Italy: Motorway Tolls
How paying works on the toll roads, what it costs, and what to arrange before you go.
LAST VERIFIED 2026-09-13Italian tolls are calculated per kilometre, and the detail that catches people out is how vehicle class is decided. It is measured by height at the front axle, not by the size of the car overall — anything over 1.3 m falls into Class B and pays a higher rate for the same journey. In practice that means an ordinary estate is Class A while a tall SUV or a van is Class B, and fitting a roof box can move you up a bracket for the whole trip. Rates also differ between concessionaires, so the same hundred kilometres costs different amounts on different stretches. The operator's route calculator is the only reliable way to price a specific journey in advance.
Toll system
Most motorways (autostrade) charge tolls at booths, calculated by distance and vehicle class; pay by cash, card, or an electronic tag. No nationwide vignette.
How to pay
Tolls are paid at the barrier as you exit, so there is nothing to buy in advance. Watch the lane signs: blue takes cards and cash, yellow is reserved for Telepass transponders, and self-service machines accept cash and give change. Hire cars often come with a Telepass unit fitted — check whether it is actually active and how the rental company rebills you for it.
What it costs
The toll is the distance travelled multiplied by a per-kilometre unit rate for your vehicle class, with 22% VAT applied. Cars measuring up to 1.3 m at the front axle fall in Class A and taller ones in Class B, with higher classes set by axle count; motorcycles over 150 cc count as Class A. Unit rates differ by concessionaire, so the same distance can cost different amounts on different stretches. Use the operator's official toll calculator for your exact route.