Browse common questions about Austrian motorway vignettes. If your question isn't answered here, feel free to contact us directly.
Do I need a vignette for all roads in Austria?
No, the vignette is specifically mandatory for designated motorways ('Autobahnen') and expressways ('Schnellstraßen'). These roads are clearly marked with signs indicating the vignette requirement. General country roads and local roads do not require a vignette. However, it's easy to accidentally enter a toll road, so planning your route is advisable. Additionally, some specific tunnels and mountain pass roads (like the Brenner, Tauern, or Arlberg tunnels) require separate, additional tolls beyond the standard vignette, which must be paid at toll booths or via alternative payment systems.
What is the difference between a digital and a physical vignette?
The primary difference lies in how the vignette is linked to your vehicle and verified. A physical vignette is a sticker that you must purchase and manually apply to the inside of your vehicle's windscreen or a non-removable part (for motorbikes). It's visually inspected. A digital vignette, on the other hand, is not a physical item; it's an electronic confirmation linked directly to your vehicle's license plate number in a central database managed by ASFINAG (the Austrian motorway authority). Verification for digital vignettes is done via camera scanning of your number plate. Both are legally equivalent for using the required roads, offering travelers a choice based on preference and convenience.
When does the 10-day vignette start?
A 10-day vignette provides validity for a continuous period of ten calendar days. Crucially, this period begins on the specific date you choose during the purchase process, not from the moment you first use a toll road. For example, if you select validity starting on the 1st of the month, the vignette will be valid up to and including the 10th of that month. When purchasing, you must indicate the desired start date. For physical stickers, you typically punch holes to indicate the validity period, which must match the purchase date or a date very near it. For digital vignettes purchased online, you select the specific start date.
Can I buy a digital vignette immediately before using the motorway?
For private consumers, digital vignettes purchased online from official or official partner sources are generally subject to an 18-day activation delay. This is due to Austrian consumer protection laws allowing a cooling-off period for online purchases. The vignette only becomes valid after this 18-day period has elapsed, starting from the day of purchase. Business customers are exempt from this delay. Therefore, if you need a digital vignette for immediate travel (within the next 18 days), you should plan to purchase it well in advance or opt for purchasing a physical sticker at a point of sale (like a border crossing gas station) right before entering Austria.
How do enforcement authorities check for vignettes?
Austrian authorities, primarily ASFINAG staff and police, employ several methods for checking compliance. For physical vignettes, visual checks are conducted by patrols or at specific checkpoints. They verify the presence and correct application of the sticker. For digital vignettes, enforcement relies on automated camera systems installed along motorways and expressways, as well as mobile units. These cameras scan number plates, which are then automatically checked against the central database of registered digital vignettes. If no valid vignette (digital or physical) is found for a vehicle on a toll road, a penalty process is initiated.
