Automatic tolls on AP7

Motorway tolls will rise yet again on 1st January 2013 - making it the third rise in less than a year! The prices went up by a whooping 7.5% last July then again on 1st September when the new IVA rates came into effect, pushing it up a further 3% as the rate went from 18% to 21%. Now there is to be yet another increase.

The rise has resulted because the Government has decided not to pay compensation for the drop in traffic on the toll roads which was approved in 1999. Well seeing as the Government has no money that is hardly a surprise. There is a formula for automatic annual renewal which has been in force since 2002. But if the operators want more vehicles using the toll roads they should be reducing the prices - something that has obviously not occurred to them! If they were cheaper more people would probably use them...

A2Btransfers.com - one of the many shuttle companies

With increasing petrol prices it is already expensive to drive and so most people will take the non toll option, which is especially true when going to the airport from Benidorm. The majority take the free N332 which only adds an extra 10 minutes maximum onto the journey in comparison to using the AP7 toll, which would cost nearly 4 euros each way. In fact, most of the shuttle transfer companies also use the N332, which is hardly a surprise when the cost a return fare from the airport can be as cheap as 5 GBP return in some cases! Commercial vehicles are also charged more to use the tolls so it adds a considerable extra and reduces profits.

But be careful when booking any transfers to the airport and ensure that they are legal and insured - the police carry out checks at the airport and an automatic numberplate recognition reader will highlight any vehicles that are making multiple journeys to the airport. Also, if you do use an uninsured driver in the event of an accident you will not be covered!