Toll in Austria

What is a toll obligation?

Most countries in Europe impose tolls. There is a so-called toll obligation. But what does that mean? Toll fees are charged for the use of many highways, expressways, as well as tunnels and bridges. The money generated from the tolls is invested in the road network by ASFINAG. This ensures a smooth journey on your way to your vacation. The primary areas for investment are infrastructure, traffic management, road safety, and environmental protection measures.

• Infrastructure: Construction and maintenance of roads and highways
• Traffic safety and traffic management: New technologies such as intelligent traffic systems or toll bridges
• Environmental protection: Expansion of noise barriers or measures to reduce emissions

How is the toll collected?

The toll in Austria is collected in various forms.

Vignette obligation or distance-based toll?

On one hand, there is the vignette obligation for vehicles up to 3.5 t total weight (technically permissible total weight including cargo). On the other hand, vehicles over 3.5 t total weight must pay a distance-based toll, meaning the toll is calculated based on the actual distance driven. The kilometers driven are recorded and calculated using a GO-Box. This GO-Box must be purchased by the vehicle owner.

Route toll (Video toll) for special toll routes

In addition to the vignette obligation and the distance-based toll (also known as distance-dependent toll), there is the route toll (also called special toll or video toll). This route toll applies to certain routes and must be paid by all vehicle owners who want to use these routes. Therefore, the route toll exists independently of the vignette obligation or the distance-based toll and represents an additional charge for using special toll routes. In Austria, the route toll applies to tunnels and mountain passes as these involve higher construction and maintenance costs.

Vignette or GO-Box

Whether you need a vignette or a GO-Box for paying the toll depends on the technically permissible total weight (short: tzGm):

• Vehicles up to 3.5 t total weight: The vignette obligation applies
• Vehicles over 3.5 t total weight: Payment of the distance-based toll by acquiring a GO-Box. The GO-Box is an electronic transmitter that must be attached to the inside of your windshield.

Digital Vignette from us: Easy, convenient, digital

Order your digital vignette now conveniently from home with us. Benefit from the exclusive offer of the immediate validity of your digital vignette for Austria and avoid the 18-day waiting period. Choose from various validity periods and vehicle classes for your vacation. We want your trip to be as pleasant as possible with our digital vignette. Traveling should be simple!

Route toll (Video toll) for special toll routes

The special toll is referred to in Austria as route toll (formerly video toll) and is charged for specific routes that are not subject to the vignette obligation or the distance-based toll. Therefore, despite having already purchased a vignette or paying the distance-based toll, you must pay an additional fee for this specific route. The route toll thus applies to anyone who wants to use this particular route.

Recording of the route toll

When entering the special toll route, there is a dedicated lane where installed video cameras automatically check the license plate, ensuring whether the required route toll has been paid. Due to the automatic license plate check via video cameras, the waiting times on the video lanes are significantly shorter than on the other lanes, where vehicles must stop and pay the route toll (special toll) at a toll booth, either in cash or by EC card.

Payment of the route toll for special toll routes

Even though all vehicle owners must pay the special toll route, the payment method differs. Vignette-obligated vehicles pay an additional amount on top of their vignette and must acquire a route toll pass for using the special toll route (on-site or digitally with us). Vehicles subject to a distance-based toll do not need to acquire a pass for the route toll (special toll). The amount is automatically recorded when passing the route through the GO-Box.

What else should be considered?

Additionally, it should be noted that most special toll routes can be accessed via vignette-obligated access roads or distance-based access roads (distance-dependent roads). Therefore, regardless of the route toll (special toll route), it always makes sense to purchase a vignette or GO-Box.

Further information on the various tunnels and mountain passes that are subject to the route toll can be found in our guide.

Free Route Planner

With our free route planner, you can quickly and easily find out which toll products you need for your journey through Austria.

Fines & Penalties

If you use toll routes (vignette obligation, distance-based toll, route toll) without having previously acquired a GO-Box, a vignette, or a route toll pass, you may face expensive fines or replacement toll payments. The amount of fines can range from 300 € to 800 €. In the case of a contractual penalty, you could even be required to pay up to 3000 €. These are costs you definitely want to avoid!