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Date Published: 09/12/2024

Spanish toll roads set for price hike in 2025

From January, motorways across Spain will increase their prices

At this point, it’s probably quicker to make a list of the products and services that won’t go up in price in 2025. Sadly, next year is looking like an expensive one for consumers in Spain and drivers have just been dealt an additional blow with the news that motorway toll charges will be hiked up yet again.

If you’re used to hitting the road for work or travel, 2025 is set to be tough on your wallet. Toll road prices are expected to jump by an estimated 2.86% from January, based on proposals from concessionaires like Abertis and Globalvia.

However, the final figure will be determined by the Spanish Government. So why are tolls rising and how much more will you pay? Here’s what you need to know.

Why are tolls increasing?

The formula for calculating toll rates is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), but there’s a catch this year. Back in 2023, the Government capped toll hikes at 4% - far below the actual 9% increase - to ease the burden on families. While this measure offered temporary relief, it left a debt that now needs to be repaid.

That debt started catching up in 2024, when rates soared between 5% and 6.65%, the steepest increase since 2007. This trend isn’t stopping anytime soon, as the Government is locked into compensating concessionaires for their losses until 2026.

What’s ahead for 2025?

Come January, toll rates could realistically rise by more than 4% on many motorways, depending on actual traffic and operational costs. Concessionaires argue that these hikes are essential to cover rising expenses and the outstanding compensation owed by the Government, but this isn’t much comfort for drivers.

On a positive note, not all motorways will see the same increase. Roads managed by the public company SEITT might keep their rates frozen, as they did in 2023 and 2024. If this policy continues, it could offer some drivers a break, though privately managed toll roads will still see significant increases.

Find all the latest motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

Image: Dilema via Wikimedia Commons

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