Italy's toll‑payment market opens up as Telepass loses monopoly

The Italian highway operators are shifting toward fully automated toll collection, encouraging drivers to adopt electronic solutions that eliminate cash and speed up lane throughput. Historically, Telepass held a monopoly on the transponder‑based telepedaggio service, but recent market liberalisation has introduced new competitors such as UnipolMove and MooneyGo.

UnipolMove, backed by the Unipol Group, and MooneyGo, a fintech platform from Enel and Intesa Sanpaolo, offer lower monthly fees (about €2.50 versus Telepass’s €3.90) and promotional periods that waive device costs for up to a year. They also provide pay‑per‑use options that charge only on days when the transponder is detected, with rates as low as €0.50 per use, compared with Telepass’s €1‑plus‑€1 for ancillary services.

Both the incumbent and newcomers supply the same core functions: dedicated toll lanes, automatic access to Milan’s Area C congestion charge, and payment for partnered parking facilities. Drivers can choose between flat‑rate subscriptions for frequent highway users or usage‑based plans for occasional travel, potentially saving tens of minutes per trip and reducing overall travel costs.

The broader rollout of electronic tolling, including card‑based payments at booths, aims to improve traffic flow on Italy’s congested motorways, especially during peak summer periods.