Drivers in Bizkaia will continue paying tolls on the AP-68 after the concession ends on November 11, 2026. The provincial government says the Bilbao-to-Vitoria journey will cost €4.20 under its tariff calculation. El Correo has reported a €4.25 fare for the full journey from that date, plus a €3.35 charge for the Bizkaia section between Bilbao and the Álava boundary. The figures reflect different provincial calculations of how the existing journey charge is divided. Carlos Alzaga, Bizkaia’s deputy for Infrastructure, announced that the 22.3-kilometre Bizkaia section will join the provincial road network and be managed by Interbiak.
From January 1, 2027, Bizkaia will introduce monthly spending caps for frequent toll-road users. Regular drivers using toll roads within the province will pay no more than €35 per month. The cap will be €53 for those whose journeys cross provincial borders, including travel on the AP-8 and AP-1, as well as the AP-68 sections in Álava and Gipuzkoa. The provincial authorities say both limits will cut monthly charges by €5 compared with current rates. The initial AP-68 tariff is due to apply from November 11 through December 31, 2026. From January 1, the road will join Interbiak’s managed network alongside the AP-8, Supersur and the Artxanda tunnels, with tariffs subject to the annual update process.
The end of the national concession will not make the entire AP-68 toll-free. From November 11, tolling is expected to continue on Basque sections managed by the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia and the Diputación Foral de Álava. Sections in Aragón and Navarra are expected to become free, as are those in La Rioja and Burgos. Álava has announced discounts of up to 70% on its section, while Bizkaia plans an average reduction of 20% for light and heavy vehicles. Residents of Baranbio, in Álava’s Ayala area, have protested and called for the motorway to be free, highlighting local opposition to the continued tolls.
The current Bilbao-to-Vitoria journey costs €6.85, but the provincial authorities disagree over how that amount is divided. Bizkaia has estimated its share at €4.20 and Álava’s at €2.60. Álava previously put its own share at €3.52, which would imply a Bizkaia share of €3.33. El Correo’s reported €4.25 fare for the full journey from November 11 is about 38% below the current charge. The outlet also reports that the Bizkaia section will cost €3.35. The combined charge will be collected at a single payment point, with the amount varying information from the direction of travel.
Alongside the new tariffs, Bizkaia will lower maximum monthly charges for frequent users by €5. Drivers who use only Bizkaia’s toll roads will face a €35 cap, while those travelling into Gipuzkoa or Álava will be subject to the €53 limit. The province currently allocates €11 million to a bonus programme for regular toll-road users, benefiting nearly 29,000 people. That figure is expected to reach 32,000 by year-end.
The provincial government defends the pay-per-use model, arguing that toll revenue is impressive for road maintenance and aligns with European practice. Officials say Spain remains an exception within the EU, where the principle of “who uses, pays” is widely applied. The current staff of state concessionaire AVASA will be retained during the transition, and Bizkaia’s existing toll booths will remain open for now. Electronic tolling systems such as free flow are planned for the future, although about 8% of drivers still pay in cash.
The debate over road charges and infrastructure management extends beyond Bizkaia. Across Europe, regulatory changes and enforcement actions have affected major transport operators. One example is the European Commission’s fine against AliExpress over failures to control illegal sales. The case drew attention to growing scrutiny of cross-border services. More details are available in the report on the EU's penalty against AliExpress.
Spain’s approach to toll roads has changed over the past decade, as several national concessions expired and some regions chose to remove tolls. In the Basque Country, management is shifting to the provincial authorities, but charges will remain on the Bizkaia and Álava sections. The new Bizkaia caps are intended to ease costs for frequent commuters while continuing to fund the road network. As electronic tolling develops, authorities will also need to accommodate drivers who still pay in cash.
