From 1 June 2026, the new motorway toll reimbursement mechanism introduces an important protection tool for cases of total traffic blocking. All the details
Important changes are planned for those who travel on the motorway and have to deal with slowdowns and queues almost daily. Starting from Monday 1 June 2026, the new motorway toll reimbursement mechanism introduced by the resolution 211/2025 of the Transport Regulatory Authority. The refund is due in the event of inconvenience due to the presence of construction sites and in the event of traffic being blocked due to various causes (e.g. accidents, weather phenomena). This is a long-awaited innovation which marks a fundamental paradigm shift, which introduces the principle according to which the user of the motorway network has the right to a direct financial reimbursement from the concessionaire if the network is unable to guarantee the minimum levels of traffic fluidity. However, the effectiveness of the rule must take into account the obvious technical and structural limitations of the Italian network. In fact, until December 2026, reimbursements linked to construction sites will be applicable exclusively for routes entirely managed by a single concessionaire. Furthermore, this new mechanism could consequently lead to an increase in tariffs by operators, to recover the cost of the reimbursements themselves. What remains is the obligation on the part of all managers to inform motorists in advance of the works planned on the respective routes and guarantee access to information on expected inconveniences.
the reimbursement system
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The measure introduces immediate protection for cases of total traffic blocking, structured on a progressive compensation system. Anyone who will be stuck for between one hour and two hours will be entitled to a refund equal to 50% of the toll. The share will rise to 75% for waits that exceed two hours, until the total refund of the amount is reached if traffic is blocked by traffic for more than three hours. However, the aspects related to the objective certification of blocking times and the certain attribution of responsibilities of the company that manages the motorway section in question remain to be clarified. As regards the delays generated by the presence of road construction sites, the system is more complex and is calculated by combining the length of the route with the actual minutes of delay accumulated due to works along the route. On short routes, less than 30 kilometres, refreshments will be recognized regardless of the time lost. For journeys of length between 30 and 50 kilometres, the minimum threshold for accessing compensation is set at 10 minutes of delay, while for journeys longer than 50 kilometres, at least 15 minutes of delay will be necessary. The actual amount of the reimbursement will not be fixed, but regulated by specific coefficients of the Authority which evaluate the impact of construction sites on traffic. However, the refund cannot be requested if a general reduction in the toll is already foreseen on the route, in the case of mobile construction sites and emergency interventions due to accidents or extraordinary weather events. Refunds of less than 10 cents are also excluded, with credits issued only when a total of one euro is reached. The amount of reimbursements is calculated on the basis of the coefficients established by the Authority.
reimbursement method
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Once fully operational, the system envisages the adoption of an app which will bring together all the operators of the Italian motorway network and make compensation automatic. Once the request has been made, the compensation will be communicated within ten days of the trip and accumulated as an electronic credit in your “purse”, according to the cashback already adopted by the main operators. At the moment, however, this common platform is not yet completed and set up, so each dealer is obliged to guarantee alternative channels for refund requests: a dedicated toll-free number, a specific web portal or a specific section of the site with a form to be filled in online, physical branches or assistance points. Once the refund request has been received, which must arrive as soon as possible, the manager has 20 days to communicate the outcome: an acceptance with the indication of the amount to be paid or a rejection which must be strictly justified. For electronic tolls or payments with electronic cards, the amount will be credited back within five days, while for those who pay in cash the refund will be made via bank transfer within ten days of recognition.
exclusions
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The resolution provides for some cases in which you are not entitled to a refund. The cases are:
- no refunds of amounts less than 10 euro cents are due (refunds above 10 cents are credited and paid starting from the sum of 1 euro);
- if a general toll reduction is already foreseen for the route;
- in the case of emergency construction sites (i.e. construction sites installed following accidents, weather or hydrogeological events of an extraordinary and unpredictable nature, rescue activities and related restorations);
- in an initial period of application of the measures, mobile construction sites will also be excluded from the reimbursement mechanism.
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