These are the Spanish highways with the most expensive tolls

The price of using toll roads in Spain is a random phenomenon that varies greatly depending on location, time of travel, and payment method. This was revealed by a recent report by the European Motorists' Association (AEA), which reveals fare differences of up to a staggering 830 percent.

The study indicates that the most expensive toll in the country is located in the Artxanda Tunnels in Bilbao. With a distance of just 3 kilometers, drivers pay €0.50 per kilometer. In contrast, the highway from Puxeiros to Baiona in Pontevedra (25.2 kilometers) is the cheapest, costing just €0.06 per kilometer, almost eight times less than the Bilbao highway.

In addition to the Artxanda Tunnels, the most expensive tolls include the Cadí Tunnel (0.47 cents/km), the Vallvidrera Tunnel (0.30 cents/km), the San Cugat to Manresa motorway (0.29 cents/km) and the Castelldefels to El Vendrell motorway (0.23 cents/km).

On the other hand, among the most affordable, in addition to the Galician section of Puxeiros-Baiona, are the A Coruña-Carballo tolls (0.07 cents/km), the Arrigorriaga-Santurtzi tolls, and the Alicante ring road (both at 0.10 cents/km). The AEA report analyzes a total of 32 motorways, with lengths ranging from the 294 kilometers of the AP-68 (Bilbao-Zaragoza) to the mere three kilometers of the Artxanda Tunnels.

AEA's research also highlights that, on nine of the thirty-two toll motorways, tolls skyrocket during peak traffic hours, generating significant differences depending on the day, time of day, or month of the year. A clear example is the AP-71 (León-Astorga), where driving in the early morning (between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.) can cost almost three times less than during the rest of the day.

Furthermore, some highways adjust their rates seasonally, as do hotels. Using the AP-7 from Alicante to Cartagena during the months of June to September and during Holy Week—peak traffic periods—is 76.3% more expensive than the rest of the year. A similar situation exists on the AP-7 from Málaga to Estepona, where the peak season surcharge exceeds 62.5% of the normal rate.

It's not all bad news for drivers' wallets. The report highlights that motorists traveling on the nine highways rescued by the State (such as the AP-7 Cartagena-Vera highway or the R-2 Madrid-Guadalajara highway, among others) can benefit from discounts if they pay with electronic devices (Vía T). Furthermore, these highways offer the option of free travel if the trip is made at night, between midnight and 6:00 a.m. This nighttime free travel also applies to the AP-8 (Arrigorriaga-Santurtzi) and the Artxanda Tunnels themselves.