Spain's free motorway gives your holiday budget a boost !
The announcement went somewhat unnoticed at the inauguration of the new Spanish government in 2018, but with the gradual removal of tolls in Spain, the budget for vacations in Spain has significantly lightened, especially since September 1, 2021. An overview of the surprising toll-free highways in Spain that now span the AP-7, from La Jonquera at the French border to Alicante nearly 700 km further south on the Mediterranean coast.
Key takeaway: with toll-free highways in Spain, it's the perfect opportunity to drive to Barcelona, Tarragona, or Alicante, and take advantage of bringing all the equipment you need for your vacation! As for on-site logistics, you will find on our site many references to accommodations with included parking, so you never have to worry about your vehicle. Onward!
Tolls in Spain: Chronicle of an Announced End ?
It was one of his campaign promises: upon taking office in 2018, the newly appointed Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, confirmed his intention not to renew the state highway concessions that were expiring during his term. Promise kept: since 2018, several sections of state highways have become toll-free, while the government considers an alternative system to finance the maintenance of free highways in Spain. An overview of the operation of the road network in the country.
The Spanish highway network consists of two types of four-lane expressways, where it is possible to drive up to a speed of 120 km/h. Autopistas are the equivalent of our toll highways. They are indicated on signs by an "AP" sign and constitute a network of over 2500 km, mainly present on the Mediterranean coast and in the Basque Country. In parallel, a network of autovías, free highways, has also developed mainly in the 1990s, mostly inland and south of the country. The goal of the socialist government is to eliminate territorial disparities and propose a single, "symbolic" pricing, according to the latest statements, for the use of the entire state highway network. The free highway in Spain will last until January 1, 2024, when the Spanish government has committed to implementing an alternative plan to finance the maintenance of these infrastructures.
Spain is organized federally, with many powers granted to the regions, the "autonomous communities." As a result, several regions manage the operation of their own highway sections, whether toll or toll-free. With the movement initiated since 2018, several regions have followed the lead of the state and implemented toll-free policies on their highways. That's why we hear more and more about toll-free highways in Spain: with Catalonia's toll-free policy on two highways, including the Maresme, the entire northern half of the Mediterranean coast of Spain is now accessible toll-free by highway from the French border without interruption.
Toll-Free Highway in Spain: It Starts Now!
Since September 1, 2021, the highway journey that connects La Jonquera to Alicante over 650 km further south has become entirely free. It's the famous AP-7, whose concession expired in 2021 and is now marked by toll-free toll booths. Spain is now accessible for free by highway along its entire eastern coast, from the Costa Brava to the Costa Blanca, passing through the Barcelona coast and the Costa Dorada.
Substantial Savings on Travel Costs
With the confirmation of toll-free highways in Spain, the savings on a round-trip journey are not insignificant: over 30 euros to go to and from Barcelona, and nearly 100 euros for trips to the north of the Costa Blanca. If you add the saved costs on vehicle rental on-site, the operation becomes very interesting!
Plan Your Next Road Trip in Spain!
What if you opted for roaming for your next trip? With toll-free highways in Spain for thousands of kilometers, there's nothing stopping you from spending a week in a beautiful villa in Roses or a nice apartment in Empuriabrava to enjoy the attractions of a beautifully landscaped resort before continuing your journey south. In Denia or Javea on the Costa Dorada, superb rentals await you, offering all the amenities for a second week of relaxation. Private pool, air conditioning, terrace with sea view, etc.: make your choices with our selection criteria! And of course, opt for a house with parking or a garage to leave your vehicle safely for the entire duration of your stay!
The toll-free coastal highway is guaranteed only until January 1, 2024: it's now or never to take advantage of it!
