What is free flow tolling and why does it matter?

Free flow tolling eliminates traditional toll booths, letting drivers pass through gantries without stopping. Payment is handled electronically — and that means drivers must use an app or a registered tag. As Brazil rolls out free flow on more highways, concessionaires are racing to build better mobile tools.

What can highway apps actually do?

Modern concession apps have grown well beyond simple customer service portals. Features now include an SOS emergency button, pre-hospital assistance requests, roadside mechanical support, live traffic cameras, toll-rate lookups and in-app payments. Arteris, for example, runs SOS ViaPaulista across 720.6 km of highways in the São Paulo interior — covering the Araraquara, Riversul, Ribeirão Preto, Franca and São Carlos regions — with a free Wi-Fi network built into the service.

Is there a single app for all toll roads?

Not yet — and that fragmentation is the main headache. Nova Rodovias, which operates exclusively under free flow, shares one platform with 18 other concessionaires nationwide, but poor integration with navigation systems and a lack of cross-app interoperability still limit everyday use. The Brazilian Highway Concessionaires Association (ABCR) has the issue on its radar.

What solutions are being built?

Three initiatives are converging. First, Pedágio Digital — launched in December by concessionaires Motiva and EcoRodovias — operates independently to attract as many operators as possible and ensure interoperability. CEO Rodrigo Zambon says the platform already covers nearly all free-flow concessionaires and 96% of the gantries in São Paulo. Second, the São Paulo state portal Siga Fácil aggregates road-passage information for all state highways. Third, the National Traffic Council (Contran) has mandated that toll-passage and payment data be consolidated inside the CNH Digital app, with a deadline of 7 August for the rule to take effect.

Key Facts:
  • Free flow roll-out is the main driver of highway-app adoption in Brazil.
  • Arteris manages 720.6 km of São Paulo interior highways with the SOS ViaPaulista app.
  • Nova Rodovias shares one app with 18 other concessionaires across the country.
  • Pedágio Digital covers nearly all free-flow operators and 96% of São Paulo gantries.
  • CNH Digital must consolidate toll data by 7 August under Contran rules.
  • Siga Fácil is São Paulo's state portal for highway-passage information.