 Poster: A snowHead
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I've rented and driven in Australia a few times but never in Italy. How do the tolls work in Italy? Do I need a vignette or do you pay with a debit card as you come off the toll? Many thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You can pay with a card - WHERE you pay depends. On the Turin ring road you seem to pay a few euros every couple of hundred yards. OK, that's an exaggeration.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to get in the right queue/gate. I find it quite confusing - easier if you have somebody with you to help spot. Italian motorways keep you on your toes much more than French ones, which are consistently signposted. All part of the fun.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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There's also a potentially confusing barrier-free toll road just to the east of Malpensa airport where you pay online afterwards, possibly using an app. We just avoided it last time to avoid the hassle!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It all sounds quite chaotic especially as I'll be on my own. Could anyone give me an idea of the signs I should be looking out for?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Where you driving from and to?
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You’re map/sat nav app should give you warning of upcoming toll boots. It’s not complicated but there are two types of toll
1) You pay a fee at the booth and off you go, the distance travelled is irrelevant, like the uk
2) You take a ticket at the booth entering the roll road, then pop this in the machine at the leaving booth and pay what’s asked depending on the distance travelled
So sometimes you leave a pay per distance fee at one toll booth and shortly after hit a ‘pay once’ stretch but it’s not common.
They usually take contactless credit cards so just make sure you’re in the right queue, by looking at the signs above them and avoid the telepass queue.
Out of the main cities it’s all pretty civilised, if you have to drive around e.g. The Milan ring road then just stick in a lane and stay with the flow of traffic.
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I found the overhead lane markings confusing the first time I did the Turin ring road. Happens in other places too, but there are so many off-ramps there.
It looked as though the inside line was a turning off only lane, with right hand arrows over it, and on the carriageway itself So I, going straight on, pulled into an outer lane, which was moving faster than I really wanted. But then, when you get to the turning off, the lane you're in carries straight on. Consistently. But it's always slightly nerve-wracking. So the "stick in one lane" advice is good!
There's a lot of road works in some areas. For miles. With an absurdly slow speed limit. so you gradually speed up. Then very suddenly there's a chicane onto the other carriageway, or a barrier across the lane you're in, and you can imagine someone laughing at you and saying "That's why there was a low speed limit, dope".
But generally it's fine. And I never found driving habits particularly challenging or aggressive. Though I have only driven in the north - maybe it's different in Naples!
The service areas are fairly dire. Horrid croissants full of cheap jam. Loads of wine offers, lots of cheap and nasty tat. Nothing very appetising to eat. But always good coffee! Generally you pay for your coffee and cake, or whatever, get the receipt, and then give the receipt to whoever is making the coffee. Often the same person. I found that confusing at first.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Watch for stealth speedcameras and low-emission zones.
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@pam w, I found wonderful sandwiches in Italian services for around €5...different types of breads, stuffed full of salami, salad, cheese...all sorts
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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you obviously found better ones than I did, @holidayloverxx. 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@esaw1, In general you take a ticket and then pay at the other end. At the payment point there will be a few lanes for those with a box that allows for drive through payment as in France & Spain otherwise the lanes are all the same and all should take cards, some lanes have a credit card symbol above them so if you are worried use one of them. Dont expect the receipt bit to work! Also dont expect any great queue discipline be prepared to push in! There are a few sections with a fixed fee (mainly around large cities) and there are a few places where you have to pay online within a couple of weeks (yes you do have to pay especially if you have a hire car), the one I know of is near Como but think the Autostrada between Malpensa & Como is the same. Not too much grief just wading through a website (its in English too) which is a little dull.
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FAQ
