Europe's motorways are expressways. Many of these are paid for by fees collected from drivers while driving on the track. Since roads in Austria are tolled, traveling on these motorways requires a "vignette" - a sticker that the driver affixes to the windshield in the appropriate place so that the authorities can see if he has paid the appropriate toll. These stickers announce the payment of road tax, which allows you to drive on the highway.
Duty
Are all roads in Austria toll or not? Since 1997, the use of all freeways and motorways requires the purchase of a vignette for passenger cars (up to 3.5 tons) or a GO-Box for trucks and buses. Payments must be made to access the Austrian Autobahn at any time.
Which roads are tolled in Austria?
On routes that are more expensive to maintain, mainly in the Alps, payment is made by mileage. For example, on the Pärn highway with tunnelsections, on the Tauern motorway (Tauern tunnel), on the Karawanken motorway, and on the Brenner motorway. Therefore, on these routes, drivers do not need to have a vignette.
Stickers
They have different durations (10 days, two months or a year). The vignette is made in such a way that you cannot remove it and then stick it on again. You must purchase a sticker and affix it to the location indicated on the back of the vignette, either in the upper left corner or in the center below the rear view mirror attachment point on the inside of the windshield. If the top of the glass is tinted, then the vignette must be attached under the tinted area so it can be seen clearly.
The bike also needs a sticker.
Purchasing a vignette
You can purchase a vignette at border gas stations, in the Tobacco Traffic stores. The sticker must be purchased before entering Austria, at least 10 km before the border.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that when you enter the country, you can no longer go back and buy a vignette, the driver will simply pay a fine. Currently, the amount for this administrative violation, called a special tax, is more than 200 euros. It is paid locally, otherwise the amount increases.
So, buying a vignette does not mean that all roads and tunnels can be driven for free.
There are tracks in Austria that require you to pay the toll on the spot (at the booth). Many of them pass through tunnels, so you must stop in front of it to pay the toll.
Make sure you keep your payment receipt because the vignette is only valid if you show the payment receipt.
Austrian toll roads in 2018
A9 - Pirn motorway, Bosruk tunnel.
A9 - Pirn motorway, Gleinalma tunnel.
A10 - Tauern motorway, Tauern tunnel and Katschberg.
A11 - Karawanken Freeway, Karawanken Tunnel.
A13 - Brenner Freeway (full route).
A13 - Brenner motorway exit from Stubai.
S16 - Arlberg motorway, Arlberg road tunnel.
Where is the sticker required?
On toll roads in Austria, the vignette is the main attribute, except for sections with tolls, which are calculated based on mileage.
Cost
The price of a 10-day vignette will be € 8.70.
For 2 months - € 25.30.
For 1 year - € 84.40.
The price of a motorcycle vignette is €33.60 (1 year), €12.70 (2 months) and €5.00 (10 days).
Where to buy a vignette
At petrol stations, automobile associations and special public administration offices responsible forhighways.
Asfinag
This is a company that develops, finances, maintains autobahns and expressways in Austria. Asfinag does not receive subsidies from the state budget. Works exclusively with revenue from tolls collected on toll roads. Nearly 100% of the proceeds from the sale of stickers and tolls are invested in the construction, operation and safety of the high-level road network in Austria.
Digital vignette
Since 2018, car and motorcycle owners have been offered an innovative alternative to decals. From November, it is possible to purchase a digital vignette in the online store. Like sticky, it is available for a period of 10 days, 2 months and a year. There is no difference: the same period of validity and the same prices.
Prague - Vienna route
When planning your trip, it is important to note that toll roads from Prague to Vienna will help you get to your destination faster. The distance of the entire route is 317 km. You can get there in 4 hours.
Usually people travel to Vienna by bus or train, but if you want to be independent, then a car is ideal. You can take a taxi or rent a car.
Rent a car
If you rent a car in Austria, there will be a vignette on the car, as these costs are already included in the rental price. However, if you plan to travel from another country, you will need to purchase your own.
Route fee
Are toll roads in Austria? On some motorway sections, tolls apply.travel. This is due to the high costs of building special structures such as tunnels (tunnel "Tauern" or "Gleinalm"). Fees are charged for higher service costs.
Who is tolled in Austria
The kilometer system is used on Austrian highways and roads. The fee applies to all trucks and buses with a total weight of 3.5 tons or more.
How to know if you need a vignette
The sticker is required when traveling by car or motorbike on any motorway or expressway in Austria.
Even if you're just driving through Vienna, you still need to buy a vignette as the city has several expressways and motorways.
A bit of history
From the late 60s and mid-70s of the last century, tolls were introduced on some roads in the Austrian mountains. In the early 1990s, they began to collect tolls on the entire motorway network. The main motive behind the decision to introduce a toll collection system was, first of all, financing and covering the costs of their maintenance and repair. After 1996, Parliament passed a law on the collection of tolls on all motorways and expressways. Vignette was introduced as a short term interim solution in 1997. From January 1, 2004 to the present, there is an electronic toll for using roads, payment is proportional to the distance traveled without obstacles.
All vehicles exceedingallowable gross weight of 3.5 tons, are required to pay the distance (mileage).
Passenger vehicles still have to pay tolls by purchasing a vignette. All 2,000 km of motorways and expressways are subject to the new toll system.
Primary Purpose of Charging
It consists in providing a sufficient financial basis for the maintenance, operation, modernization and further development of the motorway network in Austria. All proceeds are earmarked for road improvements. No additional financial support is allocated from the budget. Infrastructure costs are calculated based on the distance traveled by vehicles.
Sections of roads crossing the Alps that require higher costs have in the past been subject to higher fares based on vehicle mileage.
Go-Box and payment methods
Vehicles over the 3.5 tonne maximum weight limit, including all trucks, buses and heavy vans, must be equipped with a small device called a Go-Box. It must be installed on the vehicle before you enter the motorway or expressway. The fare on the roads will vary in this case from the number of axles of the car, the number of kilometers and the Euro emission class.
Go-Box is an electronic device thatusing microwave technology to communicate with pay portals.
Toll roads in Austria, how to pay? There are two payment methods: Pre-Pay and Post-Pay. The first method allows the driver to load a large amount of credit onto his Go-Box. The Post-Pay system does not require credit to be loaded into the Go-Box. The vehicle owner simply gets billed for miles periodically.
Whether you use Pre-Pay or Post-Pay payment methods, you can pay with your debit or credit card online. The price depends on the number of axles and engine emissions.
Administrative responsibility
From 2004, trucks must have a Go-Box, a small white box that works using electrical checkpoints and radio wave transmitters installed in various locations. Overhead 3-D infrared laser scanners are used to detect and photograph trucks traveling without this device. A €110 fine must be paid by the driver if the car is on the highway without a Go-Box or vignette, and a €240 fine if the vignette is not attached to the windshield.
Be sure to observe safety
From November 15 to March 15, snow chains must be installed on vehicles over 3.5 tons. Therefore, the mandatory requirement is that all vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons must be equipped with winter tires.
