Economists have long argued that road pricing improves the efficiency of infrastructure development. However, pricing projects for roads remain scarce, often for lack of political support. Quebec is no exception. After the implementation of tolls on portions of highways 25 and 30 in the early 2010s, the issue has faded out of political concern. This research focuses on the mechanisms through which technological innovation, and more specifically the emergence of global satellite-based navigation systems, contributes to the comeback of road pricing on the political agenda. A case analysis of Quebec is compared to four other cases considered as first movers in road pricing: Singapore, Oregon (USA), Germany and Norway. Interviews with local experts helped determine how the streams of solutions, problems and politics converge to enable implementation of road pricing projects. The first movers’ experience demonstrates that new technologies and increasing traffic problems are factors that contribute to an increasing need for pricing, but do not eliminate political hurdles. This suggests that it is better to plan things far ahead of time and move forward slowly in the hope of one day successfully implementing a road pricing project.