In short: Only two motorways in Sicily are tolled along their whole length: the A18 (Messina–Catania) and the A20 (Messina–Palermo). If you continue south from Catania, you switch onto the separate, toll-free E45 (Catania–Syracuse) – it is not a section of the A18, but its own route. From there the equally independent, only partially completed and currently toll-free A18 Syracuse–Gela/Rosolini continues. The busy A19 (Palermo–Catania) and the A29 (Palermo–Trapani / Mazara del Vallo) are also toll-free. On the tolled sections you pay using the same ticket system as on the Italian mainland: pull a ticket at the entrance, then pay in cash, by card or via Telepass at the exit. Charges are moderate compared with the mainland.
- Tolled: A18 (Messina–Catania) and A20 (Messina–Palermo).
- Toll-free: A19 (Palermo–Catania) and A29 (Palermo–Trapani/Mazara).
- Also toll-free: the E45 Catania–Syracuse (an independent connecting route, not an A18 section) and the still-under-construction A18 Syracuse–Gela/Rosolini.
- System: pull a ticket at the entrance, pay at the exit (cash, card or Telepass).
- Cost: moderate – usually just a few euros for typical stretches (guide price, check at the station/online).
- Tip: to avoid tolls, use the free A19 between Palermo and Catania.
Which motorways charge a toll?
| Motorway | Route | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| A18 | Messina – Catania | tolled |
| E45 | Catania – Syracuse (independent connecting route, not an A18 section) | toll-free |
| A18 (South) | Syracuse – Gela/Rosolini (separate, only partially completed route) | currently toll-free |
| A20 | Messina – Palermo (as far as Buonfornello) | tolled |
| A19 | Palermo – Catania | toll-free |
| A29 | Palermo – Mazara del Vallo / Trapani turn-off | toll-free |
Note: the E45 Catania–Syracuse and the A18 Syracuse–Gela/Rosolini are run by ANAS and CAS respectively as separate routes and should not be confused with the tolled A18 Messina–Catania.
How do I pay the toll?
On the tolled sections (A18, A20) the usual Italian ticket system applies: pull a ticket at the barrier when entering, then pay the amount due when exiting. The following are generally accepted:
- Cash (lanes marked with a white sign / coin and note machine),
- Credit or debit card (lanes marked with a card symbol – the most reliable option with a rental car),
- Telepass (dedicated lanes, only with a Telepass device).
Important: don’t accidentally drive into a Telepass-only lane (yellow “T”) if you don’t have a device – it causes trouble at the barrier. Choose the lane with the green arrow and the cash/card symbol.
What does the toll cost in Sicily?
Charges are low compared with the mainland. Typical day trips usually cost just a few euros; longer journeys along the whole A20 or A18 cost proportionally more. Exact rates depend on the entry and exit points and can be checked at the toll station or via the operators (Consorzio Autostrade Siciliane / CAS, and ANAS for the E45 and the southern A18 extension). Because rates can change, treat any figures as a guide and check them again if needed.
Tips for rental-car travellers
- Keep some change handy – not every station/lane reliably accepts foreign cards.
- The A19 (Palermo–Catania) is toll-free and the fastest east–west route across the interior.
- Don’t drive into the Telepass lane if you don’t have a device.
- Toll or fine notices for rental cars arrive with a delay via the rental company – keep your receipts.
Common problems at Sicilian toll stations
On the tolled motorways A18 (Messina–Catania) and A20 (Messina–Palermo), the toll booths don’t always run smoothly. Individual Telepass lanes can be closed or temporarily out of order – with a little care, the most common situations are easy to handle:
- Telepass lane closed: watch for a red X and choose another open lane in good time. Don’t drive into a closed lane.
- Barrier doesn’t open despite Telepass: stay put, don’t reverse and don’t get out. Use the “Assistenza” or “Aiuto” button to contact the operator.
- No dedicated Telepass lane open: use an open mixed lane if Telepass is explicitly shown on the sign. Otherwise choose a normal payment lane and sort out the passage with the attendant.
- Ticket machine not working: don’t drive on without a ticket if the barrier stays closed. Press the help button. In August 2026, faulty ticket dispensers at the San Gregorio barrier caused long queues at times.
- Ticket lost or unreadable: in this case the toll is usually calculated from the furthest possible entry point. So don’t fold, wet or throw away your ticket.
- Card payment disrupted: card terminals and automatic tills can occasionally fail. Carry some cash and change as a backup.
- No staff at the booth: some lanes are staffed automatically or remotely. Press the help button if there’s a problem.
- Telepass passage not registered: note the date, time, and entry and exit points, and check your statement later.
- Notice of unpaid toll (“Rapporto di Mancato Pagamento”): the amount can usually be settled within 15 days without extra cost; after that, processing fees may be added. Details at Autostrade Siciliane.
Rapporto di Mancato Pagamento: how do I pay an outstanding toll afterwards?
If you haven’t paid a toll, or paid it only in part, you receive a notice at the exit called a “Rapporto di Mancato Pagamento” – it lists the number plate, vehicle class, date, time, exit point and, if known, the entry point, plus the amount owed. The whole process runs only in Italian, so here are the key steps summarised in English (source: Autostrade Siciliane):
- Deadline: payment without a surcharge is possible within 15 days of the date on the notice. After that, processing fees are added, and if payment is delayed further the claim is enforced.
- Directly at a toll station: show the notice with its printed reference number at a staffed exit lane and pay in cash.
- By bank transfer, including from abroad: IBAN
IT46N0200816511000300183771, bank UniCredit S.p.A., beneficiary “Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane”; for transfers from abroad also include BIC/SWIFTUNCRITM1K66. Always state the number plate, date of travel and exit point as the payment reference – without these details the payment can’t be matched. For international transfers, also send a payment receipt and a copy of ID by email to rmpp@autostradesiciliane.it. - Drove in a Telepass lane without a device: the regular toll plus a €2.58 collection fee is due, also payable by transfer using the same bank details.
- Automatic till without a notice: if no Rapporto was issued, the outstanding toll can also be paid informally by transfer using the same bank details.
- Queries: by email only, to rmpp@autostradesiciliane.it; the responsible office also has limited phone hours (Mon 3–5pm, Tue & Wed 10am–noon, Thu 3–5pm).
Unused toll booths near Ragusa and Modica: watch out for a scam
On the A18 Syracuse–Gela, in the area around Rosolini, Ispica, Modica and Ragusa, toll installations that already look finished, or partly finished, are in place. However, as shown in the table above, the currently drivable southern section is toll-free – you need neither a ticket nor a Telepass there, and there’s nothing to pay afterwards either.
If anyone there nonetheless demands money, or claims to sell you a ticket, this is not an official toll payment. Don’t hand over any money and drive on safely. Official payments on Sicilian motorways are made exclusively via marked machines or staffed booths, and always against a traceable receipt.
Watch out at the San Gregorio (Catania North) toll machine
At the San Gregorio/Catania Nord entrance towards Taormina and Messina, it has repeatedly been observed that women stand right next to the ticket machine, take the ticket out for the driver and hand it over – and then ask for money, in some cases up to around 5 euros. Because they stand right at the machine, they are sometimes mistaken for toll staff.
The ticket at the motorway entrance is free of charge, however; the actual toll is only paid on exit. These individuals are not official toll staff – there is no obligation to give them any money. Sicilian local media reported on the persistent begging at this toll station in 2025; the police are aware and have already taken action against those involved.
- Take the ticket from the machine yourself if possible.
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- If approached insistently or you feel uncomfortable, stay in the car and drive on calmly.
- In an emergency: call 112.
Frequently asked questions
- Which motorways in Sicily charge a toll?
- Only the A18 (Messina–Catania) and the A20 (Messina–Palermo). The A19 (Palermo–Catania) and the A29 (Palermo–Trapani/Mazara) are toll-free. The continuation south from Catania is also toll-free: it no longer runs on the A18, but on the independent E45 Catania–Syracuse and the connecting, only partially completed A18 Syracuse–Gela.
- How do I pay the toll in Sicily?
- Using the ticket system: pull a ticket on entry, pay in cash, by card or via Telepass on exit. With a rental car, the card lane is the most reliable option.
- Is the A19 Palermo–Catania tolled?
- No, the A19 is toll-free along its whole length – the cheapest connection between Palermo and Catania.
- Is the Catania–Syracuse stretch part of the tolled A18?
- No. South of Catania the route is called the E45 (Catania–Syracuse) and is an independent, toll-free connection – not a section of the A18 Messina–Catania.
- How expensive is the toll in Sicily?
- Moderate. Typical stretches usually cost just a few euros; the exact amount depends on the entry and exit points and can be checked at the station.
- Do I need Telepass for Sicily?
- No. Telepass is optional; without a device you simply pay in cash or by card. Just avoid the Telepass-only lane.
- What should I do if the barrier doesn’t open at the toll station despite having Telepass?
- Stay put, don’t reverse and don’t get out. The “Assistenza” or “Aiuto” button lets you contact the operator directly.
- What happens if I lose the toll ticket?
- The toll is usually calculated from the furthest possible entry point. So a ticket shouldn’t be folded, get wet, or be thrown away.
- By when can I settle an unpaid toll afterwards?
- With a “Rapporto di Mancato Pagamento”, payment is usually possible within 15 days without extra cost; after that, processing fees may be added.
- How do I pay an outstanding toll notice (Rapporto di Mancato Pagamento) by bank transfer?
- By bank transfer to UniCredit S.p.A., IBAN IT46N0200816511000300183771 (from abroad, also BIC UNCRITM1K66), beneficiary Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane. The number plate, date of travel and exit point must be given as the payment reference, otherwise the payment can’t be matched.
- Do I have to pay at the toll installations near Ragusa and Modica on the A18?
- No, this southern section of the A18 Syracuse–Gela is currently toll-free, even though toll installations are already in place there. If someone demands cash or offers you a ticket there, it is not an official payment.
- Do I have to give money to people at the San Gregorio/Catania Nord ticket machine?
- No. The ticket at the motorway entrance is free; the actual toll is only paid on exit. People who take the ticket there and ask for money are not official toll staff.
Status and updates: toll information checked and refined (August 2026, incl. ADAC, ANAS and Consorzio Autostrade Siciliane). Rates can change – the figures given at the toll station are binding. Further reading: Car rental in Sicily, Mobility & getting around in Sicily, Parking & ZTL in Sicily.
