Hertz And Austrian Tolls: What's Covered?

If you're planning a trip to Austria and are thinking of renting a car from Hertz, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the country's toll road system. Most motorways and highways in Austria require drivers of vehicles under 3.5 tons to purchase a vignette, which is a toll sticker displayed on the windshield. Failure to display a valid vignette when driving on a toll road can result in a hefty fine. Hertz offers a toll payment system called PlatePass, which allows you to drive through electronic tolls without stopping. However, it's important to note that PlatePass is primarily designed for use in the United States and may not be available in Austria. Additionally, while Hertz vehicles can be driven into Austria, it's unclear whether Hertz covers the cost of tolls on Austrian roads.

Hertz's toll payment system

Hertz offers a toll payment system that makes paying tolls during your rental period a lot easier. Their toll service, PlatePass, allows you to drive through electronic tolls without stopping. The system works in two ways: either through a transponder in the vehicle or by scanning the rental car's license plate. This is particularly useful if you are travelling through areas with multiple toll roads, saving you time and making your trip hassle-free.

After your rental period ends, Hertz will bill you for the toll charges, plus a service fee, which will be charged to the credit card you used for the rental. This fee covers the use of the PlatePass system during your rental period and is charged either per rental day or per rental month. If you do not use the PlatePass system, you can still pay tolls directly at booths, or online later in some areas. However, if you miss a toll, you might face additional fines or fees, and Hertz will pass these on to you.

It is worth noting that PlatePass is currently only available in the United States, so it does not cover tolls in Austria. When driving in Austria, you will need to purchase a vignette, which is a sticker that needs to be displayed on your windshield. Vignettes can be bought online or at gas stations, borders, and automobile clubs in Austria and its neighbouring countries. The cost depends on the validity period, with prices ranging from 8.70 EUR for 10 days to 84.40 EUR for a year.

If you are renting a car from Sixt in Austria, the vehicle will already have a vignette sticker, so you don't need to purchase one separately. However, if you are driving into Austria from another country, you will need to buy your own vignette.

Vignettes in Austria

Vignettes are required on all motorways and expressways in Austria, except on road sections with tolls that are calculated based on mileage. Vignettes can be purchased in Austria and its neighbouring countries at gas stations, borders, and Automobile Clubs. They can also be purchased online. The vignette must be displayed on the top left-hand side of the windshield of your vehicle and the receipt must be retained as proof of purchase.

There are four types of vignettes available in Austria:

• 1-day vignette
• 10-day vignette
• 2-month vignette
• 1-year vignette

The prices for these vignettes are as follows:

• 1-day vignette: Not mentioned
• 10-day vignette: EUR 8.70
• 2-month vignette: EUR 25.30
• 1-year vignette: EUR 84.40

It is important to note that the 1-day and 10-day vignettes are valid immediately, while the 2-month and 1-year vignettes are only valid from the 18th day after the online purchase.

There are some exceptions to the roads that require vignettes in Austria. The following toll sections are exempt:

• A 1 Westautobahn between the national border at Walserberg and the Salzburg Nord junction
• A 12 Inntalautobahn between the national border at Kufstein and the Kufstein-Süd junction
• A 14 Rheintal/Walgau Autobahn between the national border at Hörbranz and the Hohenems junction
• A 26 Linzer Autobahn (currently still under construction)

In addition to vignettes, a separate road charge (toll) is levied for certain Alpine passes, tunnels, and mountain roads. These tolls can be paid directly at the respective toll stations or online in advance.

Failure to display a valid vignette on your vehicle can result in a heavy, on-the-spot fine.

Toll-free roads in Austria

Austria's road network spans more than 2000 kilometres of motorways and expressways, and tolls are compulsory on all of them. However, there are some toll-free sections, which have been introduced to reduce traffic on rural roads and improve the quality of life for residents in those areas.

There are four toll-free roads in Austria:

• A1 Westautobahn: from the Walserberg border crossing to Salzburg Nord. This is a toll-free highway that allows drivers to travel almost 300 km without a valid vignette.
• A12 Inntalautobahn: from the border crossing Kiefersfelden to Kufstein. This toll-free section allows drivers to travel from Tyrol to Salzburg and from Kiefersfelden to Kufstein-Süd without a vignette.
• A14 Rheintal/Walgau: from the border crossing Hörbranz to Hohenems. This route is popular among ski holidaymakers as it provides access to the state of Tyrol from Hohenems in around an hour.
• A26 Linzer Autobahn (Mühlkreisautobahn): This road is still under construction, with the first section expected to be completed in 2024 and the whole project by 2031.

It's important to note that only certain parts of these motorways are toll-free, and drivers need to be aware of the specific routes that don't require a vignette. For example, the A1 Westautobahn is toll-free from Walserberg to Salzburg Nord, but tolls apply if you continue to Linz or Vienna.

To avoid penalties, it's essential to familiarise yourself with the Austrian toll system and use up-to-date navigation devices to identify toll-free routes and roads that require a vignette.

PlatePass service

Hertz offers a toll payment system called PlatePass to help you deal with toll payments, ensuring you do not get stuck at toll booths or worry about fines. PlatePass is the service Hertz uses to manage toll payments. This service works with most toll roads in the United States. It allows you to use electronic toll collection lanes, often called express lanes, without stopping to pay. This is perfect for drivers who want to save time or are unfamiliar with local toll systems. With PlatePass, you can pass through tolls automatically, and the toll fee will be calculated after your trip.

PlatePass allows you to drive through electronic tolls without stopping. They use built-in transponders or scan your license plate to automatically pay the tolls for you. When you pass through a toll, the system automatically charges the toll amount to your account, ensuring you avoid fines or penalties for unpaid tolls. After your rental period ends, Hertz will bill you for the toll charges, plus a service fee. They will apply these charges to the credit card you used for the rental.

Hertz’s toll service comes with a small affordable fee. This fee covers the use of the PlatePass system during your rental period. Hertz will charge you either per rental day or per rental month fee. This fee only applies if you actually use the toll service. If you avoid toll roads altogether, they will not charge the PlatePass fee.

Hertz’s toll service is available in most major U.S. cities. This includes areas with high traffic like New York, California, Florida, and Texas. The system works with the main toll networks in these locations, ensuring you do not face any delays or extra trouble on your trip. Before you rent, you can ask Hertz if the toll service is available in the area you are visiting.

Using Hertz’s toll service is particularly helpful if you are planning a road trip through areas that have many toll roads. For example, driving along the East Coast from Boston to Washington, D.C., you will meet many tolls. PlatePass makes it much easier to travel through these areas.

Hertz's toll service fees

Hertz's toll service comes with a small fee for the use of the PlatePass system during your rental period. This is a third-party service that Hertz uses to manage toll payments. PlatePass allows you to drive through electronic toll lanes without stopping. The system works by either using a transponder in the vehicle or scanning the rental car's license plate. The toll amount is then automatically charged to your account.

Hertz will charge you either a per-rental-day or per-rental-month fee for this service, but only if you use it. If you avoid toll roads altogether, they will not charge the PlatePass fee. However, if you do use toll roads without PlatePass, you can still pay tolls directly at booths or online later in some areas. But if you miss a toll, you might face additional fines or fees, which Hertz will pass on to you.

The PlatePass service is available in most major U.S. cities, including New York, California, Florida, and Texas. It is particularly useful if you are planning a road trip through areas with many toll roads, such as the East Coast from Boston to Washington, D.C.

You can opt-out of Hertz's toll service if you prefer to pay tolls directly. This might be a good choice if you are familiar with the local toll system or want to avoid the service fee. However, if you do not pay a toll and the charge is sent to Hertz, they will automatically enrol you in PlatePass and charge both a toll fee and a service fee.

The PlatePass system is automatically enabled in many Hertz rental cars. If you are unsure whether your rental car has a toll transponder, you can ask the Hertz staff at the rental location.

Hertz's toll service offers several benefits, including saving time by not having to stop at toll booths, convenience by not needing to carry cash or exact change, and peace of mind by avoiding fines for missed tolls.

Frequently asked questions