There is a wide range of regulations. The ÖAMTC gives an overview on how and where to pay.
When you drive through Europe with your car, you will soon acknowledge that the European states have a lot of toll regulations. Most of the fees can be paid in advance respectively vignettes can be purchased at Austrian retailers.
The ÖAMTC strongly advises against trying to dodge the toll or not using a vignette. In Slowenia, for example, violators pay a fine up to €800.
Road tolls
Vignette compulsory
This applies not just in Austria, but also in Bulgaria, Slowenia, Switzerland, Slowakia and the Czech Republic (but in the latter two not for motorcycles). Vignettes for Slowenia and Switzerland can be purchased at every ÖAMTC station. The Vignette for Slowakia is available in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, the Czech Vignette at the ÖAMTC centre at the Vienna Schubertring as well as at the ÖAMTC centres in Gmünd, Waidhofen/Thaya and Zwettl.
In Hungary and Romania, an electronic Vignette system is used. The driver gets a bill after paying and telling the number of the transit plate of his vehicle. It is very important to keep this bill. After the purchase, the driver should check if the data is correct, especially the transit plate number. The Hungarian E-Vignette can be purchased at the ÖAMTC border station Nickelsdorf.
Road-related lorry toll
Many European countries calculate the road toll based on the track length. Countries like France, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and Turkey have permanent tollbooths where the toll has to be paid. In Italy, drivers are confronted with higher tolls since 01.01.2013 (rise of 3.9 percent). The Viacard to pay the toll in Italy can be purchased at all ÖAMTC centres.
Find more information about single countries here: ÖAMTC Länderinfo (German).
ÖAMTC route planner
With this service of the ÖAMTC, drivers can calculate their ideal route and driving time as well as toll costs easily at home. Even special fees for using tunnels or bridges are considered.
Copyright for the German version of this article: ÖAMTC 2013
