1 June 2026; from today, users of the Costa del Sol motorway (AP-7) begin paying the rates for the so-called special season, or high season, which means a significant increase in the cost of travel for thousands of drivers in the area and, especially, for residents of Manilva.
The increase is not new, as it was approved at the beginning of the year together with the general update of rates by the concession holder Ausol. However, today is when many drivers will really start to feel the impact on their pockets as the summer prices come into effect, in force during the months of June, July, August and September.
Almost 20 euros to cross the Costa del Sol
With the special rate coming into force, travelling the full route between Manilva and Málaga on the AP-7 now costs 19.55 euros in each direction for light vehicles.
The tolls are set as follows:
- Manilva (Estepona-Guadiaro): €4.05
- San Pedro (Estepona-Marbella): €6.25
- Calahonda (Marbella-Málaga): €9.25
In total, 19.55 euros per journey, which means 39.10 euros a day in tolls alone for those who need to travel and return on the same day.
Manilva residents, the worst affected
The entry into force of these rates also coincides with the increase in traffic typical of the tourist season. The free alternative, the A-7, continues to carry a high density of vehicles, frequent tailbacks and a high accident rate on certain stretches.
Despite repeated requests to study discounts or the removal of the toll between Manilva and Estepona, no progress of any kind has been made. Ausol’s concession on this stretch will remain in place until at least 2054.
A cost that weighs on household finances
For many workers who commute daily outside the municipality, the toll has become a fixed expense that is hard to bear. Adding fuel and other vehicle-related costs, the annual outlay can reach several thousand euros, a situation that many residents consider unfair as there is no genuinely free alternative that is both fast and safe.
With the arrival of June, the bill goes up again. And, once more, those who live at the western end of the Costa del Sol will be the worst affected.
