The border between Austria and Slovakia stretches over 106.7 kilometers. There are several road border crossings, one ferry crossing, and one highway crossing between Slovakia and Austria. It is important to note that both countries require a vignette for highways. In Slovakia, only digital vignettes are available, and a digital vignette can also be purchased in Austria. You can easily register the digital vignettes for both countries online with us and pass through the toll stations without waiting times.
Within the EU, border controls have largely been abolished. In many cases, you can cross the Austrian-Slovak border without checks. Exceptions include international sporting events like the Football World Cup, major political events, and occasions concerning the internal security of the countries. In these cases, border controls are still conducted. Since the refugee crisis of 2015/16, Austria has increased controls at the Slovak border. As of October 2023, border controls are still in place, and there may be waiting times at the border crossing. With a German passport or ID card, as well as an ID card from other EU countries, you can pass through the control without problems. It is important that all passengers can present their documents. Bringing goods for personal use is also allowed, except for tobacco and alcohol, which have restrictions.
To maintain the highways, a vignette is required in both Austria and Slovakia. In Slovakia, motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement, while in Austria, all motor vehicles are subject to toll fees. This means the entire highway crossing Kittsee (AT) - Jarovce (SVK) is subject to tolls. The other border crossings can be used without a vignette. However, the highway crossing at Kittsee is the fastest and offers a direct connection between the two attractive capitals, Vienna and Bratislava. To avoid waiting times at the toll stations and drive through stress-free, a digital vignette, now available in Slovakia and Austria, is ideal. Simply pay the toll fees online and register your license plate, and the digital vignette will be valid. The toll fees can also be paid in advance for a specific period, minimizing travel stress. For Slovakia, you can purchase a vignette for 10 days, 30 days, or one year, depending on your travel duration. In Austria, there are 10-day, 2-month, and annual vignettes. From 2024, a one-day vignette will also be available for transit. Be sure to carry the receipt for your digital vignette to prove that you have paid the toll fees correctly in case of any doubts.
There are only a few border crossings between Austria and Slovakia. The only highway crossing is Kittsee (AT) / Jarovce (SVK). Other road crossings include Hohenau (AT) / Moravský Sv. Ján and Berg (AT) / Bratislava-Petrzalka (SVK). Due to border checks and congestion at toll stations, there can be waiting times, especially at the highway border crossing Kittsee. Depending on the length of the wait, you may opt to take a detour via the road crossing at Berg instead.
At the Kittsee border crossing, the Austrian A6 highway becomes the Slovak D4. Shortly after crossing the border, you can directly reach the Slovak capital Bratislava via the D2 motorway junction. On the Austrian side, the A6 and A4 lead directly to the capital Vienna. Due to increased border checks caused by a rise in smuggling activity (as of 2023), there can be significant waiting times at the highway border, especially during peak holiday and rush hour traffic. Purchasing a digital vignette in advance saves you considerable time.
The border crossing between Angern an der March (AT) and Zahorská Ves (SVK) is crossed using a ferry. Motorcycles, cars, trucks, even trailers, and of course people are transported across the Morava River, a tributary of the Danube, by ferry. In fact, the short crossing of the Morava costs significantly less than the highway tolls. However, a digital vignette is still necessary to progress quickly in both countries.
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