Free‑flow toll system introduced on AP‑68 in Spain’s Basque Country

Spain will launch its second toll plaza without physical booths on the AP‑68 highway that connects Bilbao and Zaragoza, using a "free‑flow" system in the Basque Country. Drivers must pre‑register their vehicle registration and payment details; the system automatically records mileage and charges accounts, similar to Portugal’s automatic tolls.

For passenger cars the tariff on the Basque stretch is expected to fall about 70% – from €0.22 to roughly €0.06 per kilometre – and 50% for heavy‑goods vehicles. The new arrangement will initially operate alongside traditional barriers, giving motorists a transition period. Drivers who pass the toll points without registering may face a fine comparable to the €150 penalty applied on the A‑636 free‑flow road.

The change follows the expiry of concession contracts and the government’s promise not to raise existing tolls or introduce new ones, while continuing to collect fees on certain sections of the road network.