Austria's Toll Roads: What You Need To Know

Austria has a comprehensive system of tolls and vignettes for vehicles using its motorway and expressway network. Tolls are compulsory for all vehicles, with charges varying depending on the type of vehicle and the roads being used. Vignettes are required for motorbikes, cars, motorhomes, buses, and lorries up to 3.5 tonnes, and can be purchased as stickers or digital versions. For vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, a toll box or GO-Box is required, with charges calculated based on factors such as distance travelled, number of axles, and emissions output.

Toll stickers and vignettes

Vignettes can be purchased with periods of validity of 1 day, 10 days, 2 months, or 1 year. The 1-day vignette is a new, purely digital product, available only through the ASFINAG toll shop or the ASFINAG app. The other options are available from over 6,000 outlets in Austria and abroad, as well as in the ASFINAG toll shop or the App Unterwegs. Vignettes can also be purchased online on your device or at a physical sales office or vending machine.

Physical toll stickers can be obtained from Austrian Automobile Clubs, post offices, newsagents, and petrol stations. They can also be purchased in Austria's neighbouring countries at petrol stations, borders, and Automobile Clubs.

Digital vignettes are linked to the vehicle's license plate and are particularly convenient for holders of transferable number plates. The validity of digital vignettes can be checked by manual controls and permanently installed cameras on motorways and expressways.

The toll sticker has been compulsory in Austria since 1997. The proceeds from the sale of toll stickers and vignettes are used exclusively for the maintenance, construction, operation, and safety of Austria's high-profile road network.

Vignette exemptions

Vehicles Exempt from Vignette Requirements

Vehicles with a permissible maximum weight exceeding 3.5 tons, such as heavy goods vehicles, buses, and heavy mobile homes, are exempt from vignette requirements. Instead, these vehicles must pay a mileage-based toll, known as the GO-Box toll, when using Austrian motorways and expressways.

Additionally, vehicles that are type-approved as not having a windshield are not required to display a vignette sticker but must carry it with them.

Roads Exempt from Vignette Requirements

As of 15 December 2019, there are four sections of roads in Austria that are temporarily exempt from vignette requirements:

• The A 1 Westautobahn toll road between the national border at Walserberg and the Salzburg Nord junction.
• The A 12 Inntal motorway toll road between the national border at Kufstein and the Kufstein-Süd junction.
• The A 14 Rheintal/Walgau motorway toll road between the national border at Hörbranz and the Hohenems junction.
• The A 26 Linz motorway toll road (currently still under construction).

It is important to note that these exemptions are temporary and were implemented under the Federal Roads Toll Act (Bundesstraßenmautgesetz).

Digital vs paper vignettes

Austria has toll roads and requires all vehicles with a maximum laden mass of up to 3.5 tons to display a toll sticker (vignette) when driving on motorways and expressways. This can be in the form of a physical toll sticker or a digital vignette.

Obtaining the Vignette:

Digital vignettes can be purchased online through the ASFINAG online shop or the ASFINAG app "Unterwegs". Paper vignettes can be obtained from Austrian Automobile Clubs, post offices, newsagents, and petrol stations. They can also be purchased in neighbouring countries at petrol stations, borders, and Automobile Clubs.

Validity:

Digital vignettes are available for 1 day, 10 days, 2 months, or 1 year. The 1-day and 10-day vignettes are valid immediately, while the 2-month and 1-year vignettes are valid from the 18th day after the online purchase. Paper vignettes also have the same validity periods, but the 1-day option is not available.

Displaying the Vignette:

Digital vignettes are linked to the vehicle's license plate, so there is no need to display a physical sticker. Paper vignettes must be displayed on the inside of the vehicle's windshield, on the top left-hand edge or behind the rear-view mirror, and must not be covered by any tinting strips. For motorbikes, the sticker must be affixed to a component that is difficult to remove, such as the fork leg or tank, and clearly visible.

Advantages of Digital Vignettes:

Digital vignettes offer convenience, especially for those with transferable number plates, as there is no need to display a physical sticker. They also have no processing or dispatch fees, and the license plate or start date can be modified online before the validity period begins.

Advantages of Paper Vignettes:

Paper vignettes may be preferred by those who want a physical reminder of their toll payment. They can be easily displayed on the windshield and do not require any digital setup or license plate linkage.

Exemptions:

It is important to note that there are some exemptions to the vignette requirement on certain motorway sections, such as the A 1 Westautobahn and A 12 Inntal motorway. These exemptions are temporary and are outlined on the ASFINAG website.

In summary, both digital and paper vignettes are valid options for paying tolls in Austria, each with its own advantages and considerations. It is essential to plan accordingly, obtain the correct vignette, and display it properly to avoid heavy fines.

Special toll routes

In addition to the vignettes required for most Austrian motorways and expressways, there are certain routes that are subject to special tolls. These routes involve particularly high construction and maintenance costs, often due to the presence of tunnels and passes used to cross the Alps.

The following motorway sections have special tolls that must be paid, regardless of whether a vignette has been purchased:

• A 9 Pyhrn motorway
• A 10 Tauern motorway
• A 11 Karawanken motorway and Karawankentunnel tunnel
• A 13 Brenner motorway
• S 16 Arlberg expressway

The above routes can also be travelled through with a toll box for large motorhomes or trucks, and the toll will be settled automatically.

There are also certain tunnels that require a route toll, including the Tauern tunnel and the Gleinalm tunnel.

GO-Box and GO toll

In Austria, tolls are compulsory on all motorways and expressways. For vehicles with a Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass (TPMLM) of over 3.5 tons, a mileage-based GO toll must be paid when using Austrian motorways and expressways. This applies to trucks, buses, and heavy motorhomes. To pay the GO toll, you need to get a GO-Box, which is an electronic on-board unit that communicates with the toll gantries to ensure automatic payment of the toll.

The GO-Box is available from over 175 GO points of sale in Austria and overseas, including many petrol stations and other GO-Box partners. It must be mounted correctly inside the vehicle to ensure uninterrupted communication with the toll gantries. The GO-Box has a button, two light indicators, and a mini loudspeaker, which allow you to check its functionality, change settings, and receive acoustic signals that confirm when the toll has been paid.

The GO toll rates depend on several factors, including the number of axles, the number of kilometres driven, and the vehicle's EURO emission class. The cleaner your vehicle is in terms of emissions, the lower the toll rate. Increased rates apply to certain toll sections, such as the A 9 Gleinalm or Bosruck Tunnel, A 11 Karawanken Tunnel, A 13 Brenner motorway, and S 16 expressway Arlberg Tunnel.

The GO-Box is linked to a specific license plate and is not transferable. It is important to keep the data on the GO-Box up-to-date to ensure that you pay the correct toll amount. Additionally, make sure to familiarise yourself with the functions of the GO-Box before your journey to ensure a smooth toll payment process.

Frequently asked questions