What happens if I don't pay a toll?
Not paying is an offence — there are deadlines to pay before the fine. The basis is Law 25/2006, amended by Law 27/2023 (in force since 1 July 2024). Via Verde users have 5 working days to pay with no penalty; without Via Verde, voluntary payment is within 15 working days. If unpaid, the management entity sends a notice and you have another 30 working days to pay or identify the driver. If it persists, the file goes to the Tax Authority and on to tax enforcement, with possible seizure. You pay via Via Verde, CTT, an app, Multibanco or Payshop. In short: not paying brings a fine and enforcement.
📋 The rules
- Via Verde: 5 working days with no penalty
- Without Via Verde: voluntary payment within 15 working days
- After notice: 30 working days to pay/identify
- If it persists: tax enforcement (AT), with seizure
- Pay via Via Verde, CTT, app, Multibanco
🔓 Exceptions
- Identifying the real driver shifts liability
- Now-free stretches (former SCUT): no fine
- Same trip repeated in the month: fine limited to one
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Under Law 27/2023 (since 1 July 2024), the minimum fine is 5x the toll, never below €25, and the maximum is double the minimum (up to 10x), within the RGIT limits — plus costs and the tax-enforcement charges. The previous regime was 7.5x, now reduced. Beware myths: "the fine is always a fixed €25" is false — the €25 is only the floor; it's 5x the toll (up to 10x). And "you always have 5 days" also confuses: the 5 working days is the Via Verde window, voluntary payment without Via Verde is 15 working days, and there's a further 30 working days after the notice. To avoid the fine: use Via Verde (5 days) or pay within the 15 days, and respond to the notice.
📎 Official sources
- AMT — electronic tolls: deadlines →
- Law 25/2006 (amended by Law 27/2023) →
- CTT — paying tolls after the deadline →
❓ Frequently asked
How long do I have to pay a toll?
It depends. Via Verde users have 5 working days after passing to pay with no penalty. Those without Via Verde have a voluntary-payment window of 15 working days. If still unpaid, you get a notice and have another 30 working days to pay or identify the driver.
What's the fine for not paying a toll?
Since 1 July 2024, the minimum fine is 5 times the toll, never below €25, and the maximum can reach double the minimum, i.e. up to 10 times the toll. Costs are added and, in case of tax enforcement, the related coercive-collection charges.
Is it true the fine is always €25?
No. The €25 is only the minimum fine, not a fixed value. The fine is actually 5 times the value of the unpaid toll, and can reach 10 times. So on higher-value tolls, the fine can be well above €25. It's a myth to think it's always the same amount.
What happens if I keep not paying?
If you don't pay within the voluntary deadlines or the 30 working days after the notice, the file is sent to the Tax Authority, which proceeds to tax enforcement. At that stage, there's coercive collection, which can lead to seizure of goods or bank balances, plus the related costs.
How can I pay a late toll?
You can pay via Via Verde, by direct debit, at CTT, in person, online or in the app, in the toll-payment app, at Multibanco or Payshop. The key is to do it within the deadlines, to avoid the fine, which is at least 5 times the value of the unpaid toll.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “not paying toll fine”
- “toll fine 5x value”
- “deadline pay toll via verde”
- “toll 15 working days”
- “law 27/2023 tolls”
- “pay late toll ctt”