Italy launches Europe-first motorway toll refund for construction delays, but foreign drivers face red tape

How the refund system works

Motorists on Italy's roughly 7,000 kilometres of toll motorways can now claim compensation when construction sites make journeys significantly longer than normal. The rule, pushed by the right-wing government in Rome, took effect on Monday 1 June 2026. Drivers qualify for a refund when a trip of nearly 100 kilometres takes at least ten minutes longer than usual. On longer routes the required delay is greater, and delays exceeding two hours generally trigger a full toll reimbursement under the transport authority's guidelines.

A turning point for the implementation of drivers' rights.

Payout thresholds and exceptions

The operator Autostrade per l'Italia gave a concrete example: on a 90-kilometre stretch, a 40-minute delay yields a 75 percent refund, while a one-hour delay means the entire toll is returned. No money is paid out for emergency construction sites, accidents, or weather-related disruptions. Refunds are only processed when the amount exceeds one euro. The system is expected to be fully operational by December 2026.

The app and the tax-code hurdle for foreigners

Compensation must be requested through an app that brings together all of Italy's private motorway operators. The scheme explicitly covers foreign drivers, including the many Germans and Swiss who travel to South Tyrol, Tuscany, and further south each year. However, registering on the app requires an Italian tax code (codice fiscale). Non-Italians can obtain one, but the process is cumbersome; the German embassy in Rome or the Italian embassy in Berlin can assist.

Italy is among the countries with the highest motorway tolls in Europe. And the system is complicated on top of that.

Consumer scepticism and cost fears

Italy's consumer protection association doubts the reform will deliver, arguing that operators will face no real penalties for poor service for years. Critics also warn that companies could recoup the cost of refunds by raising tolls later. With average per-kilometre charges between seven and nine euro cents, Italy and France have Europe's highest motorway fees, while countries like Austria and Switzerland rely on vignettes.

It is obvious that for years there will be no real penalties for those who provide users with a bad service.

A historic network under pressure

Italy often points to its long motorway heritage: the roughly 50-kilometre stretch between Milan and Varese, opened in 1924, is considered the world's oldest motorway. The new refund mechanism arrives as the country braces for heavy summer traffic, testing whether a right-wing government's consumer-friendly measure can overcome bureaucratic complexity and industry pushback.