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Road tolls in Europe using a vignette

Jun 15, 2022


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A vignette is a form of road pricing which is mandatory to use in some EU countries. It demonstrates the period of time a vehicle may use a road. For example, the vignette for using the Chech highways for 10 days: from 05/05/2020 to 05/15/2020. Generally, it is a sticker that has to be attached to the car's windscreen. These useful vignettes give an opportunity to control the traffic and provide the governments with additional funds to keep the car roads clean. The E-vignette like https://e-vignettes.eu/ is made in such a way, that it is impossible to detach it without breaking. So it is impossible to buy one and use it for several cars. Police and border guards are responsible for checking the presence of useful vignettes. Also, some of the highways have an automatic system for checking the availability of these tokens on the windscreen.

Which European countries require a vignette?


Vignettes are widely spread in the countries of central Europe and Italy. The list of countries is Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. In most countries, this is a special sticker that needs to be attached to the windscreen. However, from 2021 some services have appeared, which allow drivers to purchase an electronic vignette. Each country offers a particular amount of days, but in general, there are three types of vignettes depending on the duration of your transfer through the country: 10 days, one or two months, and annual. Each country has its own regulations regarding the period and the price of these useful vignettes.

How do you pay for tolls in Europe?


As these useful vignettes are mandatory to have using some of the roads, drivers can easily buy them in many places:

  • Border crossing points

  • Petrol stations

  • Internet


The electronic vignette appeared relatively recently compared to the classic form. Generally, it appeared in the last couple of years. The mechanism is simple: you find the online vignette provider, for example, Evignette, place the order via mobile or PC, fill in the data about your car, the duration of the vignette and that’s all. After all the procedures you will receive a valid vignette which you can use to travel across the chosen country.

How much are the toll roads in Europe?


The toll roads are a more general system than vignettes. Basically, it is a road, where you need to pay tax for passing through it. This payment covers all maintenance and construction costs. It is convenient because only those who drive a car or motorcycle are paying for the road, without transferring it to the non-users. These roads are widely spread across Europe. Every country sets up its own legislation, and prices for the toll roads, but in general, they have 3 types of duration and different prices for the motorcycles, vehicles up to 3.5 tons, and vehicles over 3.5 tons. The last type of automobiles has separate regulation in each country.

Do I need a vignette to drive in Austria?


You are definitely required to buy a vignette driving your automobile through the roads of Austria. It is required when you drive a national motorway and expressway network. However, there are still some roads with a more traditional approach: pay and go, so you do not need to buy anything driving these roads. Also, the Austrian vignettes are one of the cheapest ones, around 10 euros for ten days for a vehicle up to 3.5 tons. It would be cheaper if you drive a motorcycle - 5.60 euros for 10 days. The great thing is that they are widely spread across the countries. You will definitely find them somewhere near the border, at gas stations, and at other accommodations across these roads. The absence of this toll on paying roads could cause a fine of several hundreds of Euros, it depends on many factors.

So, what is a vignette and why do you need it on toll roads? Let’s summarize all the information we discussed here.

Generally, it is a piece of paper that you attach to your automobile's windscreen or an electronic token. The ownership of that kind of token gives you the opportunity to use certain roads in the EU countries. Paper vignettes are useful and widely spread throughout the countries: gas stations, border crossings, and other similar facilities. As I have already mentioned, there are two types of useful vignettes, and the electronic one is really helpful. You can buy it in advance before starting your trip and do not worry about the fines or standing in the line.

Each country has its own system, with its own pricing and fine policy. For example, in Austria you will be forced to buy this useful vignette for about 10 euros for a period of 10 days. Do not forget to buy this vignette or you will be fined.