Tolls in Spain

Anyone travelling through Spain by car will find it almost impossible to avoid toll booths. However, the prices for motorways and tunnels vary enormously – depending on the region, route and even the time of day. A recent analysis by the Automovilistas Europeos Asociados (AEA) shows price differences of up to 830 percent.

For holidaymakers and commuters, this means that with the right planning, toll costs in Spain can be significantly reduced.

Expensive toll roads: Catalonia and the Basque Country

The highest tolls are traditionally found in the north of the country. The Artxanda Tunnel near Bilbao is particularly expensive, with motorists paying around 50 pence per kilometre – the highest rate in Spain. Travellers also have to dig deep into their pockets in Catalonia. The Cadí Tunnel costs around 0.47 euros per kilometre, while the Vallvidrera Tunnel costs almost 0.30 euros. Routes such as San Cugat – Manresa or Castelldefels – El Vendrell range from €0.23 to €0.29 per kilometre.

Electronic systems such as Via-T offer discounts, but do not change the basic cost intensity of these regions. For transparent billing, we recommend toll boxes for electronic recording of toll charges incurred.

Affordable toll roads: Galicia leads the way in terms of price

The situation is quite different in the north-west. Galicia is considered the region with the most affordable toll rates in Spain. On the Puxeiros – Baiona route, motorists pay only €0.06 per kilometre, and between A Coruña and Carballo, the charge is around €0.07. There are also low-cost sections in other regions: The Alicante bypass officially costs €0.07 per kilometre, but is often offered free of charge thanks to government subsidies. Another attractive route is Arrigorriaga – Santurtzi in the Basque Country, which also costs around €0.07 per kilometre.

Variable toll costs: differences depending on the time of day and season

Not only the region, but also the time of day influences toll prices in Spain! Variable rates apply on nine of a total of 32 toll roads. For example, the AP-71 between León and Astorga is almost three times cheaper at night than during the day.

Seasonal surcharges are also common: on the popular holiday route AP-7 between Alicante and Cartagena, tolls rise by over 76 per cent in summer and at Easter. Between Málaga and Estepona, journeys cost more than 60 per cent more during the peak season.nbsp;

In addition, the Spanish government allows free use between midnight and 6 a.m. on some roads, including the AP-7 Cartagena–Vera and the Madrid ring motorways R-2 to R-5, provided that an electronic toll device is used.

Developments in the Spanish toll system

As in other European countries, such as Italy and France, the Spanish toll system is undergoing change. Concessions are repeatedly expiring, resulting in entire motorways becoming toll-free – most recently the AP-1, AP-4 and parts of the AP-7. For other routes, however, price increases of between 3.8 and 5.5 per cent were introduced in 2025, heavily dependent on the consumer price index.

At the same time, there is discussion in Spain as to whether motorways that have been free of charge up to now should also be subject to a small toll in future. The figures under discussion are around 0.03 euro per kilometre for cars and 0.14 euro for lorries – a proposal that is currently causing a great deal of political controversy.

Conclusion: Money-saving tips for travel planning

The toll charges in Spain in 2025 are anything but uniform. While motorists in Catalonia and the Basque Country face the highest charges, regions such as Galicia offer particularly favourable rates per kilometre.

Those who choose their route wisely, plan night-time journeys and use electronic toll devices such as the toll box from maut1.de, you can significantly reduce the fees. This ensures that travelling through Spain is not only a scenic pleasure, but also a financial one.