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Pfänder Tunnel

Last updated: 26.08.2025 Reading time: 5 Minutes

What is the Pfänder Tunnel?

The Pfänder Tunnel is located in the far northwest of Austria, on the A14 between Leiblach and Bregenz/Kennelbach. It serves, among other things, to bypass the capital of the state of Vorarlberg, Bregenz. The tunnel passes under the 1064-meter-high Pfänder mountain. It connects the A96 from Germany with the Rheintal Motorway A14 in Austria. Holidaymakers looking for a quick route from Germany to Austria will reach their destination faster this way. The Pfänder Tunnel consists of two tubes. The east tube is 6,718 meters (6.7 km) long. The west tube is 6,744 meters (6.7 km) long.

Measurements in 2008 showed that more than 27,000 vehicles per day passed through the Pfänder Tunnel. By 2020, that number had increased to more than 30,000 vehicles daily. These figures show that the tunnel construction has had the intended effect of reducing traffic congestion in Bregenz.

Vignette and GO-Box in the Pfänder Tunnel

Since 2019, the vignette requirement for motorcycles and cars under 3.5 t maximum permissible weight (tzGm) has been lifted for the Pfänder Tunnel. For vehicles over a total weight of 3.5 t tzGm, a distance-based toll still applies and must be paid using a GO-Box.

FAQ about the Pfänder Tunnel

Partially, as toll exemption only applies to vehicles with a weight of under 3.5 t tzGm.

The A14 can be used free of charge up to and including the Hohenems exit. The total toll-free section is around 23 km. Attention: Since the beginning of 2024, Altach is no longer toll-free. Anyone driving through Altach without a valid vignette must pay a replacement toll of EUR 120.

Driving through the Pfänder Tunnel is free of charge for vehicles under 3.5 t tzGm. Vehicles weighing over 3.5 t tzGm require a GO-Box.

Yes. Since the A14 is toll-free up to and including Hohenems, all cities and towns along the A14 up to Hohenems can be reached without a vignette. These include Dornbirn, Hohenems, and Götzis. Attention: Altach is no longer toll-free as of early 2024. Driving through Altach without a valid vignette will result in a replacement toll of EUR 120.

Yes, you can drive to Bregenz without a vignette.
Milena Paasch
Hey, I'm Milena. I love to travel. Thanks to that, I've already seen a lot – for example, various states in the USA, the Niagara Falls in Canada, several places during a round trip through Sweden, Spain, Italy, and a few other fascinating destinations. I've also always been passionate about reading and writing texts. Being a copywriter is therefore a perfect match for my interests. I strive to offer readers an exciting and enriching reading experience and want my texts to be truly enjoyable to read!