Spain insists there will be no dual carriageway tolls in 2025, despite ultimatum from Brussels
The European Commission has demanded that Spain begin charging drivers on high-capacity roads in the new year
Drivers in Spain are in for even more frustration as the saga over charging for the use of high-capacity roads continues. Earlier this month, Brussels said that the government would have to implement some kind of toll or pay-per-use system on busy roads like dual carriageways in 2025, but Spain’s Ministry of Transport has come out this week and categorically denied that this will happen.
Back in 2023, the European Commission imposed an obligation on Spain to have tolls on highways by 2024; however, this measure never came into force. After several other delays, the EC called time and gave the government a two-month deadline to introduce tolls on high-capacity roads.
But according to the Ministry, there are absolutely no plans to start charging drivers, since Spain already meets the European Union requirements in this area.
In a statement this week, a spokesperson insisted that although the Commission has opened a case against Spain for failing to comply with one of its regulations, this will absolutely not involve the introduction of new charges for using dual carriageways or other high-capacity roads.
Moreover, the Ministry of Transport has stressed that Spain complies with Article 1 of the European directive, although on the motorways managed by the State Company for Land Transport Infrastructure (SEITT) the calculation of tolls for heavy vehicles will be modified.
Toll roads have been a contentious issue ever since the very first one opened way back in July 1969 - the A-19 between Montgat and Mataró, in the province of Barcelona. Today this motorway corresponds to the C-32, which is managed by the Generalitat of Catalonia.
Motorway charges vary widely from region to region, and tolls can significantly add to the cost of a journey.
Believe it or not, there have been cases where drivers have simply abandoned their cars at toll booths because of the steep charges. However, this too comes at a price: the DGT will fine motorists a hefty 200 euros, since the vehicle represents an obstacle to other road users.
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