New toll rates on the A4 Katowice-Krakow motorway do not apply to everyone — you may still be allowed to pay the previous rate at the toll plaza

Starting from 3 April this year, new toll rates will apply on the A4 Katowice-Kraków motorway. In the case of car drivers paying at the toll plaza by cash or card, the decision on whether the new rate will apply is up to them alone. By switching to automatic payments, they will still be able to travel at the current rates. 

The introduction of preferential rates for automatic payment users on the A4 motorway's concession section more than three years ago gave drivers of all vehicle categories a choice of how much they would pay at the toll plaza. Indeed, they could pay tolls by cash or card, just like before, or they could significantly reduce them by installing a videotolling (automatic number plate reading) app on their phone or an A4Go onboard electronic toll collection device in their car. More and more drivers are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel more cheaply, and in many ways more conveniently, on the A4 motorway — the share of automated transactions now exceeds 50 per cent.

New toll rates incentivise drivers to change their habits

Starting from 3 April this year, all vehicle categories travelling on the A4 Katowice-Kraków motorway will be subject to new toll rates. The tolls will be raised at each of the two toll plazas in Mysłowice and Balice, and will be as follows:

• PLN 15 for category 1 — an increase of PLN 2.00,
• PLN 27 for categories 2 and 3 — an increase of PLN 3.00 (a PLN 19.00 discount),
• PLN 46 for categories 4 and 5 — an increase of PLN 6.00.

The rate for motorcyclists will increase from PLN 6.00 to PLN 7.00.

At the same time, the concessionaire will continue to offer discounts for passenger cars utilising the videotolling app or the A4Go electronic toll collection devices. Users of these forms of toll payment will pay PLN 13.00 at each of the two toll plazas, which is PLN 2.00 less than drivers who opt for traditional payments. At the same time, this marks an increase of PLN 3.00 over the toll rate applicable to the videotolling app and A4Go device users before the price change.

"With the introduction of discounts for automatic payments, drivers have been given a choice that they had never been offered before when new toll rates started to apply. How much they pay to travel is a matter of their individual choice and their openness to changing their habits. Installing the app on your phone or ordering an A4Go device takes just a few minutes, and this is followed by real savings. New users of videotolling or A4Go who drive passenger cars will not experience any increase in the toll rates since it will not apply to them thanks to the discount," said Rafał Czechowski, SAM SA spokesman. "The toll rate for current users of automatic payment methods will increase, though it will still be lower than the regular rate. Drivers who have already become familiar with automatic payment methods and have enjoyed a very attractive discount over the past few years also appreciate the other advantages of this solution, such as a much smoother passage through the toll plaza," he added.

Automatic payments are more advantageous on all accounts

While automatic payment methods are most in line with the needs and expectations of regular users of the A4 Katowice-Kraków motorway, their use is well worth it even during weekend and holiday trips. Drivers can choose whether they are more comfortable with videotolling, which is based on automatic number plate reading and for which only a free mobile app is needed, or whether they prefer to install an onboard device for electronic toll collection in their car, with the latter requiring (prepaid) top-ups or having a payment card connected (postpaid). Videotolling allows you to choose from a range of app providers; as of today, Autopay, SkyCash, IKO and mPay are recognised on the A4 motorway's concession section, with more providers to be added later. Further, the apps are linked to ORLEN Flota cards, online banking, the Yanosik app and similar solutions, and they also enable travel on state-operated motorway sections. In contrast, the A4Go is a solution often chosen by vehicle fleet owners or entrepreneurs, not least because of the option of topping up the onboard device "in advance".

The partial automation of the toll plazas has significantly increased their capacity. With increasing interest in this form of toll payment, the concessionaire of the A4 motorway's concession section has changed the traffic rules for drivers using automatic payments at the toll plazas, allocating three, and in the case of heavy traffic, up to four lanes for each direction in Mysłowice and Balice. Lorry drivers using automatic payment methods have gained a separate toll booth, just like passenger car drivers had before them.

Visit www.a4-szybko.pl for information on the options available for cheaper, faster and more convenient toll payments using automatic methods.

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Information about SAM SA

Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska S.A. manages the 60-km section of the A4 Katowice-Kraków motorway. This is the first fully operational road of this type in Poland, built as part of the public-private partnership, as a brownfield project  on the basis of the road constructed in the 1970s  and 1980s. Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska S.A. obtained a license for its adaptation to the requirements of the toll motorway and operation in 1997. It required numerous investments. All investment projects and current maintenance of road lanes are funded from revenues obtained from the collection of tolls for the concession section and loans received from the international banking consortium. Unlike other concessions for the management of toll motorways, the project implemented by Stalexport Autostrada S. A. does not burden the State Treasury with any obligations. Moreover, it has not received any grants or guarantees of the Treasury.

Additional information can be obtained from:

Rafał Czechowski
Spokesman of SAM S.A.
e-mail: SEND A MESSAGE
tel. 601 063 200