TollGuide Central

A digital vignette is an electronic proof of payment for using Austria's motorways and expressways, replacing the traditional adhesive sticker vignette. When you purchase a digital vignette, your vehicle's registration number is recorded in a central database. This system allows enforcement cameras positioned along the road network to automatically verify if a vehicle has a valid vignette. There's no physical sticker to attach or remove, making it a convenient option, especially for frequent travellers or those renting vehicles. The digital vignette is linked to your number plate, so ensure the registration number is entered correctly during purchase. It's valid for specific durations: 10 days, 2 months, or 1 year. This system streamlines toll compliance and reduces the environmental impact associated with physical stickers.

Digital vignettes can be purchased through several convenient channels. The most common and recommended method is via the official ASFINAG webshop or their mobile app. You can also buy them from ADAC offices, Austrian automobile clubs (like ARBÖ and ÖAMTC), and at various petrol stations and border crossings in and around Austria. When purchasing online, you will need your vehicle's registration number, the country of registration, and your payment details. Be aware that for consumers purchasing online, there is typically an 18-day waiting period for the digital vignette to become valid due to consumer protection laws allowing for a cooling-off period. However, this waiting period does not apply if you are purchasing as a business or if you buy it physically at a sales point, where it becomes valid immediately.

This is a crucial point for planning your journey. If you purchase your digital vignette online as a private consumer (not a business), it typically becomes valid on the 18th day after the purchase date. This 18-day waiting period is mandated by Austrian consumer protection laws, allowing for a right of withdrawal. For example, if you buy it on the 1st of the month, it will be valid from the 19th of the same month. If you need immediate validity, you must purchase the digital vignette at a physical sales point, such as a petrol station near the border, an ASFINAG toll booth, or an automobile club office. Purchases made by businesses are also exempt from this waiting period, becoming valid immediately. Always plan your purchase well in advance if buying online to avoid issues.

Special toll sections are specific motorway segments, primarily tunnels and mountain passes, that require an additional toll payment beyond the standard vignette. These sections are typically more expensive to maintain or build due to their geographical challenges. The vignette covers the general use of most Austrian motorways and expressways, but it does not cover these special sections. Examples include the Brenner motorway (A13), the Tauern motorway (A10), the Arlberg road tunnel (S16), and the Karawanken motorway (A11). You can pay these special tolls directly at the toll stations before entering the section, or conveniently, you can purchase a digital section toll online in advance, often allowing for faster passage through dedicated lanes. Failing to pay for these sections, even with a valid vignette, will result in fines.

No, not all tunnels in Austria are covered by the standard vignette. While many shorter tunnels on the general motorway network are indeed covered by the vignette, several longer, more significant tunnels and mountain passes are designated as 'special toll sections' and require an additional, separate toll. These typically include tunnels that are part of major trans-alpine routes or those that involved significant construction costs. Key examples include the Arlberg Road Tunnel, the Karawanken Tunnel, and the Gleinalm and Bosruck Tunnels on the A9 Pyhrn Autobahn. It is essential to identify your route and check if any of these special toll tunnels are on your path, as payment will be required at the tunnel entrance or can be pre-paid digitally. Driving through them without payment, even with a valid vignette, is a violation.

ASFINAG, the Austrian motorway operator, provides an online service where you can easily check the validity of your digital vignette. You simply need to visit the ASFINAG website and navigate to their 'Vignette validity check' section. There, you will enter your vehicle's registration number and the country of registration. The system will then display whether a valid digital vignette is associated with that number plate and its expiry date. This tool is particularly useful for verifying a recent purchase, ensuring the correct number plate was entered, or checking the status of a rented vehicle. It offers peace of mind before you embark on your journey on Austria's toll roads.

Driving on an Austrian motorway or expressway without a valid vignette or failing to pay the special toll for designated sections can lead to significant penalties. If you are stopped by road police or detected by an automated camera system, you will typically face a replacement toll (Ersatzmaut). This is a fixed penalty charge, which is considerably higher than the cost of a vignette itself. For cars, this can be around €120, and for motorcycles, it's approximately €65. If this replacement toll is not paid on the spot or within a specified timeframe, the case can escalate, leading to administrative proceedings and much higher fines, potentially ranging from €300 to €3,000. It's always more cost-effective and less stressful to ensure you have the correct vignette and have paid all necessary special tolls before entering the controlled road network.

Yes, there is a specific vignette for motorcycles in Austria. While the principle is the same as for cars (allowing use of motorways and expressways), the pricing and physical size (for adhesive vignettes, though digital is now dominant) are different. Motorcycles require their own vignette, and it is generally less expensive than the car vignette due to lower road wear and space requirements. Like car vignettes, motorcycle vignettes are available for 10 days, 2 months, or 1 year. The rules regarding digital vignette purchase, validity periods, and special toll sections apply equally to motorcycles. Ensure you purchase the correct type of vignette for your vehicle to avoid penalties.

No, you do not need a separate vignette for a trailer or caravan when towing it with a passenger car (up to 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross weight). The vignette requirement applies only to the towing vehicle. As long as your car has a valid vignette, the attached trailer or caravan is covered. However, it's crucial to note that if your entire vehicle combination (towing vehicle + trailer) exceeds 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross weight, then the vehicle is considered a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and falls under the GO-Box electronic toll system, not the vignette system. In this scenario, you would need a GO-Box, not a vignette. Always check the maximum permissible gross weight of your towing vehicle to determine the correct tolling system.

Generally, most vehicles using Austria's motorways and expressways are required to have a vignette or pay special tolls. However, there are limited exemptions. These typically include certain emergency vehicles (e.g., police, fire brigade, ambulance with flashing lights), vehicles of the Austrian armed forces, and vehicles used for specific public services under official mandate. Additionally, certain road sections, particularly urban bypasses or short connecting segments near borders, might be temporarily or permanently exempt from the vignette requirement, though these are rare on the main network. Tourists and regular drivers should always assume that a vignette is required for all motorways and expressways unless explicitly stated otherwise on official ASFINAG signage or information. There are no general exemptions for specific vehicle types (like electric vehicles) or driver categories for the standard vignette.