Highway tolls for 2026: updated rates and refunds for motorists: what's new

2026 will bring good news for car travelers: highway toll rates will be updated, which, in many cases, will translate into tangible savings for motorists. Not only will the increases be limited, but there will also be reimbursements and discounts for those who regularly use the highways . This important change aims to make travel more convenient and transparent, offering tangible benefits for those who use the highway network every day.

Highway tolls for 2026: good news for motorists

The president of the Italian Transport Regulatory Authority (ART), Nicola Zaccheo, has announced that a new toll system will come into force in January 2026 , subject to final approval in the coming weeks. According to Zaccheo, the tolls will be closely linked to the investments actually made by concessionaires, with an expected benefit for motorists. However, actual toll reductions will not be immediately noticeable, but will begin to appear between 2027 and 2028, in conjunction with the renewal of the economic and financial plans.

The goal of the reform, the president explained, is to ensure a balance between investment sustainability , maintaining the economic equilibrium of concessions, and containing costs for users, promoting more transparent, efficient, and responsible management.

Among the most significant changes are toll refunds for roadworks that limit the use of the motorway network: users will be entitled to compensation proportional to the toll reduction on the affected stretch. Furthermore, the reform introduces transparency requirements regarding toll calculation and payment methods and information useful for travel planning, such as travel times, charging station distribution, and refueling services.

Consumer associations , such as the National Consumers Union, welcomed the measures , emphasizing the importance of updating tariffs and providing reimbursements for construction sites. Codacons was more critical , highlighting the need to also link tariffs to service quality and to introduce automatic compensation proportionate to service disruptions, particularly for ongoing construction sites that cause delays and inconvenience throughout the year.