Why you need the vignette in Austria

The Austrian motorways and motorways have a total length of 2,265 kilometres and are of excellent quality. They connect Austria's cities and regions and serve as essential transit routes for international travellers. A valid vignette is required to use these routes. For some years now, it has been possible to purchase a digital vignette in addition to the traditional adhesive vignette, which is becoming increasingly popular. This article will teach you everything you need about the digital vignette, including the new one-day sticker and additional route toll sections.

What is the digital vignette?

The digital vignette is a modern, electronic alternative to the classic adhesive vignette required to use Austrian motorways. It is directly linked to the vehicle's licence plate number and offers several advantages, such as the ability to purchase and manage it online. It is estimated that around 28 million vignettes were sold in 2023 alone, which illustrates the great importance of this system for the Austrian road network.

Advantages of the digital vignette:

• No physical sticker is required
• Quick and easy online ordering
• Automatic link to the licence plate number
• No adhesive residue on the windscreen

How do I purchase the digital vignette?

The procedure for purchasing the digital vignette is quick and easy. You can buy the vignette via the following channels:

1. Official ASFINAG platform 
   You enter your licence plate number on the ASFINAG website or in the ASFINAG app, select the desired validity period (1 day, ten days, two months or one year) and pay. In 2023, the revenue from the sale of vignettes totalled around 574 million euros.
2. Sales points 
   Alternatively, you can purchase the digital vignette here or at petrol stations and other authorised sales points. There, you will receive a code that you can activate online.

Important note: For private purchases, the digital vignette becomes valid after an 18-day cancellation period. This period does not apply to company purchases.

What types of vignettes are there?

Austria offers several types of vignettes, which can be selected depending on the duration and frequency of your journey. A new option, which is particularly useful for short trips, is the one-day vignette.

1. One-day vignette (new from 2024) 
   The one-day vignette is ideal for travellers who only want to drive through Austria for one day.
2. 10-day vignette 
   This vignette is perfect for short holidays and transit journeys. It offers a flexible option for occasional travellers.
3. 2-month vignette 
   This vignette is ideal for more extended stays or multiple journeys over two months.
4. Annual vignette 
   The annual vignette is the best option for frequent travellers and commuters. It is valid from the date of purchase until the end of the respective calendar year.

What is the route toll?

In addition to the regular vignette, some road sections in Austria are subject to a route toll. This means an additional charge is levied over and above the regular toll sticker on specific sections, such as tunnels or Alpine passes. In 2023, Austria generated 238 million euros in revenue from the route toll.

Road sections with additional tolls:

• Brenner motorway (A13) - toll for the Brenner Pass, an essential connection to Italy.
• Tauern motorway (A10) - toll obligation for the section between Flachau and Zederhaus, including the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels.
• Arlberg motorway (S16) - toll obligation for the Arlberg tunnel between Vorarlberg and Tyrol.
• Karawanken Tunnel (A11) - the connection between Austria and Slovenia.
• Pyhrn motorway (A9) - toll obligation for the Bosruck and Gleinalm tunnels.

This route toll can be paid either on-site at toll stations or online in advance.

When do you need a vignette?

Everyone who uses Austrian motorways must have a valid vignette. This requirement applies to cars and motorbikes, with only a few exceptions, such as on certain local roads.

What happens if you do not have a valid vignette or route toll?

Driving without a valid vignette or without paying the route toll can result in heavy fines. Revenue from the HGV toll alone amounted to 1.686 billion euros in 2023, which shows just how much is being monitored. ASFINAG uses stationary cameras and mobile units to monitor compliance with the toll obligation.

Penalties for missing vignette:

• A replacement toll of 120 euros for cars and 65 euros for motorbikes.
• Failure to pay may result in a charge, leading to fines of up to 3000 euros.

Conclusion: The digital vignette and route toll - what travellers need to consider

The digital vignette is a modern and practical solution for using the Austrian motorways. However, travellers should also consider the additional route toll sections to avoid penalties. The option of buying the vignette and the section toll online makes it much easier to plan your journey. Austria's motorways, with 168 tunnels and 5,862 bridges, offer excellent infrastructure, but only with a valid vignette and paid route toll will the journey be relaxed and safe.