Viacard

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The Viacard (also VIA-Card ) is the name of the card used in Italy to pay the tolls for the Italian motorway network. It can be used for all cars (including those with trailers ).

→ See main article: Tolls in Italy

General information about the Viacard

The Viacard there for a so-called prepaid card ( prepaid card ) with an initial credit of 25 €, 50 € or 75 €. It is in credit card format and has a magnetic strip to store the credit. The VIACARD has no expiration date and is therefore valid and transferable indefinitely, so it can also be passed on to other drivers or vehicles. Vehicles traveling in convoy, however, need their own card each. It is valid at the clearance points manned by toll staff as well as the automatic clearance lanes specially set up for Viacard owners.

Since 2015, this variant of the Viacard has only been available from an automobile club in Germany ( Auto Club Europa ) as well as at toll stations and service stations .

On the other hand, there is also a "postpaid variant" of the Viacard. The toll charges incurred are subsequently debited from the holder's current account. In order to receive such a Viacard, a current account with an Italian bank is required. The offer is therefore less interesting for most tourists.

Since credit cards are now generally also accepted for paying tolls, the Viacard has become less important as a means of payment for tolls.

functionality

The resulting motorway tolls are debited when leaving the motorway by pushing them into the appropriate machines. The Viacard cannot be topped up. When the credit is used up, the card is worthless. If the resulting fee is higher than the credit stored on the card, the remaining credit can e.g. B. be settled with a second Viacard, or partially with credit card or cash. However, more than two Viacards can not be used to pay a due amount.

Pay the motorway toll

When approaching the motorway exit, the lane to be selected can be seen from the local signs. Not all motorway exits have counters for automatic billing. First of all, the motorway ticket that was obtained when entering the toll motorway (in the " closed system ") must be inserted into the counter. This shows the amount to be paid. The amount is then paid by inserting the Viacard and the new credit is saved on the card. The remaining credit is displayed.

Caution is advised if the credit on the Viacard is no longer sufficient. Turning around or driving backwards to drive to a manned toll booth is prohibited and can be punished with high fines. In addition, not all motorway exits in Italy have manned toll booths. In the event of such problems, the issue of a toll collection should rather be triggered by pressing the help button (“Assistenza”). You can then continue your journey immediately.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ People's Media & Marketing: VIACARD: Toll payment card for Italy. July 12, 2005, accessed June 16, 2013 .

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