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Vignette Requirement in Österreich

To cover the costs of maintaining highways and expressways in Austria, a vignette requirement (vignette, sticker vignette, highway vignette, badge, or also called “Pickerl”) has applied in Austria since 1997.

A vignette is mandatory proof for most highways and road sections in Austria, which must be purchased and registered to the license plates of cars, motorhomes, and trucks (vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm) or alternatively affixed as a sticker vignette (the so-called “Pickerl”) on the windshield.

What different vignettes are there?

Basically, a distinction is made between sticker vignettes (the so-called “Pickerl”, highway vignette or badge) and digital vignettes. The vignette requirement applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm. The abbreviation tzGm stands for the technically permissible total mass, i.e., how heavy your vehicle is including load. However, the passengers of the vehicle are not counted towards the total weight.

Sticker vignette (so-called “Pickerl”)

The sticker vignette is affixed to the windshield in the case of cars, trucks and motorhomes (vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm) and later removed accordingly.

In the case of a motorcycle, the sticker vignette is affixed to a clearly visible and non-replaceable part of the motorcycle (not on the fuel cap or the side bags).

Digital vignette

Purchasing a digital vignette is particularly attractive, and here’s why:

• The digital vignette can be purchased easily and conveniently from the couch or on the go via mobile phone/smartphone.
• You can register the digital vignette directly to your vehicle and also save yourself from sticking it on and removing the vignette after the trip.
• When buying a digital vignette from us, you benefit from the immediate validity of your vignette, without an 18-day waiting period.

Route toll (video toll) for special toll routes

In Austria, the special toll is referred to as a route toll (formerly video toll) (Attention: risk of confusion with the distance-based toll). The special toll is charged for certain routes that are subject neither to the vignette requirement nor to a distance-based toll. This means that even if you have purchased a vignette for the use of highways or have already paid your distance-based toll using the GO-Box, there are road sections for which an additional fee applies. The special toll therefore applies to everyone who wants to use this particular route.

While vehicle owners with a vignette can purchase a pass for payment of the route toll, for people who already pay the distance-based toll, the route toll is recorded and billed via the GO-Box.

Special toll routes are often tunnels or mountain pass roads. Exceptions are the Landecker Tunnel and the Pfändertunnel, for which no route toll is charged. For tunnels such as the Brenner or Karawanken Tunnel, a route toll is levied. So if you pass through one of these tunnels, you must pay an additional fee.

It should also be noted that most special toll routes can be reached via access roads that are subject to a vignette or to a distance-based toll. Therefore, regardless of the special toll route, it always makes sense to purchase a vignette or a GO-Box.

When do I need a vignette in Österreich?

Whether you need to buy a vignette or a digital vignette for Austria depends on which highways or road sections you will drive during your trip.

Our Route Planner shows you the combination of vignette and route toll applicable to your journey.

When should I buy my digital vignette?

Since you do not have to consider an 18-day waiting period for the validity of the digital vignette when purchasing it in our online shop, you can still purchase it at short notice before starting your trip. This offer applies exclusively to the country of Austria.

Important: Only start driving once the registration confirmation is available!

Is the digital vignette tax-free?

No, taxes are levied on the price of the digital vignette. The tax is already included in our prices.

Vehicles & Validity

In general: Vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm fall under the vignette requirement, while vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm must pay a distance-based toll. The amount of the distance-based toll depends, among other things, on the length of the distance driven. To record the distance driven (distance-based toll), you must purchase a GO-Box. Independently of the vignette requirement and the distance-based toll, there is also a route toll for special toll routes in Austria.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles in Austria require a vignette.

Cars

As a car driver, you need a vignette for your vehicle and do not have to pay a distance-based toll. This applies as long as your car does not weigh more than 3.5 tzGm. If your vehicle weighs over 3.5 t tzGm, the vignette requirement ceases to apply and you must purchase a GO-Box for the collection of the distance-based toll. This GO-Box must also remain active on toll-free (vignette-free/not distance-based) routes.

Combinations (towing vehicle + trailer)

Trailers are not subject to the vignette requirement in Austria. However, the weight of your towing vehicle, such as a car, is decisive. As a car driver, you need a vignette for your vehicle and do not have to pay a distance-based toll. This applies as long as your car does not weigh more than 3.5 tzGm. If your vehicle weighs over 3.5 t tzGm, the vignette requirement ceases to apply and you must purchase a GO-Box for the collection of the distance-based toll. This GO-Box must also remain active on toll-free (vignette-free/not distance-based) routes.

Motorhomes

The same rules apply to motorhomes as to all other vehicle types. The vignette requirement applies to motorhomes up to 3.5 t tzGm. If your motorhome weighs more than 3.5 t tzGm, then you must pay the distance-based toll and the vignette requirement does not apply. To collect the distance-based toll, you must purchase a GO-Box. This GO-Box must also remain active on toll-free (vignette-free/not distance-based) routes.

Trucks

As a truck driver, you need a vignette for your vehicle and do not have to pay a distance-based toll. This applies as long as your truck including load does not weigh more than 3.5 tzGm. If your truck weighs over 3.5 t tzGm, the vignette requirement ceases to apply and you must purchase a GO-Box for the collection of the distance-based toll. This GO-Box must also remain active on toll-free (vignette-free/not distance-based) routes.

Area of validity

Is the digital vignette valid for all of Austria?

Yes. The digital vignette, just like the sticker vignette (the so-called “Pickerl” or highway vignette or badge), is valid throughout Austria.

Validity check

How can I check validity?

You can check free of charge whether your digital vignette is already valid or still valid on our subpage for the validity check.

Is the digital vignette tied to my license plate?

Yes, the digital vignette, just like the sticker vignette, is registered to and tied to the respective license plate.

From when is my digital vignette valid?

Your digital vignette is valid after receipt of your registration confirmation. Transmission usually takes place within a few minutes. It is then recognized and accepted by the digital control devices on site.

Fines & Consequences

Anyone who drives on highways and certain road sections in Austria without a valid vignette as required by the vignette obligation must expect a monetary fine. The fine is currently at least 120 EUR and can be up to 3,000 EUR depending on the offense and the duration of non-payment. If the replacement toll of 120 EUR is not paid immediately, this usually leads to a report plus a fine of at least 300 EUR. To check the validity of the vignette, the police in Austria regularly carry out inspections.