A tax on motorways is coming, a big threat to toll prices

“A tax on motorways is coming, a big threat to toll prices”

Vinci threatens to pass on to motorists the cost of a new tax announced by the government.

Under the guise of financing ecological transition projects, French motorists will soon be a little more forced to put their hands to work. pocket when taking a motorway? It's possible. Barely has the finance bill been unveiled; by the government, a company highway already threatens to increase the toll rate next year!

The government revealed on September 27 its finance bill for the year 2024 and, to finance the ecological transition, the executive formalized the bill. a track already available whispered for several weeks: tax the companies that operate motorway concessions. These companies will not be the only ones targeted since the government has added those managing the major French airports. This new tax should bring in a total of 600 million euros per year according to the 2024 bill.

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"The best funding is to ensure that those who pollute more contribute more," the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire when unveiling this project. The response was not long in coming since one of the largest motorway concession companies in France, Vinci, immediately responded. through a press release sent à AFP. The company assures him: “an increase in taxes inevitably means an increase in toll rates,” according to the president of Vinci Autoroutes, Pierre Coppey.

The standoff seems to have started. between Vinci and the government. As a reminder, in August, the Minister Delegate; loaded of Transport, Clément Beaune, had already addressed this avenue of a tax targeting motorway companies and denied it. any possible impact on toll prices. "Changes in toll prices are provided for by long-term contracts between the State and the motorway companies. It is legally planned like that. Contracts do not allow highway companies to say one fine morning: I'm increasing tolls because I think I'm paying too much taxes,” he assured. à France Info, while recognizing that, "each year, a discussion is held independent of all that on the level of tolls".

This discussion strong announcement in 2024. As a reminder, motorway companies can already increase their rates based on inflation. At the start of 2023, toll rates had increased significantly. on average almost 5%.