SCUT
The SCUT ( sem custo ao utilizador) , in English “at no cost to the user”, is the name of a financing model for motorways and expressways in Portugal . The SCUT model was introduced in Portugal in 1997 under António Guterres . This model is based on a model from Great Britain that was introduced there in 1993 with the name shadow great .
History, origin, background
The state awarded 30-year concessions to private construction companies through public tenders. In return, the operator receives a variable rent from the Portuguese government depending on the number of vehicles using the motorway. A kind of “virtual toll” was then created for every vehicle that used the route. All motorways were given the designation SCUT; the use of these motorways was free of charge. The first concession was awarded to the Scutvias company in September 1999 for the Beira Interior region .
In 2000, there were seven concessions in Portugal financed by the SCUT toll . The contracts were signed between 1999 and 2002, but they were all declared terminated in 2010. The reason for this was that they wanted to start collecting real tolls from users. This year, real tolls were introduced on the first SCUT motorways. In December 2011, tolls were levied on the remaining SCUT motorways. SCUT motorways were the A22 , A23 , A24 and A25 . The toll will continue to be collected virtually via a special complex technical system that is distributed across the SCUT roads.
Since then, this type of motorway has also been called ex-SCUT or Antiga SCUT , in English "old SCUT", because the SCUT motorways no longer exist in theory. However, the SCUTs still exist in the Portuguese vernacular.
The SCUTs have been controversial for years. There are rumors that the SCUTs are being taxed illegally.
Classes
The SCUT fees are divided into four classes. The decisive factor here is the number of axles of the respective vehicles. The higher the class, the higher the fees.
| class | Length of the vehicle | number of axes | Vehicle types, types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | <1.10 meters | 2 or more | Motorbike, car, car with trailer |
| 2 | ≥ 1.10 meters | 2 | Vans, buses, trucks up to a maximum of 7.5 tons |
| 3 | ≥ 1.10 meters | 3 | Vans with trailers, trucks up to a maximum of 7.5 tons |
| 4th | ≥ 1.10 meters | 4 or more | Articulated lorries, trucks with trailers |
Payment options
There are four ways to pay the toll for domestic vehicles.
These are as follows:
Easy great
The EASYToll system is an automatic payment solution. All you need is a Mastercard , Visa or Maestro card . The driver has to insert a bank card into the payment terminal and the system automatically assigns the vehicle's license plate number to this card. The toll charges are debited directly from the account linked to the card. In addition, a processing fee will be charged. After joining, you can use the SCUTs for 30 days.
Great service
The toll service system consists of two options:
- a prepaid card with unlimited use for three days and a fixed price of 20 euros plus a service fee. This product is only valid for vehicles of classes 1 and 2.
- a map with a pre-determined trip and date. This product is only valid on SCUT motorways, otherwise it will be invalid. You can also buy this option in the Cepsa petrol stations on the highways in Viana do Castelo (A28), Abrantes (A23) and Olhão (A22), and at the airport in Porto. Another possibility is the Correios de Portugal offices or an online purchase.
Great card
The Toll Card is based on a prepayment system. This is activated with an SMS. The buyer can buy this card with a value of 5, 10, 20 or 40 euros plus a service fee. After purchasing the card, the buyer has to activate the card by SMS by sending the code printed on the card along with its license number. This means that the card can be assigned to the vehicle. As soon as you have exhausted the credit, you will receive an SMS with the notification that the credit has been used up. This system is also only valid on the marked SCUT motorways. You can buy these cards at petrol stations on the A23, A22, A6, A2, A3, A7 motorways and online.
Via Verde
Via Verde customers in Portugal have the option of having the SCUTs billed using an RFID chip attached to the windshield .
Situation for foreign license plates
Vehicles with foreign license plates are not allowed to drive on the routes with electronic tolls without prior registration. In order to pay the toll, there are machines for paying tolls at most of the borders with Spain ( Easy Toll system ). You can find information on signs on the motorway.
Drivers of vehicles with foreign license plates also have the option of using the toll card and the toll service system.
Subsequent payment for foreign vehicles is not possible. Driving without registration should be avoided as the system also recognizes unregistered license plates. Failure to pay the toll constitutes an administrative offense against which a fine is imposed on all national and foreign vehicles. The penalty is ten times the toll, but at least 25 euros.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Diário da República: Decreto-Lei n.º 267/97, de 2 de Outubro. In: https://dre.pt/ . Diário da República, October 2, 1997, accessed May 18, 2018 (Portuguese).
- ↑ Santos, Mark, Santos, Bruno: Shadow tolls in Portugal: How we got here and what were the impacts of introducing real tolls. (PDF) In: aetransport.org. Santos, Mark, Santos, Bruno, 2012, accessed February 17, 2019 .
- ↑ Grand Union Portugal: Comunicado do Conselho de Ministros de 7 de Agosto de 1997. Accessed on May 25, 2018 (Portuguese).
- ^ Diário da República: Decreto-Lei n.º 335-A / 99. In: dre.pt. Diário da República, September 20, 1999, accessed May 18, 2018 (Portuguese).
- ↑ SCUT: cobrança de portagens já arrancou . In: tvi24 . October 15, 2010 ( iol.pt [accessed May 25, 2018]).
- ^ Alfredo Marvão Pereira: Opinião. Portagens nas antigas SCUT agravaram a sinistralidade rodoviária . In: PÚBLICO . June 26, 2017 ( publico.pt [accessed May 25, 2018]).
- ↑ Portagens nas SCUT são ilegais - Automoveis-Online . In: Automóveis Online . February 14, 2015 ( automoveis-online.com [accessed May 24, 2018]).
- ↑ Faq's - Portal de Portagens. Retrieved May 24, 2018 .
- ↑ Home - Portal de Portagens. Retrieved May 24, 2018 .
- ↑ Electronic Toll - Centro de Portugal In: centerofportugal.com , accessed on June 6, 2018.
- ↑ Comment marchent les péages électroniques au Portugal - Portugal Installation Conseil . In: Portugal Installation Conseil . November 3, 2015 ( portugal-installation-conseil.fr [accessed May 24, 2018]).