When planning a trip to Europe by car, in addition to the cost of gasoline, you should also take into account that most expressways here have tolls. As for the cost, it is rather low, taking into account the quality of the roads provided.

However, not all of Europe has toll roads; in many countries you can travel absolutely free. And the cost itself varies from country to country, for example, the most expensive in this regard is France, where the cost of each kilometer driven is 6.5 cents.

In Europe, the valuation system is conducted in different ways, including three main methods:

• Using Vignettes, that is, paying for free travel for a certain time.
• Payment for each kilometer driven on the toll road.
• Tolls for passing certain sections of the route, such as bridges or tunnels.

The use of vignettes is the most modern, well-thought-out, convenient, accessible and, at the same time, not widespread system of payment for toll roads. It is a sticker that is attached to the windshield, in some countries it is also called a “sticker”.

Features of use

You can buy such a sticker at any border gas station; they are also sold everywhere in kiosks or supermarkets. Such a sticker gives the right to travel on the roads of the country for a certain time: 10 days, 14 days, one month, 6 months or a year, each country has its own terms.

This sticker is attached to the windshield of a car, the location will be different in each country, you can find out where exactly to stick it by asking at the same gas station, or by looking at neighboring cars. Control is carried out using video recording systems, which are located on all toll roads. As a rule, they are taken into account only when driving on a motorway, but on roads common use You can ride absolutely free.

Countries where vignettes are used and their prices

• Austria: 10 days – 8.7 euros, 2 months – 12.7 euros, annual – 33.6 euros. The fine for absence is 120 euros.
• Switzerland: 2 months – 33 euros, 14 months – 83 euros. The fine for absence is 163 euros.
• Czech Republic: 10 days – 13 euros, 1 month – 17 euros, 1 year – 51 euros. The fine for absence is from 150 euros to 15,000 euros.
• Slovakia: 10 days – 10 euros, 20 days – 14 euros, 1 year – 50 euros. The fine for absence is from 100 to 500 euros.
• Slovenia: 7 days – 15 euros, 30 days – 30 euros, 1 year – 110 euros. The fine for absence is from 300 to 800 euros.
• Bulgaria: 7 days – 5 euros, 1 month – 13 euros, year – 34 euros. The fine for absence is 100 euros.
• Hungary: 10 days – 10 euros, 1 month – 15 euros. The fine for absence is 48 euros.
• Romania: 7 days – 3 euros, 30 days – 7 euros, 90 days – 13 euros, 1 year – 28 euros. The fine for absence is from 60 to 120 euros.
• Moldova: 7 days - 4 euros, 15 days - 8 euros, 30 days - 14 euros, 90 days - 30 euros, 180 days - 50 euros.

Sections of roads with special tolls

In other European countries where payment for travel on motorways is practiced, payment for travel on individual sections of the road is common. As a rule, these are highways, bridges or tunnels.

Features of use and payment

To pay for travel, you do not need to buy special cards. At the control points located before the start of the toll section, each person entering is given a magnetic card or a ready-made check, which will need to be paid when leaving the toll section of the road. There are plenty of payment options: cash, card, and in Norway, for example, you can even pay for your fare later at any gas station, if you this moment The drivers have no money.

Toll roads in Italy

In Italy, each kilometer traveled will cost about 5-8 euros. Upon entry to paid section There are special terminals on the road, which are fenced with barriers. When entering, the driver takes a magnetic card, and when leaving, he pays for the mileage traveled in cash or by card.

Toll roads in Poland

There are three toll sections in Poland, located on highways A1, A 2 and A4. Depending on the length of the section, travel along them can range from 30 to 8 zlotys, and the payment system is built quite original: half of the amount must be paid upon entry, and the rest upon exit.

Toll roads in France

France has the most expensive roads, despite the fact that they operate on the country's main highways heading from Paris to Marseille and Lyon. The fare is about 6.5 cents per kilometer, payment can be made at control points in cash or by card.

Toll roads in Serbia

There are only two toll roads in Serbia. Travel along the E70 highway is divided into 20 sections, each of which can be paid separately; the cost per kilometer is 6.5 euros. Driving along the E75 highway is carried out at several toll sections, a kilometer of which costs from 2 to 3 euros.

Toll roads in Croatia

In Croatia, sections of the A1 – A9 highways, as well as the tunnel on the D76 highway, are toll roads. The fare for each section is fixed and ranges from 20 kuna per tunnel to 181 kuna for the Zagreb-Split section.

Toll roads in Macedonia

Macedonia has some of the most low prices for travel on toll roads. There are a total of 4 such sections in the country, travel on which ranges from 0.8 to 1.5 euros.

Toll roads in Norway, Sweden and Denmark

In Norway, almost all roads are toll roads, but in Sweden and Denmark, on the contrary, only bridges are toll roads. In Norway, travel along the section from Gothenburg to Oslo will cost about 20 kroner, and you can pay for all movements later at gas stations. In Sweden and Denmark, the fee is charged only for driving across bridges; it will range from 20 to 90 euros, depending on the type and size of the car.

Toll roads in Spain and Portugal

There are many toll roads in Spain, but the toll is fixed and amounts to about 10 euros per 100 kilometers. In Portugal, all roads except the Lisbon and Porto highways are toll roads.

Ireland and England

In England there is only one toll section of the road near Birmingham, but in Ireland several highways have recently become tolled, the price per 1 kilometer when traveling along them will be about 1.9 euros.

Countries without toll roads

Fortunately, there are many countries in Europe where there are no toll roads, and you can freely drive around the entire country, caring only about the quality of gasoline and admiring the views on both sides of the road. However, sometimes there may be small paid areas, although this is most likely an exception to the rule. These countries are: Germany, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andora, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco.

How to drive around Europe without paying tolls

You can travel around Europe without paying money to use the roads. Firstly, the traveler is spared from this if he rents a car in a European country. As a rule, the cost of a vignette is already included in the rental price, and since it is purchased for at least a year, in general you will be able to save on travel.

In addition, most toll roads in Europe are duplicated by free ones. Free roads less good quality, you won’t be able to drive on them more than 60-70 kilometers per hour. However, if you are not in a hurry and want to get to know the country better, this option will be even better, since you won’t be able to really see anything from the highways.

This short note collects and systematizes information about toll roads in all countries of continental Europe, as well as the principles of their payment, in order to give an idea of ​​​​the general situation with road tolls in Europe.

More detailed information about the road payment process itself (depending on the method of payment) is provided in separate notes (links below).

It's no secret that many roads in Europe are toll roads, (but not all, and not in all countries). In addition to road tolls, some countries impose additional tolls on certain bridges and tunnels (but not all).

There is no charge for travel to cities in Europe, but there is another problem: a fee is charged for parking (and almost everywhere).

This information can be useful both for motorists planning a trip to Europe in their own car, and for people planning a trip around Europe in a rented car. Everywhere below, we are talking about passenger cars cars.

But before starting the story, a few words about toll roads in Europe in general.

How much do toll roads cost in Europe?

The question: “how much do toll roads cost in Europe” is extremely incorrect. And it is impossible to give a clear answer to it in principle, at least without asking clarifying questions: in which European countries? For which car (size, weight, height near the front axle, number of axles)? What season of the year?

You will understand why this is so after reading this article to the end, but here I will briefly describe the situation.

The fact is that for Europe there are no uniform tariffs (as well as options) for paying for roads. Each country sets its own road toll. In some countries, all roads are generally free, for example.

To help you understand the general scale of costs for toll roads in Europe, I will provide information from personal experience trips. The toll for roads on the route Brest - Lisbon - Brest (7200 km) will amount to about 300 euros when using highways.

But here, again, options are possible. What roads do you plan to use on your trip: highways or regular ones? Which countries will you route through?

If you take this route north (through Germany and Belgium, where all roads are free) - it will be a little cheaper. If you go south (via Austria, Italy), it will be a little more expensive, because there are no countries with free highways on that route.

At the same time, no one is stopping you from using alternative (that is, free) roads - they are also available in abundance there, in any country. For God's sake! It will be even cheaper, if not completely free. But travel time when using free roads, will increase significantly, by one and a half times.

Road toll rates also vary from country to country. You can travel through Poland from Brest to the border with Germany (680 km) for about 20 euros. The same distance in France (for example, from Paris to Toulouse) will cost you 50 euros. Moreover, in both cases, this can be done for free.

The most expensive roads in France, Italy, in general, in Western Europe. The cheapest are in Eastern Europe and the Balkans (except for Greece - it’s expensive to ride there). But at the same time, almost always (except for Bulgaria and Romania) there is a free alternative.

Therefore, as you can see, it is impossible to answer the question of how much toll roads in Europe cost. To answer this, you need to consider a specific route in order to understand how much the road toll in Europe will be.

What you need to travel on toll roads in Europe

What do you need to travel on a toll road? Automobile. Well, if the trip is not pre-paid using a vignette (see below), then a bank card and/or some cash.

Well, “a little.” It depends where you go. A trip along the expressways from Paris to Madrid will cost you about 100 euros. But you can get there for 10 euros, it will just take longer. Much.

If payment for roads in a given country is provided using a vignette, then, accordingly, before entering the toll road you need to purchase a vignette.

Roads in Europe can always be paid with a bank card (in all countries where payment for the distance traveled is provided), which is much more convenient than paying in cash, especially when we are talking about countries that have a currency other than the euro: Poland, for example, or the Balkans countries.

And nothing more is needed. Well, you can look at the rules before the trip traffic in European countries, and also how they differ from the Russian Federation traffic rules:

And their main differences from the traffic rules in Russia - the note brings together all the differences (across all European countries) from the traffic rules adopted in Russia (there are not so many of them, by the way).

You can also take a little interest in the topic at what speed you can drive on the roads there so as not to receive fines for it, and at what speeds the police set speed cameras (radars) in various European countries:

You can also immediately inquire about the size of fines for traffic violations in Europe though, it's a waste of time. If anything, the policeman will tell you everything on the spot:

In the same note, general (subjective) descriptions of the author’s impressions from trips to these countries have been added; maybe someone will find such information useful.

Is it worth paying for roads in Europe?

If, while moving around Europe, you need to get from one point to another quickly and with a minimum of effort, then pay for the roads definitely worth it. The money spent on traveling on toll roads pays off handsomely.

If during the trip the goal is to plunge as deeply as possible into local life, look around, enjoy the scenery, then it’s better to plan your trip route so that it runs along ordinary roads(not on highways).

Local (minor) roads in all European countries (except Bulgaria and Romania)- always free.

Is it possible not to pay for roads in Europe?

If you don’t want to pay for roads, then you don’t have to pay. Europe is full of free (alternative) roads, use them to get around.

To do this, when entering the route into the navigator, you need to enable the “avoid toll roads” option (“exclude toll roads”, etc. - in each navigator it may be called a little differently).

I would only warn against using toll roads if they have not been paid for. The fines there for this are draconian - hundreds, and in some cases thousands of euros.

In the paragraph above, we are referring to countries where road tolls are paid according to time, i.e. using a vignette (see below) rather than by distance traveled. In countries where vignettes are not used, you will not accidentally end up on a toll road, see barriers and all that.

For example, in the Czech Republic, the fine for driving on motorways with an invalid or incorrectly attached vignette ranges from 5000 CZK (approximately 185 euros) when paying on the spot, and before 100,000 crowns (3,700 euros) when considering a case in court.

There are only two countries where you will have to pay for roads - Bulgaria (there is not always a free alternative there) and Romania - there, in general, all cars using any roads outside the city must pay a toll.

However, the toll for using the roads there is ridiculous, so you might as well pay. If this doesn’t suit you at all (in principle), then you don’t have to go there by car.

What is the difference between toll and free roads in Europe

Toll roads(motorways), provide very fast (average speed 100-105 km/h without violating traffic rules), comfortable and safe movement by car from one point to another.

Highways in Europe often have three lanes in each direction (minimum two), and there are no problems with overtaking. Also, there are bumpers on the dividing strip, a wide asphalt shoulder and high-quality pavement and markings.

The above applies to 99.9% of toll roads. But sometimes you drive on a toll road and think: “I don’t understand. Why did they take money from me?” To be fair, I note that I only encountered such a situation in the Balkans.

But there is one minus. When driving on toll roads, you will see almost nothing (I mean: views, local life, etc. things). But it is very convenient to travel along them.

Free roads provide movement with average speed 60-70 km/h, and you won’t be able to drive faster on them (without breaking the rules). Comfort and safety are relative.

As a rule, these roads have one lane in each direction (occasionally two), there are problems with overtaking (if the road is busy), and they go through all settlements, encountered along the way (and there are many of them, and the speed limit in them is 50 km/h).

But, when moving along free roads, local life is very clearly visible, so to speak, “from the inside out” (be careful, from close acquaintance with this reality, the rose-colored glasses may fall off your eyes: “that’s all they have in Europe” -good"), especially when driving on tertiary roads, i.e. where only locals travel.

Also, on local roads it is convenient to stop almost wherever you want (on highways this is strictly prohibited), although I note that you will rarely find such luxurious (wide) shoulders as in Russia in Europe. The width of the shoulder (on minor roads) of 0.5-1 meter is the norm in many countries.

The quality of coverage on both toll and free roads in Europe is quite good (in the vast majority of cases), but on toll roads it is still better than on free ones.

More details are given in a separate note (and there are specifics there).
- are described in a separate note. It notes general features(differences) of traffic organization in European countries ah from the Russian Federation, there is also a section devoted to the description of roads and signs in Europe.

Options (principles) for paying for roads in Europe

In Europe, there are two options for paying for roads (in those countries that generally provide payment for their use).

Road payment options in Europe include two general principles payment: payment for the distance traveled, or payment for the time the road is used.

IN different countries There are different variations of these types of payment, but ultimately, it all comes down to these two principles: you pay either for time or for distance traveled.

Payment for the distance traveled (in those countries where it applies) is carried out at special payment points located directly on the highway, or at the exit from it. Payment can be made either manually (i.e. in cash or by bank card) or remotely using a transponder.

Payment for the time of use of roads (in countries where this type of payment is used) is carried out through the advance purchase of a so-called “vignette”, after which the roads are used without restrictions for the paid period of time.

In some countries (Poland, for example), road payment methods differ for various types transport. Owners passenger cars mobile vehicles can pay for the road either manually (i.e. manually), by driving up to the barrier and paying, or using a transponder, but truck drivers (vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tons) are required to use only a transponder to pay for roads.

But all this is particular. The situation with payment (payment method, payment options) for roads, with the classification of cars for road payment, with the payment procedure is regulated in each European country separately, at the level of domestic legislation. There is no single, pan-European road toll system (for now, anyway).

Map of toll roads in Europe

There is no single (across all countries) map of toll roads in Europe.

In any case, it is not up to date (I’ll tell you why below).

If you are interested in a map of toll roads, then look for this information (map) for each specific country you are going to visit separately. Moreover, preferably, look for it not on forums, but in the original source.

The fact is that the map of toll roads in any country is “live”, i.e. Information about road sections for which payment is provided, as well as about tariffs and payment methods for these sections, is constantly changing. Not every day, of course, but quite regularly.

Therefore, compose for you general map toll roads throughout Europe, and no one will specifically keep it up to date. This is quite difficult, and does not pay off in any way.

But finding a map of toll roads for a specific country is much easier, because creating and maintaining this map up to date is the direct responsibility of the relevant local department (responsible for roads).

Clue: When searching for such a map, it is advisable to use search queries in the national language of the country for which the search is being performed. That is, you need to search not for “map of toll roads in Poland”, but for “mapa płatnych dróg Polski” - the result will be much better. Well, Google Translate will help you.

The method described above is far from the most productive when preparing for a trip to Europe. There is much more simple solutions, for example, a service for calculating road tolls in Europe from Michelin. A link to a note describing the use of this service will be given below.

Here, I can only offer you a general map describing the situation with road payment options in Europe, so that you can imagine general situation with road tolls clearly.

The distribution of European countries according to the principles of road payment looks as shown in the figure below:

Green The colors on the map indicate countries where there are no toll roads (i.e. all roads are free).
Red-brown The colors indicate countries where payment is made for the time of road use (vignette).
Yellow Colored - countries where tolls are charged per distance traveled.
Yellow with green shading Belarus is indicated - there is no toll charged for travel from passenger cars, registered in the EAEU.

If we talk about the situation with road tolls in Europe in general, then in Europe:

• 18 countries where roads are completely free;
• 9 countries that charge for the time of road use (payment by vignette);
• 15 countries (not counting the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus) where the principle of payment for the distance traveled is used.

Small island states such as Cyprus and Malta are not taken into account. Let me remind you that in this article we are talking only about passenger cars.

European countries where roads are free

Below is a list of European countries that do not charge road tolls. It should be noted that in these countries a fee may be charged for the use of individual elements of road infrastructure: bridges, tunnels, etc.

There are eighteen countries in Europe that do not charge road tolls:

1. Albania;
2. Andorra;
3. Belgium;
4. Germany;
5. Iceland;
6. Denmark;
7. Latvia;
8. Lithuania;
9. Liechtenstein
10. Luxembourg;
11. Monaco;
12. Netherlands;
13. San Marino;
14. Ukraine;
15. Finland;
16. Montenegro;
17. Sweden;
18. Estonia.

Also, roads are free in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, but strictly speaking, these countries are in Asia.

Payment for roads in Europe, for the time of their use (vignette)

Paying for roads by time of use implies that a certain amount is paid (road toll, road tax - call it what you want), and in exchange there is the right to unlimited use of toll roads in a given country, but for a limited (paid) period of time.

The rest of the roads in these countries are free!

The period that will be paid is selected by the user when purchasing a vignette. As a rule, options include choosing a payment period from several days (7-10 days - depending on the country), one month, and one year.

Confirmation of payment for the road is a vignette, paper (which is stuck on the glass) or electronic (which implies the presence of a payment receipt as confirmation).

The only country in Europe that, without any options, requires payment for roads at once for the entire year (even if you plan to stay there for only one day or a few hours) - this is Switzerland. Ontoday this fee is about 37 euros.

The cost of a vignette in other countries where this method of paying for roads is used fluctuates around 10 euros for the minimum period of use. In fact - from 3 euros (Romania) to 15 euros (Slovenia).

The cost of a vignette also depends on the weight of the car, its size, etc. Sometimes an additional vignette is needed for a trailer, sometimes not (from country to country).

Details about what a vignette is, where to get it, what types they are, how much it costs (by country) and what the features of payment are in different countries are described in a separate note.

European countries where payment is made for the time of road use (vignette)

There are only nine countries in Europe that charge for roads based on the period of use:

1. Austria;
2. Czech Republic;
3. Slovakia;
4. Switzerland;
5. Slovenia;
6. Hungary;
7. Romania;
8. Moldova;
9. Bulgaria.

Moreover, in this list Bulgaria and Romania stand apart. In Romania, all roads outside the cities are toll roads (however, the fee is symbolic) - i.e. Anyone entering this country by car must pay a toll.

In Bulgaria, there is no official toll paid, but in fact, you can get directions only on free roads - it won’t work (in all other countries it’s possible). That is, you will definitely have to buy a vignette there.

Payment of roads for the distance traveled

This is a classic payment option, which has recently begun to be used here in Russia. The principle is simple: how many kilometers have you actually traveled on a toll road - that’s what you pay for.

It is implemented in different countries a little differently (in some places you pay when entering a toll section, in others after passing it), but the essence remains the same: payment is charged for as many kilometers as you travel along the toll road.

Prices for this option vary significantly from country to country (somewhere more expensive, somewhere cheaper). The cost of travel on the road depends on the greed of the company servicing this section of the route, and on the type of vehicle (trucks and buses pay more, for example).

Therefore, it is sometimes quite difficult to take into account how much it will cost to travel on toll roads in Europe, but it is quite possible.

As a rule, when using this payment principle, there are two options for paying for travel: one of them is payment directly in cash (or a bank card) when passing a payment acceptance point, the second option is payment remotely, through a transponder (transceiver, in simple terms).

You are unlikely to use remote payment on a simple tourist trip (in any case, Not I recommend it, unless the transponder is already installed, for example, on a rented car). Paying for roads using a transponder is more suitable for locals.

ABOUT USING A TRANSPONDER TO PAY FOR ROADS IN EUROPE

Why is the transponder not very good on a regular tourist trip? It's simple.

To use a transponder, you must first find a point where you can get this transponder (by paying a deposit for it), then create a separate account and deposit money into it (however, this is all done in one place). These points are often (but not always) located at the entrance to toll road sections.

And then, every time you pass a toll point, a certain amount will be debited from this account. The account will have to be replenished periodically (you still need to figure out how, however, there’s nothing particularly complicated there, of course).

And at the end of the trip, the transponder will need to be returned in order to return the deposit paid for it. And this is in every country in Europe (which takes several hours to travel along highways). There is no such thing as a single transponder “for the whole of Europe”. Do you need all this? I doubt.

Moreover, in the vast majority of countries (if not all), the tariffs are the same, i.e. Using a transponder will not save you any money.

This method has only one advantage: you do not need to stop when passing through a payment point. But in Europe this plus is insignificant.

At road toll points, as a rule, there are from 5 to 20 (or more) gates for travel (depending on the congestion of the highway), therefore, there are no long queues there, and if they happen during peak hours, they move quite quickly.

Based on the above, it is obvious that a transponder for tolling roads in Europe is not the best The best decision for the autotourist , therefore, I will not dwell on this method in detail. Moreover, each country has its own rules.

The essence of the method is described above, and this is enough, but about the Turkish version of using this method will be written separately, as well as about paying for some roads in Portugal.

Basically, when traveling on tourist trips, the first payment option is used - payment in cash or by card directly at the payment point (in any case, I would recommend that you use it).

A separate note is devoted to a specific description of the road payment process in Europe (how it will all look in practice, with photographs and detailed explanations):

European countries that apply the principle of paying for roads by distance traveled

There are fifteen countries in continental Europe that charge tolls for the distance traveled on a toll road:

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina;
2. Great Britain;
3. Greece;
4. Ireland
5. Iceland
6. Spain;
7. Italy;
8. Macedonia;
9. Norway;
10. Poland;
11. Portugal;
12. Serbia;
13. Türkiye;
14. France;
15. Croatia.

Turkey stands somewhat apart from this list: payment there is charged for the distance traveled, but in terms of the payment method, it is closer to the countries where a vignette is used.

On this, a note dedicated to general description I will finish the state of toll roads in Europe. More detailed information You can see separate notes on how to use each payment option.

All methods of paying for roads that you may encounter in Europe revolve around the above. There is nothing complicated about paying for roads in Europe, you just have to figure it out once.

People who love to travel often decide to go abroad on their own road transport. It is convenient, comfortable, and economical. The questions of where to stay overnight, how much stuff to take with you, how to connect flights are immediately resolved. different types transport. Before you go on a trip by car, you need to obtain documents for the car. This includes opening a Green Card and obtaining a vignette, without which customs officers and border guards will not let motorists go abroad. But before you go on a trip to Europe on personal car, be sure to check out .

A vignette is a special sticker that is attached to the inside windshield cars or motor vehicles. This is a document allowing car travelers to enter the territory of another state. How to mount a vignette on passenger cars - indicated on back side stickers. The document should not be washed off with water or subject to other damage, otherwise non-tourists will not be allowed abroad.

There are two types of vignettes – paper and electronic. The paper vignette is more common, but more and more European countries are switching to electronic ones. In particular, new type vignettes are valid in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, Austria. Buy a vignette electronic form You can do it online or at gas stations. The fact of purchase is confirmed by a receipt, which is issued at the time of purchase of the document, or via SMS notification. All data about the car and its owner, country of destination, visas are entered into special base data. At the border, a receipt or SMS on a phone is checked using reading devices, surveillance cameras, and mobile checkpoints.

The vignette is needed so that the driver can confirm that he has paid a special toll, which is required to travel on European highways, autobahns and roads within a clearly defined period of time.

In which European countries is a vignette required?

Not all countries on the European continent require a vignette. The sticker is used by nine countries in South-Eastern and Central Europe, which include the following countries:

• Switzerland.
• Slovakia.
• Slovenia.
• Romania.
• Czech Republic.
• Austria.
• Bulgaria.
• Hungary.
• Moldova.

For trips to other European states There is no need for a vignette.

Where to buy a vignette

It is recommended to purchase a vignette in the country to which tourists are traveling. It is best to use local currency for payment. Among the main reasons why you need to buy a vignette in the countries mentioned above, and not in Russia, it is worth noting:

• If you use a card, there will be no need to change currency.
• You can minimize the commission for currency exchange and conversion.
• Availability of a clearly regulated price for a vignette in the listed countries.

You can buy a vignette to stick on your windshield at gas stations that are located near the border in the country you are traveling to, in neighboring countries, or in your home country before crossing the checkpoint.

Places to purchase a vignette in European countries:

• Austria. Here the vignette is only needed to drive on highways. Sales points are located near the border, for example at the Austrian-Czech or Austrian-Slovenian border, and at gas stations.
• Bulgaria. In this Balkan country, all roads except ring roads and intracity roads are toll roads. You can purchase a vignette at border checkpoints marked ROAD CHARGING POINT. Sales points operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Hungary. As in Austria, a vignette is issued only for travel on motorways. You can buy the card online, at gas stations and at special sales points in Hungary. Such stores are located near border crossing points from Croatia or Austria.
• Moldova. All foreigners who entered the country in their own cars need a vignette. It is best to buy a vignette before traveling to Moldova by going to the website of the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure. You can personally purchase the document at customs or at authorized points of sale. We accept Moldovan lei or foreign currency for payment, which is converted into lei at the local rate.
• Romania. All national roads in the country are toll roads, and to travel on them you must obtain a vignette. Vignettes for sale in shopping centers, at gas stations, at UNTRR offices, Romanian post office, checkpoints located on the border. Recently, the function of registering vignettes via the Internet has become available to foreigners. But this can be done no earlier than 30 days before the start of the trip to Romania.
• Slovakia. There are toll and free sections of the route in the country. To travel on highways, both foreign travelers and Slovaks need to pay. The vignette is sold in different places - at checkpoints that were open 24 hours a day, at gas stations, at certified points of sale, where there is an inscription eznámka, i.e. electronic vignette.
• Slovenia. Motorways in this Balkan country are toll roads and require a vignette to travel on them. It is recommended to purchase it at border crossing points, which are open 24 hours a day. Slovenian border guards and transport inspectors carefully check the presence of stickers. Therefore, if there is no vignette on the windshield, the tourist will receive a rather large fine.
• Czech Republic. Sticker sales points are installed in border areas and at gas stations located near border crossings. In the Czech Republic it is prohibited to drive on motorways without vignettes, otherwise the police will fine you.
• Switzerland. Before traveling to this beautiful country, it is worth looking on the Internet for a map of toll roads in Switzerland. Vignettes are sold at post offices, gas stations, branches of the country's Tourist Club, and at customs points.

There are special services that operate online where you can apply for a vignette. Such services provide vignette design services for a fee. You must fill out the online form, enter the correct email address and pay the cost of the vignette. After this, the document will be sent by email. It is necessary to keep the receipt of payment so that customs officers can check the fact of payment at the time of entry into the country.

What is the price

A sticker on the windshield of a car for travel through European countries is valid for an average of 7 days. The cost of a vignette varies from 3-4 euros to 12-35 euros. It is better to pay for vignettes at points of sale in the national currency of a particular country. Scroll current prices Vignettes and their validity periods are listed below:

• Austria – 9 euros, valid for 10 days.
• Bulgaria – 8 euros, valid for 7 days.
• Hungary – costs 9.1 euros or 2,975 Hungarian forints, the vignette is valid for 10 days.
• Moldova – 4 euros, valid for 7 days.
• Romania – 3 euros, validity – 7 days.
• Slovakia – 10 euros, vignette is valid for 10 days.
• Slovenia – 15 euros, issued for 7 days.
• Czech Republic – 12 euros or 310 Czech crowns, vignette is valid for 10 days.
• Switzerland – 35 euros or 40 Swiss francs, the vignette can be used for one year.

So, on toll roads in European countries there is a fee. All travelers entering the EU and other countries of the continent must pay for using highways and highways. In most countries, tolls are paid upon entering or exiting a toll road. In countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Romania, etc., you can save a little on road travel by getting a vignette. The sticker is placed on the windshield to road police and the Border Patrol saw that the motorist had paid in advance to travel on toll highways.

If you are going to travel independently by car in Europe, you definitely need to familiarize yourself in advance with the information in which European countries you need to pay for using roads, in order to avoid troubles and fines. On average, travel on European roads is inexpensive.

Despite the fact that the total mileage of toll roads is small compared to the entire length of roads in European countries, you are very likely to have to drive on toll roads. The fact is that toll roads are the most direct and fastest. All toll roads, as a rule, have free backups, the speed of which does not exceed 60 km/h, but the length of these routes can be several times longer than the section that you would need to travel on a toll expressway.

Germany and Finland

are the only countries in Europe where there are no tolls for using expressways and/or special structures (bridges, tunnels).

Austria

All expressways (autobahns) in Austria are toll roads. Before entering the country, you need to purchase a vignette and stick it on your windshield. You can buy a vignette at any gas station 10-15 km before the border or directly at the border. The vignette can be purchased for different periods: 10 days (7.90 €), 2 months (22.90 €) and a year (76.20 €). The fine for missing a vignette is 120 €.

In addition to toll highways in Austria, there are certain areas (for example, bridges or tunnels) for which an additional fee is charged. When entering such a section, you will see a checkpoint where you need to pay for the toll. Examples of such roads are Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, Malta Hochalmstraße or Silvretta-Hochalpenstraße.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein

In Switzerland, as well as in Austria, when using expressways (white-green signs) you are required to have a current vignette. Liechtenstein does not have its own autobahns, so the Swiss vignette applies there. The vignette is valid for one calendar (!) year and costs 40 Swiss francs.

The only structure in Switzerland for which a separate fee is charged is the Great St. Bernard Tunnel (Große-Sankt-Bernhard-Tunnel), because... It is maintained by a private company.

France

Toll roads in France are the most expensive. In France, tolls are charged on certain routes or sections of road. Roads in Alsace, Lorraine and Brittany are mostly toll-free. average cost toll roads in France are 7-12 cents per kilometer. The cost of travel depends on the actual length of the section you drive through and the type of your car.

The payment procedure is usually carried out as follows: when entering a toll section, the driver takes a ticket at the checkpoint, which he must use to pay for the toll when leaving the toll road or section. In France, in some areas there is also a contactless method for registering Télépéage. The driver receives a small device that he must attach to the windshield. When driving through a checkpoint in a specially designated lane at walking speed, this device transmits signals to a base installed at the checkpoint.

Italy

Most of Italy's toll roads form a closed system. In such a system, the driver receives a special card upon entry, with which he pays for the fare at the machine at the exit. The cost depends on the mileage, the type of car you have and the road you are driving on. It costs approximately 4 € for every 100 kilometers.

Norway

There is no mandatory general fare in Norway. However, some new construction (such as tunnels, bridges or sections of highway) must be paid for until the construction has paid for itself (usually 10-15 years). Some private roads are tolled for an unlimited period of time.

In Norway there is also a fee for entering cities (for example, Oslo and other large cities).

Poland

Most roads in Poland are free. However, there are some segments for which you need to pay.

Slovakia

In 1995, Slovakia introduced toll on expressways. To travel on highways in Slovakia, you also need to purchase a vignette. An annual vignette costs €36.50.

Slovenia

In 2008, a vignette system based on the Austrian model was introduced in Slovenia. Vignettes have different duration actions: week (15 €), month (30 €), year (95 €).

Spain

In Spain, some motorways are toll roads (mostly private roads). The fee is collected at the checkpoint. Public roads are always free.

Czech

To travel on expressways in the Czech Republic you must have a valid vignette. The cost of a vignette depends on the total weight of the vehicle and the presence of a trailer. In the Czech Republic there are vignettes valid for 7 days, a month and a year.

Türkiye

There are 6 toll roads in Turkey, where tolls are charged depending on the mileage. Turkey also has 2 toll bridges in Istanbul.

Hungary

In Hungary you are required to have a vignette when driving on the M1, M3, M5, M6, M7, M30 and M35 motorways. Vignettes are valid for 4 days, 10 days, a month and a year. However, you do not need to glue anything to the windshield. The car number is stored in the system, and the driver only receives confirmation of payment. Payment verification is also carried out electronically. Payment is possible by credit card or online.

Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden

In these countries, only certain structures (bridges and tunnels) require a fee. The fee is charged when entering the corresponding area or (attention!) when leaving it.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, all roads except city roads are toll roads and require a vignette. In addition, some bridges across the Don are tolled.

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Vignette in Austria - why is it needed, how much does it cost and where to buy

Vignette in Austria is a payment method for all toll roads. We will tell you in detail how much a vignette costs in Austria, where to buy it, where it is valid and where the cost of travel is not covered by the vignette.

High-quality Austrian roads, being one of the guarantors of safe road traffic, determine that many tourists prefer to travel around the country by car - their own or a rented one. But a reasonable question arises: is it necessary to pay for such quality? Of course yes.

The high quality of roads in Austria leads to the fact that a fairly large number of the busiest roads are toll roads. It is for driving on such roads that a special permit sticker is required - a vignette.

There is an interactive map of toll roads in Austria.

If you plan to travel around Austria by car between major cities, then, as you can see, you still have to buy a vignette - toll roads are marked on the map gray. But you can still do without a vignette if you don’t go on toll roads. But the quality of free roads may be a little worse.

Let’s say right away that you won’t be able to “slip through” without a vignette. And even naive drivers, citing the fact that there is no Russian or other Russian base in Austria foreign cars, and that therefore they will not receive a fine, they will have to pay. How it works?

All toll roads in Austria are equipped with all-seeing cameras, which, having registered a “hare”, transmit a message to the nearest road patrol. If not immediately, then after a while you will be stopped.

Roads with additional tolls

There are also several road sections in Austria that were very expensive to construct, resulting in the cost of a vignette not covering the cost of driving through such sections. On the toll road map above these areas are indicated in blue. Some panoramic roads require additional payment.

Payment for all additional road sections is usually made on the spot.

Who needs a vignette in Austria

Let us remind you that travelers should think about whether a vignette is needed in Austria only if they plan to travel either in their own car or in a car rented in a neighboring country (pay attention to the features of the purchased insurance - it may not cover risks in other country).

If you rent a car in Austria, then with a 99% probability it will already have all the necessary stickers pasted on it in order to move freely on all toll roads. The only thing that needs to be clarified is whether you will need to pay for travel on some routes, where additional payment is provided in addition to the mandatory vignette.

How much does a vignette cost in Austria?

There are 3 types of vignette in Austria: for 10 days, for 2 months and for a year, and the prices for vignettes vary for motorcycles and for cars weighing up to 3.5 tons. The cost of a vignette in Austria in 2019 is as follows:

• For 10 days – 9.20€ for cars and 5.30€ for motorcycles. Valid from 00:00 on the day indicated in the vignette until 24:00 on the 10th day;
• For 2 months – 26.80€ for cars and 13.40€ for motorcycles. The first day of validity, as in the case of a 10-day sticker, is noted upon purchase. Valid from 00:00 on the first day until 24:00 on the last day;
• For a year – 89.20€ for cars and 35.50€ for motorcycles. In fact, the 2019 annual vignette will be valid for 14 months - from December 1, 2018 to January 31, 2020, and so on every year. If you buy an annual vignette in the middle of the year, you will not be able to extend its validity period.

J - annual, M - for 2 months, T - for 10 days. Vehicle categories A and B, respectively.

Where to buy a vignette

Living in Russia, we are accustomed to the fact that toll roads always (or almost always) have checkpoints, where fares are paid. Road tolls in Austria are structured differently - you need to take care of purchasing a vignette yourself.

If you entered Austria without a vignette, then the right decision would be to stop at the nearest gas station, where you can buy the coveted sticker.

What if I go late at night and the gas station is closed? What if I meet the registration device before the first gas station at the border?

An Austrian vignette can be purchased not only in Austria itself, but also in border countries - Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia.

All sales points are the same as in Austria (including Vienna, Salzburg and different regions countries), and in other countries (including Switzerland, Slovenia and other countries) can be found. In total, more than 6 thousand vignette sales points are organized in Austria and other countries.

It’s not very convenient that all the information is given in a list and not on the map, so first look on the map for the cities you will pass by, and then find them in the list.

How to attach a vignette

It’s not enough to just buy a vignette. It must be attached correctly so that recording devices can read your vignette data.

Even if you pay for a vignette, but attach it incorrectly, you will receive a fine.

The vignette must be attached with inside windshield so that it can be clearly seen from any angle. ASFINAG, the company that is responsible for organizing toll roads in Austria, recommends gluing the vignette on the left side of the car or in the middle, closer to the rearview mirror.

At the same time, you cannot attach the sticker to the sun strip; if there is one, glue the sticker below.

As for motorcycles, it is recommended to mount the sticker either on the front fork or on the side of the gas tank. The main requirement is that the part on which the vignette is attached must be well fixed, that is, it cannot simply be removed and replaced independently.

The vignette cannot be attached to the trunk or side bag of a motorcycle.

Penalty for driving without a vignette

According to ASFINAG, the fine for driving in Austria without a vignette in 2019 is 120€ for cars and 65€ for motorcycles. If it is discovered that you wanted to make any manipulations with the sticker (replacing the sticker, changing the start date, etc.), the fine will be 240 € and 130 € respectively.

If you refuse to pay the fine, but your guilt is still proven in court, the amount of the obligation can be determined in the range of 300-3000 €, depending on how maliciously you violate the order on the road.

Follow local traffic rules and have a safe trip!