Starting this summer, drivers on Italian highways will be able to count on refunds in case of delays caused by road works. The Italian traffic regulatory body is introducing, namely, a system that will automatically refund money to drivers in the event that their journey is significantly slowed down due to construction works or traffic obstacles that are the responsibility of the highway operator.
Only during regular works
The system will compare the actual driving time with the pre-calculated target time, and as soon as the deviation becomes large enough, the right to a refund will be activated. The amount of the refund and the conditions for its realization will depend on the length of the trip and the duration of the delay. For routes shorter than 30 kilometers, refunds will be possible regardless of the extent of the delay, while for sections between 30 and 50 kilometers, the right to compensation will begin after 10 minutes of downtime.
On sections longer than 50 kilometers, the threshold for activating the refund will be 15 minutes of delay. The refund amount can reach up to 100% of the toll paid, depending on how long the journey took in relation to the estimated time. On the official website of the Italian motorways, it is possible to find exact refund calculations for all combinations of journey length and delay.
autostrade.it
The implementation of this rule will take place in two phases in order to ensure the technical adjustment of the system. From June 1, 2026, the rules will apply to sections managed by one operator, while from December 1, 2026, the system will be extended to routes jointly maintained by several concessionaires. It is important to note that extraordinary events, such as traffic accidents, extreme weather conditions or emergency interventions by rescue services, are expressly excluded from this compensation system.
In order to realize the right to a refund, drivers will use standardized applications, such as “Free to X”, which enable vehicle registration and automatic data processing based on the time of entry and exit from the highway. For users of electronic billing systems, the process is even simpler because after registration in the application, refunds will take place automatically. This reform is a response to the long-standing dissatisfaction of drivers who paid the full price of tolls even when services were significantly limited by long-term works.