Pay by credit card at the toll station?

The following applies to most toll stations: You can pay by cash, credit card, prepaid card or, for locals, often on account (Telepass and co). not but with a German EC card. In 2017, however, paying by credit card is definitely the most practical option for tourists in particular.

Let’s start with Italy: The operator Autostrade per Italia allows payment by card at every station, no matter how small. In general, even small amounts in other European countries are paid much more frequently by card than in Germany, where card payments are still not accepted in many places.

You can pay by credit card at the mouse station extremely easy: You insert your toll ticket and the price to be paid is displayed. At Italian toll stations, you simply slide your credit card into the same slot that just swallowed the toll ticket. The peculiarity: In any case, the credit card comes out again within a few seconds and the barrier opens. So it is no signature or PIN entry necessary.

Fully automatic toll station: The amount to be paid is displayed, you insert your credit card, it comes out again immediately and the barrier opens – without a signature and without entering a PIN.

No credit card? Definitely recommended for travel, tolls & refuelling
In Italy and actually almost all EU countries, the German EC card is often not accepted at machines. Credit cards are often available for fees of less than €50 a year or completely free. In our video below we use our Lufthansa Miles & More credit card “Blue”, which costs €50 per year but comes with international health insurance. You also earn one mile for every € you spend. We have put together an overview of completely free credit cards here.

What if the card is not accepted?
In exceptional cases, the credit card may be damaged and not working. If you don’t have any alternative cash money with you and can’t pay, it doesn’t matter at all: the toll station automatically recognizes that you can’t pay and prints a small bill that you should definitely take with you. The barrier opens and you can still drive on. You simply transfer the bill within the next few days. Of course, the mouse station photographed the license plate, which is why the unpaid toll can be collected in any case.