Motorists using the AP-7 toll highway are now facing a significant price increase as peak summer tariffs have come into effect. The surge, exceeding 68%, raises the cost of a single trip for standard cars from a low-season baseline of €11.60 to €19.55.
This immediate price hike has ignited a fierce political row on the Costa del Sol. Patricia Navarro, the Málaga PP President, launched a strong attack on the central government after the special summer rate went live on June 1. Navarro warned that regular users of the Málaga–San Pedro de Alcantara–Estepona/Guadiaro stretch will see their full journey cost jump from €11 to €19.
The prominent local politician branded the seasonal rate change an 'infernal increase' and declared the coastal highway the most expensive toll road in the country. Navarro claimed that the peak summer pricing will extract an extraordinary €35 million directly from the pockets of regular road users and Costa del Sol residents over the next four months. "We cannot allow the people of Málaga to continue to be the ones who pay the most when it comes to tolls," she stated, vowing to keep demanding solutions from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
The steep summer penalty affects three major toll barriers along the Mediterranean artery, impacting key commuter zones for expatriates. The stretch between Málaga and Marbella at the Calahonda plaza has jumped from €5.70 to €9.25. Drivers passing between Estepona and Marbella at the San Pedro barrier will see fees climb from €3.85 to €6.25. The final southern sector between Guadiaro and Estepona at the Manilva plaza has risen from €2.45 to €4.05.
The peak summer tariff is scheduled to remain in place until September 30. This seasonal spike complicates a deeper financial squeeze that hit motorists earlier this year. On January 1, the central government authorized a baseline rate increase of 3.64% across state-concession toll roads, including the AP-7 managed by concessionaire Ausol.
The inland AP-46 highway between Málaga and Antequera also saw its baseline increased by 4.68%, pushing its own high-season summer tariff up to €6.60. These baseline increases outpace general inflation as authorities are clawing back revenue lost during the energy crisis, when a strict 4% cap on toll increases was enforced. Regular commuters can avoid the severe summer price penalties if they are registered electronic payment users, as motorists utilizing systems like Via T maintain low-season base rates and can access volume discounts of up to 50%.
