Car Rental Companies Respond To New A22 Tolls
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Visitors to the Algarve have been greeted by a new system for paying tolls on motorways. It had been predicted that charging visitors for tolls incurred while driving rental vehicles would prove problematic. Since the tolls in Portugal are automated, it could be especially difficult to confirm whether or not payments had been made; and this could mean car rental customers being pursued for tolls after they had already left the country.
The government has responded by developing a tolls system for the rental car market. Rental agencies will now pay for a six month permit which covers tolls on the A22 for their entire fleet of rental vehicles. The car rental agencies will then pass along these costs in the form of a fixed surcharge for tolls.
The Algarve Resident reported this week that Algarve car rental companies are waiting to see how the new toll system takes shape. Armando Santana, president of the Association of Rent-A-Car companies in the region told the publication that the government has kept car rental companies aware of the plans for the new system but that they are not yet aware of when they will finally be in force.
Until the new system is implemented, car rental customers in the Algarve will need to continue to pay their tolls at post offices. Unfortunately, this has been an issue since toll charges take 48 hours to process; and a full two days after incurring toll charges, many visitors have already left the country. As a result, tolls go unpaid, with car rental agencies and motorway operators left to either pursue consumers for these fees or to absorb the losses.
Once the new tolls system is in place, car rental customers will have to furnish their credit card information when they rent the vehicle as well as signing a contract relating to their use of the tollway system. After the car has been returned to the rental agency, any toll charges will be automatically deducted from the customer’s credit card account.
In the meantime, there has been a lot of concern raised by visitors who travel the A22 in rented vehicles and Avis Portugal has developed a plan of its own. The company installs devices in the rental vehicles when the customer begins the rentals; the devices cost €1.50 each day. Any tolls incurred by the customer during their rental will be debited, with the custom being able to see a detailed list of toll charges about two weeks after making their last trip in the rental vehicle. Called Avis eToll, the company plans to use this system not just in the Algarve but throughout Portugal. Information (in Portuguese) is available on the Avis website at www.avis.com/pt/eToll.
Rules For Residents
Residents of the Algarve have understandably been a bit confused about the news that residents who have a transponder installed in their vehicle will receive 10 free trips per calendar month on the A22. For the most part, residents have been looking for clarification about what exactly qualifies as a trip on the A22. A spokesperson for the toll operators, Via Livre, have said that a trip begins the moment a motorist gets on the A22 and continues until they exit the motorway, regardless of the length of the trip along this roadway.
Transport Associations In Spain And Portugal Oppose New A22 Tolls
The new tolls on the A22 have generated more than a little opposition, especially among commercial transport companies. Companies both in Portugal and neighboring regions of Spain who rely on the A22 have created a commission after a January 25 meeting in Madrid between Portuguese and Spanish transport associations. A further meeting in Ayamonte, the first of a new commission against the tolls, has been scheduled, with the mayors of Faro, Loule, Grandola, Tavira and Aljustrel being invited. Joao Vasconcelos will be in attendance representing the Users Committee for the A22, as will several Ayamonte business owners who have expressed concern about the tolls.
The National Federation of Associations of Carriers of Spain (FENADISMER) and the National Association of Portuguese Transporters (ANTP) are working to bring awareness to the issues resulting from the new tools as well as to marshal opposition to these tolls.
While Estradas de Portugal (Roads of Portugal) caution that it may be too soon at this point to make any hard and fast judgments on the effects of the tolls over the long term, the figures released by the organization for December 2011 show that traffic is down by approximately 48% on the A22 compared to December 2010. Considering the magnitude of the decrease, it is perhaps not surprising that many users feel that the tolls have had a negative effect on business in Portugal and Spain.
Despite all of the controversy over the new tools, the Via Verde website reports that the volume of calls and visits for information at their pop-up shops in Portimao and Tavira has been very low and the shops are scheduled to close until February 10. Customers in need of information can visit the website (www.viaverde.pt).
New Tolls Protest
The A22 Users Commission (Via do Infante Comissao de Utentes) took a slow drive protest to publicly protest the tolls on this motorway. A spokesperson for the organization has said that as per the decision of the A22 users commission held last week, a slow drive horn honking protest will be held on the EN 125. The protest will begin at Lagoa by the Fatacil Expo. The organization intends the protest to mark the beginning of their battle against the tolls on the Via do Infante, with the ultimate goal being the suspension of the tolls. According to the Comissao de Utentes, similar protests will be held in the months to come. Protesters from Ayamonte in Spain and other regions which have been impacted by the tolls. The organization hopes to draw attention to the consequences of the tolls, including traffic congestion on the EN 125.
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Published in: News and Updates