In Portugal, there are drivers who can no longer pay tolls on some stretches of highway, although the benefit is not the same in all cases. There are roads where fees have been eliminated for all users and there are sections where the exemption only applies to residents and companies in certain areas, upon prior registration.
The changes are the result of the , which eliminated tolls on old SCUT and interior highways, and the State Budget for 2026, which extended the exemption to the entire A25 and created a specific regime for sections of the A2 and A6 in Alentejo.
Where the new exemptions apply
The changes introduced by the State Budget for 2026 had a particularly evident impact in Alentejo. Among the main measures is the creation of toll exemptions for individuals and legal entities with residence or headquarters in the areas of influence of specific sections of the A2 and A6.
On the A2, the exemption applies to the route between the A2/A6/A13 junction and Almodôvar, for beneficiaries residing or headquartered in NUTS III of Baixo Alentejo and Alentejo Litoral. On the A6, the benefit covers the stretch between the A2/A6/A13 junction and Caia, for residents and companies in NUTS III of Alto Alentejo and Alentejo Central.
Added to these changes is the A25, which is now exempt from tolls along its entire length, including Costa da Prata and Beiras Litoral and Alta, as a result of an amendment to Law No. 37/2024 introduced by article 258 of the State Budget for 2026.
Furthermore, since January 1, 2025, tolls will no longer be charged on several sections and sub-sections of former SCUT and interior motorways: A4 – Transmontana and Túnel do Marão, A13 and A13-1 – Pinhal Interior, A22 – Algarve, A23 – Beira Interior, A24 – Interior Norte, A25 and A28 – Litoral Norte, in the latter case only on the sections between Esposende and Antas and between Neiva and Darque.
Mandatory conditions to stop paying on A2 and A6
The fact that there is a right to exemption in A2 and A6 does not mean that payment is no longer made automatically. Ordinance No. 131/2026/1 determines that only individuals or legal entities subscribing to the electronic toll service can benefit from the exemption, through a contract with a supplier of this service.
In practice, the vehicle must be associated with an electronic toll device, such as Via Verde or an equivalent service, and the beneficiary must ask the supplier to associate the on-board equipment with the exemption regime. The application must be accompanied by the registration certificate or property registration title; in vehicles under commercial lease or similar regime, a document from the lessor is required with identification of the lessee and the respective address or headquarters.
Without this active association, the system does not recognize the vehicle as covered by the exemption. In other words, an eligible driver can still pay if they do not have an electronic device, have not placed an order or if the vehicle and owner details are not registered correctly.
The ordinance also provides that, after the conditions have been verified, the electronic service provider associates the on-board equipment with the exemption regime with effect on the date of the request, for a period of one year. To maintain the benefit, documents must be sent annually, 30 days before the end of this period.
Pay attention to the passageways
Another important detail is that vehicles covered by the exemption on the A2 and A6 must use the electronic toll lanes at the toll plazas on the sections in question. It is this automatic detection that allows you to apply the benefit and avoid undue charges.
To avoid surprises, beneficiaries must confirm with the operator whether the exemption is already active before traveling on these stretches. The measure came into force on April 1, 2026, but always depends on the authorization request and data validation.
Not all highways are covered
Despite the expansion of exemptions, the measure does not apply to all Portuguese highways. The legal list does not include, for example, the A3, and there are roads where tolls continue to be charged normally. There are also cases where only certain sections or subsections are covered.
Therefore, before assuming that a trip is exempt, it is good to check whether the highway and the specific section are in the law or rules applicable to the exemption regime. In the case of A2 and A6, in addition to the section, the beneficiary’s residence or headquarters also counts.
There are also doubts about possible toll benefits for people with disabilities. Decree-Law No. 38/2025 provides that reductions or exemptions from the obligation to pay tolls may be defined for vehicles that belong to a person with a disability or are used by a person with a disability.
However, this standard does not, in itself, create a general and automatic 50% discount on all tolls for any driver with a disability equal to or greater than 60%. What the legislation allows is the possibility of defining reduction or exemption regimes, in the concrete terms that may be applicable.
There are also specific rules on classifying vehicles for toll purposes. According to the Institute of Mobility and Transport, certain light passenger or mixed vehicles can pay a class 1 tariff if they meet technical requirements and use an automatic payment system, but this regime does not correspond to a total exemption or a general discount of 50% due to disability.
What you should do before traveling
Anyone who resides or has a business in the areas covered by the A2 or A6 exemption must confirm that the vehicle is associated with an electronic toll service and that the license request has been accepted. Without this step, the system can continue charging tickets normally.
On roads where tolls were eliminated for all users, such as the sections provided for in Law no. 37/2024 and the A25 in its entirety after the change in the State Budget for 2026, the logic is different: it is not an individual benefit to be activated, but the elimination of the fee on these sections.
The rule of thumb is simple: there are tolls that have disappeared for everyone and there are exemptions that only work if the driver meets the requirements and registers. Before driving, it is worth confirming the route, eligibility and order status with the toll operator.
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