Italy Refunds Part of Tolls for Traffic Delays. Carriers Can Recover Up to 100% of the Fee
Italy has introduced a motorway toll refund system for significant delays caused by roadworks. For transport companies, this means an opportunity to recover between 10% and even 100% of the toll paid, including on routes important for freight traffic, such as the A22 Brenner motorway.
Since 1 June 2026, rules have been in force in Italy allowing for the reimbursement of part or all of a motorway toll in cases of substantial delays caused by roadworks. The measure also applies to heavy goods transport, but only under strictly defined circumstances.
A refund is available when a delay on a motorway results from planned roadworks or a lane closure implemented by the motorway operator. This means that a carrier may recover part of the toll if the actual travel time significantly exceeds the standard travel time for the relevant section.
However, the system does not cover all cases of disruption. No refund will be granted if congestion is caused by an accident, emergency works, demonstrations, strikes, adverse weather conditions, or heavy traffic volumes, for example during the holiday travel season.
Delays are calculated automatically based on GPS data and information from mapping systems. For trucks, a different average speed is applied than for passenger cars. For heavy vehicles, the reference speed is generally around 70 km/h, while for passenger cars it is approximately 100 km/h. This is intended to provide a more realistic assessment of whether a journey on a particular section was significantly prolonged.
The amount of reimbursement depends on the route length and the scale of the delay. In certain cases, compensation may be granted for delays of as little as 10-15 minutes. Refunds are progressive and may range from 10% to as much as 100% of the motorway toll paid.
For transport companies, the procedure may be simpler than for private motorists, as most fleets use electronic toll collection devices such as Telepass, DKV or Telepass EU. A prerequisite for automatic reimbursement is the prior registration of the onboard unit or the vehicle registration number in the relevant operator’s system.
On the Autostrade per l’Italia network, refunds can be processed, among other channels, through the Muovy application or the Free To X system. If the vehicle and toll device are registered, the system automatically identifies delays caused by roadworks and assigns the corresponding refund.
In practice, refunds are generally settled collectively at the end of the billing period. It is also possible to apply for reimbursement manually based on proof of travel; however, for transport companies, this may be time-consuming and less practical when dealing with a large number of journeys.
An important limitation remains the scope of the system. At present, refunds are available only on routes managed by operators participating in the programme. The most significant of these is Autostrade per l’Italia, which operates a substantial part of the Italian motorway network.
From 1 December 2026, the system is expected to be extended to journeys involving sections managed by multiple operators. Brennerautobahn AG, the operator of the A22 motorway, has also joined the scheme. Since 1 June 2026, coinciding with the start of the main travel season, it has also been possible to apply for toll refunds on this route in the event of significant delays caused by roadworks. For carriers operating through Italy, this means it is necessary to verify whether the toll collection devices and vehicle registration numbers in use have been correctly registered in the operators’ systems. Otherwise, automatic reimbursement may not be possible.
