We will be traveling by car throughout Portugal this September. I understand that most of the highways are toll roads. What is the best way to pay these tolls? Can you rent a transponder when you rent the car, or do you pay as you go?
Thanks,
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
362 posts
You can opt to prepay for tolls at the car rental company. Believe it’s called Via Verde. In Sept 2018, we found the toll highways virtually empty as it seems locals avoid them.
Posted by
Lubbock, TX
402 posts
I am doing a road trip in Portugal right now. I would strongly recommend opting for the Via Verde option when you pick up your car. At Hertz it is €2/day, plus all the tolls you incur. I have found it well worth it to be able to save time on my vacation and zip around from town to town instead of taking the two-lane roads everywhere. There are a lot of toll roads here, way more than I expected but the Via Verde has been very easy and it saves me from paying in cash at all the toll booths.
Posted by
OP
Odessa, Fl, USA
42 posts
Thanks. That is very helpful.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7566 posts
We also had the transponder and recommend. The main North/South tolls looked like it would work to pay tolls, but for the life of me I did not see toll booths on the East/West toll road in the Algarve. Just for the ease of mind it was worth it. I would also agree that the toll routes are lightly used, you can get anywhere along the route very quickly.