Exploring Austria's A10: A Toll Road?

The A10 in Austria is known as the Tauern Autobahn, a 192-kilometre motorway that crosses the Tauern mountain range in the Alps. It is part of the European route E55 from Sweden to Greece and is also part of the E66 from Italy to Hungary. The Tauern Autobahn is a toll road, with a special toll section between Flachau and Rennweg, including the Tauern and Katschberg Tunnels, where additional tolls are charged.

The A10 is a toll road

The A10 starts at the Salzburg junction with the West Autobahn (A1), runs southwards, crosses the Tauern mountain range on the main chain of the Alps, and leads to the Süd Autobahn (A2) and Karawanken Autobahn (A11) at Villach in Carinthia. It is 192 km (119 mi) long, 24 km (15 mi) of which are in 12 tunnels. The best-known of these tunnels are the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel. The latter is 5.9 km (3.7 mi) long and leads downhill from the Hohe Tauern range to Spittal in the Drava Valley.

The Tauern Autobahn is part of the European route E55 from Sweden to Greece, and its southern section is also part of the E66 from Italy (South Tyrol) to Hungary. It is maintained by the self-financed ASFiNAG stock company in Vienna, which is wholly owned by the Republic of Austria and earns revenue from road user charges and tolls.

Vignette stickers are required for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes

The vignette requirement applies to most roads in Austria, including both the larger motorways that run through the country and smaller urban motorways, such as the A23 near Vienna. There are currently only four sections of roads in Austria that are toll-free:

• A1 Westautobahn: Walserberg border crossing to Salzburg Nord
• A12 Inntalautobahn: border crossing Kiefersfelden to Kufstein
• A14 Rheintal/Walgau: border crossing Hörbranz to Hohenems
• A26 Linz Westring: still under construction

In addition to the vignette, certain roads in Austria require an additional toll due to the high cost of maintenance. These include certain tunnels and passes used to cross the Alps, such as the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel.

The Tauern Autobahn (A10) is a motorway in Austria that runs from Salzburg to Villach in Carinthia. It is part of the European route E55 from Sweden to Greece and its southern section is part of the E66 from Italy to Hungary. The A10 includes several tunnels, including the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel, which have both been expanded to two tubes to reduce traffic congestion. The section of the A10 between Flachau and Rennweg, including these two tunnels, is a special toll route where an extra toll must be paid instead of the standard vignette.

Additional fees for special toll routes

The Tauern Autobahn (A10) is a motorway in Austria that runs from the Salzburg junction with the West Autobahn (A1) to Villach in Carinthia. This route includes the Tauern Tunnel, which crosses the main chain of the Alps. The section between Flachau and Rennweg, including the Tauern and Katschberg Tunnels, is a designated special toll route.

Special toll routes in Austria are sections of roads that incur additional costs due to high maintenance expenses. These routes often include tunnels and passes that facilitate the crossing of mountainous terrain. The infrastructure company ASFINAG is responsible for maintaining these roads and collects the special toll fees.

For the A10 special toll route, motorists must pay an extra toll at the Sankt Michael toll plaza. The one-way Maut fee was €12.50 in 2020 and can be paid by cash, credit card, or the Videomaut prepaid system. Alternatively, motorists can use the Videomaut prepaid system or purchase a vignette for their vehicle. Vignettes are toll stickers that can be affixed to the windscreen or purchased digitally, and they are required for most roads in Austria.

Other examples of special toll routes in Austria include the Karawankentunnel (A11) and the Brenner motorway (A13). These routes may also be travelled with the toll box for large motorhomes or commercial trucks, and the toll will be settled automatically.

Exemptions from toll requirements

The A10 Tauern Autobahn is a motorway in Austria that runs from Salzburg to Villach. It is part of the European route E55 from Sweden to Greece, and its southern section is also part of the E66 from Italy to Hungary. The road is 192 km (119 mi) long, with 24 km (15 mi) of tunnels. The A10 is a toll road, with the section between Flachau and Rennweg junctions, including the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels, designated as a special toll route.

• Vignette exemptions: The A10 Tauern Autobahn is a toll road, but there are some sections of the road that are exempt from the vignette requirement. These include the special toll route section between Flachau and Rennweg junctions, which includes the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels. For this section, extra tolls are paid at the toll plaza at Sankt Michael or via a Videomaut prepaid system.
• Vehicle weight-based exemptions: The vignette obligation depends on the weight of the vehicle. Vehicles up to and including 3.5 tonnes require an (e-)vignette. Motorhomes up to and including 3.5 tonnes also require a vignette, while those over 3.5 tonnes pay a route-dependent toll and must be equipped with a toll box.
• Temporary exemptions: There are some temporary exemptions to the vignette requirement listed on the ASFINAG website. These include sections of the A1 Westautobahn, A12 Inntal motorway, A14 Rheintal/Walgau motorway, and the A26 Linz motorway (currently under construction).
• Environmental considerations: A special environmental speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) is in force on the Tauern Autobahn between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, which is a variance from the general Austrian motorway speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph).
• Digital vignette: Since 2017, Austria has offered a digital e-vignette as an alternative to the physical toll sticker. The digital vignette can be purchased online or via a mobile app and is linked to the vehicle's registration plate. It is valid at all open toll lanes, including the lanes marked green, which are designated for cars without trailers and with a maximum width of 2 meters.
• Motorcycle requirements: For motorcycles, the vignette must be affixed to a component that is difficult to remove (such as the fork leg or tank) and must be clearly visible.
• Foreign-registered vehicles: Foreign-registered vehicles are also subject to the vignette requirement when driving on Austrian motorways. The vignette can be purchased online or at various physical locations, including Austrian Automobile Clubs, post offices, newsagents, and petrol stations.
• Toll box for large vehicles: For vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, the toll is collected electronically using a toll box. The toll is calculated based on factors such as the kilometres driven and the Euro emission class. The toll box communicates with control stations on the motorways to facilitate automatic payment.
• Exempt roads: Not all roads in Austria require a vignette. Provincial and federal roads, for example, do not require a toll sticker. Additionally, German motorists can drive on certain sections of the A1, A12, and A14 without a vignette, up to Salzburg or Kufstein.
• Transition period: There is a transitional period for vehicles registered before 1 December 2023, with a maximum permissible laden weight of no more than 3.5 tonnes. These vehicles will continue to be subject to the vignette obligation and route toll for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes until 31 January 2029.

Toll fees fund Austrian roads

The toll can be paid in the form of a vignette, a lorry toll (GO-Box) or a route toll. The toll ensures the expansion and operation of the high-level road network in Austria. ASFINAG does not receive subsidies from the national budget, instead, it relies on income from the lorry toll, the toll sticker and the route toll. This income is then used for the construction, operation and safety of the roads.

The Tauern Autobahn (A10) is a motorway in Austria that runs from Salzburg to Villach in Carinthia. It is part of the European route E55 from Sweden to Greece and its southern section is also part of the E66 from Italy to Hungary. The A10 includes the Tauern Tunnel, which crosses the main chain of the Alps. This tunnel is a special toll route, where extra tolls are paid in cash or by credit card at a toll plaza.

The vignette is a toll sticker that must be displayed on all vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes when they enter a motorway or expressway. Vignettes can be purchased online or from outlets in Austria and abroad. They are valid for 10 days, 2 months or 1 year, and a new digital vignette is also available for 1 day. The digital vignette is linked to the vehicle's registration plate and can be purchased online or from participating sales outlets.

For vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, a truck toll is due, which is calculated via a GO-Box installed inside the vehicle. This is a mileage-based toll that is collected electronically on all motorways and expressways in Austria.

Frequently asked questions