What is the best way to deal with toll roads in Italy? So I need a cup full of euro coins, a stash of euro bills, credit card, or are there electronic passes that automatically charge to a credit card like some USA cities?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23653 posts
We just used cash - combination of bills and coins. IMO, cash always works and it is quick - anything else is a dice roll.
Posted by
Boston
1814 posts
You can pay with credit card or a Viacard in the Carte lane or with cash in the cash lane. The Viacard is like a store gift card and it's available at autostrada rest stops in various denominations. The cash lane is the slowest. If you're in Italy regularly you can get a Telepass for automatic tolling (since 1989) tied to either your credit card or Italian bank account. Do that at a Punto Blu at various exits on the autostrada. It costs us about 20 Euro a year, but it saves a lot, lot, lot of time when traffic is heavy. The signs at the toll indicate which lane does what, including whether the cash lane has an operator or a machine (usually just at low volume exits). Photos here: https://www.autostrade.it/en/il-pedaggio/pagamento-al-casello
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks for the info. The link provided cleared up any questions I had.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16208 posts
Unless you travel from Bari to Turin or something of that length you won’t typically spend more than 20€-25€ at most. In most cases it will be less than that. For those amounts I rarely bother with cards unless the line at the cash booth is way too long.