Spanish motorway tolls

[Barley-Mow]

Is it just my age or are the tolls in Spain getting a bit steep. It seemed to me this year much more expensive to ride the Spanish motorways than the French (though they're not that cheap any more either), but on leaving one particularly long stretch in Spain I found that having just paid 21 euros for fuel I then had to pay 26 euros for the toll ! seemed as though they didn't differentiate between cars and bikes even at the cash/attended barriers

I know you don't have to ride them but with a touring bike and 5 - 600 mile days in prospect it keeps life simple, to say nothing of ensuring a regular supply of fuel.

John Gudgeon

 

[Monsieur]

Not a veteran of spanish tolls but I seem to recall travelling from Bilbao to Valencia via Zaragosa not seeing any tolls at all

 

[purds]

IIRC there is no reduced rate for bikes in Espana - we pay the same as cars.

Autopistas are generally toll roads but Autovias are toll free.

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Just back from a couple of weeks riding round France, Spain & Portugal and I also found that the Spanish tolls seemed quite a bit dearer than the French ones. I was always charged at "Class 1" rate which I guess is the rate for bikes. I can't quote specifics as I always paid cash and just got on with it, but the spanish ones did seem to be a good bit more than I expected.

That said, the toll roads in all three countries were in very good condition with little traffic on them, so they made for good, easy riding.

 

[Harv]

The cheapest 'main roads' are found by following the trucks...they rarely pay out...well not until they stop at the little plastic patio sets inhabited by the scantily clad girlies... now where would you want to 'blow' 50 euro's...

 

[er-minio]

I think France is the only European country that has lower prices for bikes.

Not a veteran of spanish tolls but I seem to recall travelling from Bilbao to Valencia via Zaragosa not seeing any tolls at all

Mee too. I've done it twice and never paid anything.
On the other hand, if you pass on Madrid's circular there are like 10 tollboths every 500 yards

 

[wessie]

I think France is the only European country that has lower prices for bikes.

Austria have a cheaper rate for the motorway vignette for motorcycles. It is very reasonable at just under 5 euros for 10 days use of their motorways. Of course, if you want to use a tunnel or high pass then you are often fleeced with an extra toll.

 

[Fanum]

Is it just my age or are the tolls in Spain getting a bit steep.

Yes, they have gone up significantly over the last 12 months.

 

[John Armstrong]

Yes, they have gone up significantly over the last 12 months.

Someone has to help reduce their budget defecit, and the Germans aren't going to be paying for their new roads as the Greeks need the money more.

 

[Big Derek]

Is it just my age or are the tolls in Spain getting a bit steep. It seemed to me this year much more expensive to ride the Spanish motorways than the French (though they're not that cheap any more either), but on leaving one particularly long stretch in Spain I found that having just paid 21 euros for fuel I then had to pay 26 euros for the toll ! seemed as though they didn't differentiate between cars and bikes even at the cash/attended barriers

I know you don't have to ride them but with a touring bike and 5 - 600 mile days in prospect it keeps life simple, to say nothing of ensuring a regular supply of fuel.

John Gudgeon

If we had to ride 500 to 600 mile days I would use motorways to.. but we do 275375 miles per day mainly...........
We came back last Saturday from a 12 days ride around Spain North to South and much of the West side to, we only used two motorways sections, as we were biking we tend to keep away from motorways. But we rode some brill twisties and mountains as usual.

We did find the Hotels reasonable for the 4 and 5 star ones we used however the staff and the food we thought were not so good! No one seemed to smile and before everyone says its a language thing one of our riders was good with the lingo!The Spanish just seemed so serius.....

And the Hotels dont have good first aid kits (well ours didn't when som ebig daft Englishman ME) falls into a wall triped over a step!

And something we have not noticed before The Spanish bikers in the main NEVER WAVE to you....

In Mijas our Goldwings were pushed over and left on the ground after they had tried to get into the side panniers, in Caiz they were nearly stolen and we have never seen so much bad service and rubbish in Spain.

The steaks entrocote or what ever they call it "Blimey I think it's road kill they serve you! We had agreat fillet steak on the Brittanny ferry boat back to Plymouth (mindst you t hat must have been of a French Bull eh lol)

I have taken www.elite-wings.co.uk members on many euro tours and many tours around europe with www.bikerpals.co.uk members none of which use camp sites its hotels all th eway. But this last trip was the most noticable recession wise if you know what i mean. Great riding roads though.....
apart from riding 64miles up a mountain one day to find the bottom was closed due to rock slides!

So it may be some time before we are lured back to Spain Toll rods or otherwise.

 

[Big Derek]

Is it just my age or are the tolls in Spain getting a bit steep. It seemed to me this year much more expensive to ride the Spanish motorways than the French (though they're not that cheap any more either), but on leaving one particularly long stretch in Spain I found that having just paid 21 euros for fuel I then had to pay 26 euros for the toll ! seemed as though they didn't differentiate between cars and bikes even at the cash/attended barriers

I know you don't have to ride them but with a touring bike and 5 - 600 mile days in prospect it keeps life simple, to say nothing of ensuring a regular supply of fuel.

John Gudgeon

If we had to ride 500 to 600 mile days I would use motorways to.. but we do 275 375 miles per day mainly...........
We came back last Saturday from a 12 days ride around Spain North to South and much of the West side to, we only used two motorways sections, as we were biking we tend to keep away from motorways. But we rode some brill twisties and mountains as usual.

We did find the Hotels reasonable for the 4 and 5 star ones we used however the staff and the food we thought were not so good! No one seemed to smile and before everyone says its a language thing one of our riders was good with the lingo!The Spanish just seemed so serius.....

And the Hotels dont have good first aid kits (well ours didn't when som ebig daft Englishman ME) falls into a wall triped over a step!

And something we have not noticed before The Spanish bikers in the main NEVER WAVE to you....

In Mijas our Goldwings were pushed over and left on the ground after they had tried to get into the side panniers, in Caiz they were nearly stolen and we have never seen so much bad service and rubbish in Spain.

The steaks entrocote or what ever they call it "Blimey I think it's road kill they serve you! We had agreat fillet steak on the Brittanny ferry boat back to Plymouth (mindst you t hat must have been of a French Bull eh lol)

I have taken www.elite-wings.co.uk members on many euro tours and many tours around europe with www.bikerpals.co.uk members none of which use camp sites its hotels all the way. But this last trip was the most noticable recession wise if you know what i mean. Great riding roads though.....
apart from riding 64miles up a mountain one day to find the bottom was closed due to rock slides!

end of the road

So it may be some time before we are lured back to Spain Toll rods or otherwise.

 

[cherokee]

Cool

Nice pics buddy,we found the spanish bikers ok last year even the ole bill waved,although its like a two fingered salute down low??? not sure what thats all about............

 

[howdoo]

Tolls, hotels, and everything else

Just got back 2 hours ago from Spain and Portugal.
I managed to get on to a really quiet stretch of motorway to the west of Madrid. No other traffic to be seen.
20 miles later I found out why and was invited to pay €6 for the privilege. I won't be doing that again.
Hotels I thought were reasonably priced, of a better standard than here, and always cheaper than here.
I found the vast majority of people I encountered to be helpful and friendly. Everone has their grumpy moments.
I would happily return next week, leave, sprog, and money permitting.

 

[santrix]

Also dont forget BMW assist wont touch you on a toll road.... although you may already know this.

 

[Barley-Mow]

BMW assist - what's that then ? My bike's 14 years old and I insure with Vehicle rescue Direct.

But the general rule whoever your insurer is that on toll motorways you can only call the official breakdown franchise.

 

[Fanum]

Just got back 2 hours ago from Spain and Portugal.
I managed to get on to a really quiet stretch of motorway to the west of Madrid. No other traffic to be seen.
20 miles later I found out why and was invited to pay €6 for the privilege. I won't be doing that again.
Hotels I thought were reasonably priced, of a better standard than here, and always cheaper than here.
I found the vast majority of people I encountered to be helpful and friendly. Everone has their grumpy moments.
I would happily return next week, leave, sprog, and money permitting.

The motorway system around Madrid is probably the most bizarre, convoluted and mixed up system anywhere...so many new motorways, extremely confusing and many ways to go from 'a' to 'b' that you really have to get to know them to make the best of them

It is though, easily possible to go from the north to the south without paying a single Euro, using some of the new/newer routes.

 

[Snoopy]

As I recall you get hammered in Bilbao, or France border if you go that way and then hammered close to Alcergeras but in-between there is nothing much at all. Seemed to me they were hitting tourists hard. I stuck to the non-tolls for these bits.

PS) Italy is even worse.

 

[casperghst42]

Is it just my age or are the tolls in Spain getting a bit steep. It seemed to me this year much more expensive to ride the Spanish motorways than the French (though they're not that cheap any more either), but on leaving one particularly long stretch in Spain I found that having just paid 21 euros for fuel I then had to pay 26 euros for the toll ! seemed as though they didn't differentiate between cars and bikes even at the cash/attended barriers

I know you don't have to ride them but with a touring bike and 5 - 600 mile days in prospect it keeps life simple, to say nothing of ensuring a regular supply of fuel.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one having this feeling. In general the only reason I have to going to Spain is that it's between home and Morocco.

My ex told me that every square meter of motor way have been paid 4 times, mostly by the rest of the EC (why the @#$!@% do I then have to pay even more for driving there).

In general I do not enjoy driving in Spain, and most people (most, not all) people I've meet there are some sorry <self censur>...


Casper

 

[CJ.]

The motorway system around Madrid is probably the most bizarre, convoluted and mixed up system anywhere...so many new motorways, extremely confusing and many ways to go from 'a' to 'b' that you really have to get to know them to make the best of them

It is though, easily possible to go from the north to the south without paying a single Euro, using some of the new/newer routes.

+1 !

We travelled from Almeria up to the Picos last september, 567 miles in one day, skirted Madrid, good roads all the way and managed to avoid all the tolls !

 

[cryogenic]

I too travelled down through spain on my way to morroco in june on my lambretta and i found the tolls very expensive one toll cost € 33 when i paid i said i could have bought the motorway for that he was`nt too impressed nor was i but i will say the views were tremendous through Bezier and down the east coast to tarifa.