Navigate Austria's roads legally and without hassle. Find everything you need to know about mandatory vignettes right here, ensuring a smooth and fine-free journey through the breathtaking Austrian landscape.
Learn How to Get Yours
Welcome to VignettOster, your straightforward resource for understanding and navigating the Austrian motorway vignette system. Driving on Austria's extensive network of motorways (Autobahnen) and expressways (Schnellstraßen) is a privilege that comes with a mandatory requirement: a valid toll sticker, officially known as a "vignette." This system is the backbone of financing the maintenance, expansion, and ongoing development of Austria's high-quality road infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient travel for everyone. It's a fair contribution from all road users to support the vital transportation arteries of the country. Ignoring this requirement is not merely an oversight; failure to correctly display or possess a valid vignette when travelling on these designated roads is subject to strict controls and can result in significant financial penalties, often administered on the spot by vigilant authorities. Our mission at VignettOster is to demystify this process for you. We provide clear, up-to-date, and reliable information directly sourced from official channels to help you fully understand the vignette requirements. From identifying which roads require a vignette to choosing the right type for your journey – be it a short holiday or a longer stay – we guide you through the essential details. This site is designed to make your travel preparations smoother, helping you avoid unexpected fines and ensuring your focus remains on enjoying the stunning alpine scenery and rich culture Austria has to offer. Consider us your co-pilot for navigating the bureaucratic side of Austrian road travel with confidence and ease.
The Austrian vignette serves as proof that you have paid the mandatory toll for using designated motorways and expressways. It's a simple concept designed to fund the road network. This system is compulsory for the vast majority of vehicles under 3.5 tonnes.
A vignette is absolutely required for nearly all motorways (Autobahnen) and expressways (Schnellstraßen) throughout Austria. This is not optional travel; usage without a valid vignette incurs significant penalties. Always confirm your route requires a vignette.
This toll system primarily applies to passenger cars, motorhomes, and motorcycles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. Vehicles over this weight threshold, like larger trucks and buses, use a different, distance-based toll system called GO-Box.
Travellers have the convenience of choosing between the traditional physical sticker vignette that must be affixed to the windshield or a modern digital vignette linked directly to your vehicle's license plate, stored electronically for ease.
Select the vignette validity period that best aligns with your travel plans within Austria. The official prices are set annually by the Austrian state-owned road operator, ASFINAG, ensuring a consistent toll structure across the network.
| Type | Vehicles | Price (EUR) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Day Vignette | Cars, Motorhomes (<3.5t) | €9.90 | 10 consecutive days |
| 2-Month Vignette | Cars, Motorhomes (<3.5t) | €29.00 | 2 months from issue date |
| Annual Vignette | Cars, Motorhomes (<3.5t) | €96.40 | Valid from December of previous year to January 31st of the following year (approx. 14 months) |
| Motorcycle 10-Day | Motorcycles | €3.90 | 10 consecutive days |
| Motorcycle 2-Month | Motorcycles | €11.50 | 2 months from issue date |
| Motorcycle Annual | Motorcycles | €38.20 | Valid from December of previous year to January 31st of the following year (approx. 14 months) |
*Please note: Prices are current as of early 2024 and are subject to change based on official regulations by ASFINAG. For the absolute latest and official pricing information, always refer to the official ASFINAG website.
Acquiring the necessary vignette for your Austrian journey is a straightforward process, regardless of whether you prefer the traditional sticker or the convenient digital format. Follow these steps to ensure you're compliant before you hit the motorway.
First, determine whether a digital vignette linked to your license plate suits you better, or if you prefer the traditional sticker. Then, select the validity period required for your trip: 10 days, 2 months, or the full annual vignette.
Vignettes can be purchased conveniently in several locations. The official ASFINAG online shop is a primary source for digital vignettes. Alternatively, you can buy both sticker and digital vignettes at Austrian automobile clubs (ÖAMTC, ARBÖ), most petrol stations near border crossings or on motorways, and designated tobacco shops (Trafiken).
If you opt for the digital vignette, you will need to provide your vehicle's license plate number and country of registration during the purchase. Please be aware: online purchases made by consumers in the EU are typically subject to a 14-day cooling-off period before the vignette becomes valid. If you need it immediately, purchase it at a physical sales point or if you are purchasing as a business exempt from consumer protection.
For physical sticker vignettes, proper application is crucial. Peel the vignette carefully and affix it firmly to the inside of your vehicle's windshield (for cars) or a visible, non-removable part (for motorcycles) BEFORE entering a vignette-mandatory road. It must be applied directly to the glass/surface; using tape, foil, or placing it loosely makes it invalid.
Travelling through Austria should be a pleasure, and staying informed about the vignette rules is the easiest way to prevent unpleasant surprises. Understanding the regulations is absolutely key to ensuring a smooth, hassle-free, and most importantly, fine-free journey on the country's motorways.
This is the most critical rule: operating a vehicle on a vignette-mandatory motorway or expressway without a valid vignette is a serious offense. If caught during a roadside check, the immediate replacement toll (Ersatzmaut) is currently €120 for cars and €65 for motorcycles. If the case proceeds to formal administrative proceedings, fines can escalate dramatically, potentially reaching up to €3,000. Always ensure your vignette is valid before entering these roads.
For those using the physical sticker vignette, proper application is non-negotiable. It must be permanently affixed to the inside of the windshield in the designated area (typically top left or behind the rearview mirror) for cars, or a clearly visible, non-removable part for motorcycles. Using any temporary adhesive method, placing it incorrectly (e.g., on a side window, just lying on the dashboard), or failing to attach it before driving on the road renders the vignette invalid, leaving you liable for fines.
A key detail for the digital vignette purchased online by consumers within the EU: due to consumer protection regulations regarding online purchases, the digital vignette typically becomes valid only on the 18th day after the purchase date. This allows for the 14-day right of withdrawal plus a few administrative days. If you need a digital vignette for immediate use, you must purchase it at a physical sales point (like a petrol station) where this cooling-off period does not apply, or ensure your purchase is exempt (e.g., purchased by a registered business).
Be aware that the standard motorway vignette covers most, but not all, tolled routes in Austria. Certain costly sections, particularly tunnels and scenic mountain pass roads (like the Brenner Autobahn, Tauern Autobahn, Arlberg Snelweg), require an *additional* special toll (Sondermaut), payable separately. Your vignette does not cover passage on these specific routes. It's advisable to check your planned route on an official map or navigation service that includes toll information.
We've compiled answers to the most common questions we receive about the Austrian motorway vignette system to help you quickly find the information you need for your travels.
A vignette is required for driving on all officially designated motorways (Autobahnen) and expressways (Schnellstraßen) throughout Austria. These routes are clearly marked with blue signs indicating the road number and the ASFINAG logo, often accompanied by signs reminding drivers of the vignette obligation. There are very few exceptions to this rule, typically short bypasses immediately after a border crossing that lead to a non-vignette road. It's highly recommended to consult an up-to-date map or GPS system that includes Austrian vignette requirements or check the official ASFINAG website before your journey to be certain.
The core function is the same: both grant you permission to use the vignette-mandatory road network. The difference lies in the format. A sticker vignette is a physical adhesive label that you must peel off its backing and securely attach to the inside of your vehicle's windshield or a specified part for motorcycles. A digital vignette, on the other hand, requires no physical sticker; instead, your vehicle's license plate number is registered in a central database, and electronic checks verify its validity. This offers convenience as you don't need to handle a sticker, and it's ideal for vehicles with interchangeable license plates (wechselkennzeichen).
No, Austrian motorway vignettes are strictly non-transferable between vehicles. A vignette is valid only for the vehicle on which it was originally affixed (sticker) or the license plate with which it was registered (digital). If you change vehicles, even if it's just temporarily, you are required to purchase a new vignette for the replacement vehicle before using the mandatory road network. Attempts to remove and re-affix a sticker vignette will invalidate it, and digital vignettes are tied solely to the registered plate number.
The validity period depends on the type you purchase. The 10-Day vignette is valid for 10 consecutive calendar days, starting from the day you validate it (for sticker) or specify as the start date (for digital). The 2-Month vignette is valid for exactly two months from the start date you choose. The Annual vignette offers the longest validity; it is valid from the 1st of December of the previous year until the 31st of January of the following year. For example, the 2024 annual vignette is valid from December 1st, 2023, until January 31st, 2025, covering a period of approximately 14 months.
Unfortunately, lost or damaged sticker vignettes are generally not replaced or refunded. Once a sticker vignette is applied and then removed or damaged, it becomes invalid. If this happens, you will need to purchase a new vignette to legally use the Austrian motorway network. The only common exception is if your windshield is damaged (e.g., by a stone chip) and needs replacement; in such cases, you can usually get a replacement vignette by presenting the damaged windshield with the remains of the sticker and the original purchase receipt at an official ASFINAG sales point or automobile club.
Hearing from travellers who found our guide helpful is what drives us. Read some feedback from people who successfully navigated the Austrian vignette system with our information.
"Finding clear and reliable information about the Austrian vignette used to be a real challenge before any trip. This site changed that completely! It's straightforward, covers everything, and made planning my family holiday in Tyrol so much easier and stress-free."
"As someone who frequently drives to Austria for business, the transition to digital vignettes was something I needed to understand quickly. The step-by-step guide here was incredibly helpful and accurate. I got my digital vignette sorted without any issues thanks to the clear instructions."
"Avoiding fines is the main goal when driving abroad! The section on regulations and fines was so clear and concise. It laid out exactly what I needed to know about proper sticker application and the digital vignette cooling-off period. Highly recommend this site to anyone driving to Austria!"
"Quick and easy! I found this page when planning a spontaneous weekend trip from Switzerland. The pricing table was exactly what I needed to figure out which vignette to buy. Saved me time and potential headaches."
"Driving from Hungary to Salzburg for the festival, I needed to be sure about the vignette. VignettOster provided all the necessary details in one place, especially useful info about the digital vignette validity. A great resource for cross-border travelers."
Do you have specific questions about the Austrian vignette regulations, need clarification on the purchase process, or require further assistance? We are here to help ensure your journey is as smooth as possible. Feel free to reach out to our support team.
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Our Location: Praterstraße 45, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Customer Support Lead
Sophie is here to help with any questions regarding Austrian vignettes or your travel preparations. Reach out via the form or phone!