The AP-68 introduces a new toll system with four exempted routes until December 31st

The fee for the use of the AP-68 highway as it passes through the Historical Territory of Álava has been in effect since November 11, but four routes remain temporarily exempt from payment until December 31. This is established by Foral Order 494/2026, of November 10, issued by the first deputy general and foral deputy for Sustainable Mobility and Road Infrastructure, Jon Nogales Prieto, published in BOTHA no. 131 of November 13, 2026 (reference 2026-03271). The order implements the exception provided for in Foral Decree 41/2026, of November 5, which approved the initial amount of the fee.

The enabling regulation is Foral Regulation 21/2026, of October 28, which regulates the implementation of a pay-per-use system on high-capacity roads in the Historical Territory of Álava, published in BOTHA no. 125 of October 30, 2026, which refers the approval of the initial amount and its updates to the Foral Government Council. Foral Decree 41/2026 set that amount and its entry into force on November 11, 2026, coinciding with the end of the highway’s concession regime; the text, signed by the general deputy Ramiro González Vicente and by Jon Nogales Prieto, was published in BOTHA no. 129 of November 9, 2026 (reference 2026-03222).

The decree itself explains that the implementation is progressive, “taking into account the technical capacities of the collection system available at the time of reversion.” Its sole transitional provision allows for the fee not to be required between November 11, 2026, and June 1, 2027, for routes where collection cannot be guaranteed due to toll adaptation works, and refers to a foral order for the specification of the affected sections and vehicles. The file also mentions the integration of Álava’s collection system with that of Bizkaia, the construction of the semi-trunk toll in Zambrana, and the verification of the new system.

The four excepted routes

Foral Order 494/2026 specifies the non-requirement of the fee, “due to the technical impossibility of guaranteeing its collection due to the adaptation works of the toll system,” on the following routes:

• Burgos Border-Altube section, for vehicles exiting at the Areta toll (Bizkaia).
• Zambrana-Altube section, for vehicles exiting at the Areta toll (Bizkaia).
• Rivabellosa-Altube section, for vehicles exiting at the Areta toll (Bizkaia).
• Subijana-Altube section, for vehicles exiting at the Areta toll (Bizkaia).

The temporary exemption applies to heavy vehicles of categories 1 and 2 and to light vehicles. The order provides that its time frame may be extended or reduced through a new foral order from the same department, depending on the completion of the works.

Rates from 0.30 to 11.45 euros

Provincial Decree 41/2026 structures the Álava section into six subsections with lengths considered for the calculation: Bizkaia Border-Ziorraga (7.0 km), Ziorraga-Altube (7.1 km), Altube-Subijana (17.6 km), Subijana-Ribabellosa (14.7 km), Ribabellosa-Zambrana (3.8 km), and Zambrana-Burgos Border (5.1 km). The rates are applied through an origin-destination matrix, including VAT:

• Light vehicles: from 0.30 euros (Ribabellosa-Zambrana) to 3.35 euros (Bizkaia Border-Burgos Border).
• Heavy vehicles category 1: from 0.90 to 9.90 euros.
• Heavy vehicles category 2: from 1.05 to 11.45 euros.

The Ziorraga-Altube route is exempt for heavy vehicles of categories I and II. The decree prohibits any discrimination based on nationality, country of establishment, registration, or the origin and destination of the transport.

Subsidies to offset the toll

Alongside the fee, the BOTHA of November 13 publishes Provincial Decree 42/2026, of November 10 (reference 2026-03265), which approves new subsidy guidelines for residents of Álava and the call for applications from November 11 to December 31, 2026, for the toll paid on the AP-68. The aid covers 60 percent of the total amount, VAT included, for trips made through the Vizcaya section, with the requirement of making 15 or more trips per month.

An amount of 100,000 euros is allocated in favor of Arabako Bideak-Vías de Álava, SA (Arabat), with NIF A01361237, an amount extendable up to 200,000 euros, and applications are submitted through the Arabat website or at its offices. The guidelines repeal Provincial Decree 39/2021, of August 3, and require a telematics payment device (OBE), habitual residence in Álava, and a light vehicle not used for professional activity.

The new tariff map affects the thousands of Álava drivers who use the AP-68 daily and arrives with the exemption in four routes limited, in principle, to seven weeks and reviewable as the works progress. The coexistence of the fee with a 60 percent subsidy system also forces recurrent users to prove a minimum of 15 monthly trips to recover part of the expense.

Source: BOTHA (Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava), no. 131, November 13, 2026, section I, page 1 (official reference: 2026-03271).