Cuota rates

We have been using Bill & Dot Bell's Road Logs and Guides for about 8 years . . .

http://www.ontheroadin.com/Road%20Logs%202011/Mexico%20Road%20Logs.htm . . . .

and each year we write down the amount we pay at each toll booth. We watch the changes each year. For the most part they are consistent but we have seen inconsistency too. Perhaps it is training but it seems not every toll taker sees us the same way. Mostly we are a bus. But sometimes we are a truck. Sometimes we are a bus towing a car and sometimes we are a truck towing a trailer. We think we pay less when they think we are a truck/trailer combo than if we are a bus/car combo. We also think that the different road companies have different ideas about what is what. Our biggest concern is that the toll taker gives us the correct change.

I hope so, but I have led caravans, and found that there have been many cases of inconsistent toll charging. I have also seen Class C's with dual rear wheels charged as 3 axles on many occasions. Believe me, I am the one who gets the complaints.

Tequila wrote:
The pattern I am seeing is that it is inconsistent. I know that with my old setup I was 95%of the time, the third toll down the list, I will have to see which one it is this year.

I have never found the tolls to be inconsistent. What is inconsistent is peoples' ability to read and understand the toll charges.
In your case, this year with a dually and 2 axle trailer, you should look for the charge for "Camion, 2 3 4 ejes" on the sign listing the toll charges. That is what you will be charged all the way down 15D. This will be the same as you were charged last year with your dually and single axle trailer.
For anyone with a SRW, you can add the Automovil charge to the "ejes excedentes" charge for each axle on your trailer to come up with the toll.
I'm not sure how to explain this to you any more clearly. :R

The pattern I am seeing is that it is inconsistent. I know that with my old setup I was 95%of the time, the third toll down the list, I will have to see which one it is this year.

In a Class A with dualies, on the West coast of Mexico we are pretty consistently charged as a two axle truck.

we've gone down to Mazatlan for 8 winters. On the toll road we could never figure out what the rate at each booth would be--even if it was listed.

generally a dually vs the SRW is charged a lessor amount. go figure.

The West coast & East coast rate dual wheels differently. I have a small motor home with two axles but dual wheels in back.

On the west coast of MX I get charged as two axles, of course it's been 5 years since I went from AZ to Guatemala.

On the east coast they always charge me as a autobus or 3 axles. Last 5 years I've taken east coast and central route. Same.

Your results may differ.

Dually toll rate discussion

As an added note, an SRW is classed as a pickup, while a DRW is classed as a camion. A camion is charged for 2, 3 or 4 axles at the same rate at most toll booths along 15D. Since a pickup (SRW) already has its own rate, which is the same as an automobile, how would you describe a 2 axle camion?
Wait! I think I've got it! (Watch for it, here it comes :B) It's a DUALLY.
Now, if you check the rates in the City to City calculator, you'll see that a dually is charged less than an SRW when pulling a 2 axle trailer.

It's quite easy to follow if you just get rid of the idea that a dually is 3 axles. It's 2 axles. Your charges for pulling a single axle trailer VS a two axle trailer will not change when pulling with a dually, or even if you drive the dually without any trailer. It really makes little sense to us, but that is how they calculate the charges.


Anyways, all in good fun to discuss. :)

We have had different experiences on different roads with different personnel in the booth. As I am sure you know there are many roads that are privately owned and not gov't highways. So they may have different formulas as to how they calculate the toll. I posted on the other thread that though we are mostly charged as a two axle bus towing a car (add them together) - we are sometimes charged as a 4 axle truck. I have no idea why. I am not even sure what differences there might be on which roads. Overall we find the calculator to be at least close to accurate and not a whole lot of difference from what it says to what we are charged. Though there may be some question about the charge we find it is not enough to worry about in the overall scheme of things as far as how much the entire trip costs us. We have had a few occasions when the toll cost less than we expected. As long as they are close to what we thought and the change matches the receipt we figure it must be correct.

A note on receipts - always save the receipt and be sure to get one - this is your proof of insurance should anything happen that the toll road owner is required to pay for due to road hazard or whatever. This gets into another whole topic of conversation but just thought I would mention the importance of keeping the receipt.