit most.
The regulation of these measures should take place at the beginning of 2026, and it is only after that that the exemptions will come into force. Until then, the rates currently in force will remain in effect.
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