Here's what you need to know if you're travelling to Austria or Slovakia

2025. 05. 29. 14:25

Traveling by car is the most convenient choice, especially when the whole family is traveling together. There's no need to worry about luggage, as you can pack for every situation. However, besides browsing accommodations and activities, it's worth preparing for the toll roads in your destination country and the ways to pay for them! To ensure a carefree road trip, we’ve gathered all the useful information you’ll need if you’re planning to travel to Austria or Slovakia.

Table of Contents

• What toll system is in place?
• What types of vignettes are available?
• How much does the vignette cost?
• When should I buy the vignette?
• How much is the fine?
• Where to buy a vignette?
• Summary
• FAQ

What toll system is in place?

Whether it’s Slovakia or Austria, in both cases the use of most highways and expressways requires payment in the form of a vignette.

Thanks to electronic toll systems, highway vignettes can be purchased online and are linked to the vehicle's license plate. The system uses roadside cameras to verify whether a vehicle has a valid toll vignette.

What types of toll vignettes are available?

Austria Vignette

In Austria, highway vignettes are available in two categories:

• Vehicles under 3.5 tons: including passenger cars, minibuses, light commercial vehicles, and motorhomes
• Motorcycles

Both categories offer short-term and annual vignettes. For shorter trips, the short-term options are recommended:

• 1-day vignette: valid until 11:59 PM on the day selected by the buyer.
• 10-day Austria vignette: valid for 10 consecutive calendar days, until 11:59 PM on the last day.
• 2-month vignette: requires planning, as it becomes valid on the 18th day after purchase.

Buy your Austria vignette online to avoid queues and travel stress-free!

Slovakia Vignette

Similar to Austria, Slovakia offers highway vignettes in two categories:

• Vehicles under 3.5 tons: passenger cars, minibuses, light commercial vehicles, vans
• Trailers: if the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer exceeds 3.5 tons.

Good to know: Motorcycles can use Slovak highways and expressways free of charge!

Slovak vignettes are available with 1-day, 10-day, 30-day, and annual validity:

• 1-day vignette: valid until 11:59 PM on the buyer-selected day.
• 10-day vignette: valid for 10 consecutive calendar days, until 11:59 PM on the last day.
• 30-day vignette: valid for 30 consecutive calendar days, until 11:59 PM on the last day.

How much does the vignette cost?

Among the two countries, Slovakia offers the cheapest vignettes, but it also has the shortest highway network.

In 2025, the highway vignette prices in Austria and Slovakia for short-term validity are as follows:

When should I buy the vignette?

The vignettes must always be purchased before entering a toll road! Without it, a fine is almost guaranteed, as highway cameras continuously monitor vehicles. Mobile control units may also be encountered on the roads. These checks are well-organized, making it nearly impossible to avoid fines for driving without a valid e-vignette.

How much is the fine?

Compared to the vignette price, the fine is always significantly higher. The base fine is issued in all cases, while the increased fine applies if payment is delayed. Therefore, it’s best to pay as soon as possible after receiving the notice.

• In Austria, the fine increases after multiple reminders.
• In Slovakia, the fine is €150, but it's reduced to €100 if paid within 15 days.

Where to buy a vignette?

It is highly recommended to purchase the highway vignette online before departure. This is the easiest and fastest way to get one:

1. Step: Select the appropriate vehicle category.
2. Step: Choose the desired validity period (daily, weekly, monthly).
3. Step: Enter the license plate details: country code and plate number.
4. Step: Double-check the provided data.
5. Step: Enter your email address and proceed with payment.

Important: DON'T drive on toll roads without receiving the email confirmation of your purchase, as the transaction alone does not guarantee valid toll rights! Always wait for the confirmation email before starting your journey.

Summary

If you're planning a road trip, always check the vignette requirements of your destination country and purchase the necessary toll rights online before departure. Most countries offer both short- and long-term validity options, so plan your journey accordingly to ensure you have a valid e-vignette before entering any toll roads.