The summer vacations are just around the corner – it’s vacation time in europe. Those who travel by car are particularly flexible in this respect. But what was that again with the toll? In which countries is a toll due and where is the vignette obligatory?? Each country regulates road use differently. This can quickly become confusing for vacationers. That’s why we have compiled an overview of the toll and vignette regulations in the individual countries in europe for you. Read here what the digital vignette is all about, how to behave correctly in a toll station and which rules apply in which countries.
Vignette: for the windshield or digitally
The vignette is a country-specific proof, which ensures that for the road use was paid. Thereby a flat rate is due, which is paid before the drive. If you are on the road without a vignette, you risk sometimes high fines. In some countries the vignette is attached to the windshield glued, but in the meantime it is becoming more and more widespread digital vignette.
Tip: you are planning a road trip but don’t want to pay expensive tolls and vignette fees? How about a car trip through your home country? Let our road trip through germany show you the 10 most beautiful places inspire!
vignette as a sticker for the windshield
the sticky vignette becomes from the inside on the windshield on the driver’s side attached. Bring them either below on the left side at the level of the rear view mirror, top left or centered next to the inside mirror at. The windshield should be dry, clean and free of grease so that the sticker can adhere optimally. By the way, the vignette is tied to the vehicle, not the license plate. You can get them at border crossings, gas stations, post offices and other service points with vignette symbol.
Tip: where you find the nearest gas station, learn more in our article about the 7 best fuel apps.
A digital vignette saves you the hassle of scratching off the sticker (source: brunok1/shutterstock.Com)
Digital vignette
In contrast to the sticker, the digital vignette is tied to the license plate and applies to up to three vehicles. With the digital vignette, you also save yourself the trouble of scratching off the sticker on the windshield. The disadvantage is that the online ordered vignette only valid after 18 days is – this is due to buyer protection for online transactions. However, the digital vignette is also available at rest areas and other selected locations and can be used directly in this way.
Toll: route-dependent fees
If you drive more, you pay more: in contrast to the vignette, tolls are route-dependent. As a rule, the passenger car toll paid at the respective stretch of road. Toll stations with barriers regulate the entrance and exit of the toll roads.
Toll station: the right way to behave
If you are approaching a toll station, get in line in good time. pay attention at the signageg on where which payment method is allowed and for which vehicles the lane is intended. When entering the toll road take a ticket at the counter. Keep this until you leave the country. you will be shown the amount to be paid, which you must pay immediately.
Tip: extensive tips& tricks for a long car trip you will find in our article with the car on vacation.
If the barrier is open when you drive in before you have pulled a ticket, don’t just drive through it. Otherwise, the same rules apply as for the losing your ticket: you pay when you drive out the highest possible amount, since it is no longer possible to trace when you hit the road.
Use the signs to get into the right lane (source: marina pousheva/shutterstock).Com)
If you are in the wrong lane, do not make a U-turn. Reversing in a toll station is sometimes even punished with fines. Press the service button and follow the instructions of the staff.
electronic toll
Many countries in europe allow tolls to be paid by means of a electronic system. This works z.B. By the automatic reading of the license plate or via a transponder. The payment is made either via a prepaid credit or via a postal invoice.
Tip: vacation with e-vehicle? This is possible! tips for long-distance travel with electric cars and 10 models with the highest range can be found in our article travel with electric cars.
The transponder is a small box, to be mounted on the windshield. this toll box usually costs extra, but you often get a discount on the toll charge. Depending on the country there is a fee for the transponder one-time costs or a monthly rental fee at. The advantage is that you can pay the toll with a special lanes you are allowed to use toll roads where you can just drive through. The payment process takes place when passing the toll station automatic by transmitted signals.
overview europe: where is the toll or. compulsory vignette?
In europe no uniform toll system. Some countries charge tolls for the use of the road, some only for certain sections and others require a vignette. In the following you will find an overview of the european countries where tolls are levied and how they are paid. vignette regulation is valid.
The figures refer to cars up to 3,5 tons. For motorhomes often other rules apply. With ADAC maps you can calculate the tolls that apply depending on the vehicle for routes within europe.
Tip: if you have a vacation with caravan plan, take a look at our article about towing caravans. There we put u.A. Ideal train vehicles for your camping trip before.
Countries with tolls in europe
Which european countries levy a toll and how it is paid, you can find out here.
tolls in bosnia and herzegovina
In bosnia and herzegovina fall partly freeway tolls at. you can pay cash, with credit or debit card. Also an electronic payment via a transponder is possible. The cost is between 1,20 euro and 8,50 euro per way.
| toll roads | A1 near sarajevo, south of mostar E661: banja luka – gradisk highway banja luka – doboj |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card bank card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 1,20 € – 8,50 € per way |
| special toll (z.B. At tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
toll in france
In france in principle on freeways one toll charged. The highways are marked blue. The national roads (marked in green) and the departmental roads (marked in white) are free of charge. Besides special tolls for certain bridges and tunnels, in some cities such as paris and lyon, there is a city toll to.
| Toll routes | highways (marked blue) |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 7 – 16 cents per kilometer |
| special toll (z.B. To tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
toll in greece
The most of the freeways there is a toll in greece. the distance-dependent fee can be paid in cash or by credit card on entering and leaving the country. Alternatively, electronic payment with a transponder possible, which is loaded with a credit beforehand.
| Routes subject to tolls | A2: igoumenitsa – alexandroupoli A1: thessaloniki – lamia& lamia – athens A6: athens bypass a8a: athens – patras A5: patras – ioannina A7: corinth – kalamata |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 2,20 € – 17,40 € |
| special toll (z.B. An tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
tolls in great britain
The number of toll roads in the united kingdom is quite manageable. the M6 north of birmingham and few bridges and tunnels are subject to tolls. In london and durham a city toll requires. The costs vary depending on the time of day and can be paid either in cash or by credit card.
| Toll roads | M6 north of birmingham |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 2,22 € – 3,33 € |
| special toll (z.B. An tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
toll in ireland
In ireland the most highways toll. Payment is made either in cash or via the electronic e-toll procedure. On the dublin ring road only electronic payment is possible. motor vehicles using this route and not registered for electronic payment must pay the bill by the following day.
| toll roads | M1: motorway gormanston – monasterboice M3: clonee – kells M4: kilcock – enfield – kinnegad motorway M7/M8: portlaoise – castletown/ portlaoise – cullahill M50: dublin ring road N6/M6: galway – ballinasloe N8: rathcormac – fermoy bypass N25: waterford city bypass |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| cost | 1,40 € – 3,10 € |
| special toll (z.B. On tunnels, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
toll in italy
Italy charges on all freeways except the A3 from salerno to reggio di calabria tolls. On the other hand, in sicily, only the A20 between messina and palermo and the A18 from messina to catania are subject to tolls. In cities like u.A. Milan and bologna also falls city toll at. Rome’s historic city center is even completely closed to private motor vehicles. payment is possible in cash, with credit and debit card and a electronic credit card possible.
On the A36, A59 and A60, however, there is a free flow system, here is no payment possible directly at the toll station. Instead, register your license plate on the homepage or in the app "APL free flow". payment within 15 days by credit card.
toll in croatia
Croatia charges tolls on the freeways and for certain bridges and tunnels. payment is possible in cash, with credit or debit card and via transponder possible.
| Toll roads | freeways |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card bank card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 0,95 € – 17,30 € |
| special toll (z.B. An tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
toll in macedonia
The route-dependent toll system in Macedonia applies on the freeways M1, M3 and M4. On the corridor 10 (north-south connection from serbia to greece) can be paid via a electronic system are paid.
| Toll roads | M1 M3 M4 |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 0,65 € – 6,65 € |
| special toll (z.B. An tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
toll in norway
Norway finances new tunnels, bridges and other road projects through tolls. This is depending on the time of day and exists as long as, until the construction costs are paid off are. In the long term, on the other hand, a city toll in cities like z.B. Bergen and oslo to keep drivers out of city centers. Partly also remote private roads subject to tolls.
For the payment of the toll, norway offers several options. On the one hand you can send your license plate beforehand via EPC register (euro parking collection). There invite credit which is automatically reduced when passing a toll station. 85 days after the last passage, any remaining amount will be credited to your account. If you do not wish to register, you will be charged the amount due as invoice by mail sent to. Alternatively, you can pay the toll within three working days in a servicestation. The third option is a car pass chip contract, but this is only useful for a stay of two months or more.
| Toll routes | road projects |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | k.A. |
| Special toll (z.B. At tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
tolls in poland
In poland for cars under 3,5 tons are only freeways toll. The tolls range from 4,60 euro to 18,70 euro and are paid in cash, credit or debit card. bank card or electronically with the transmitter viaauto paid.
| toll roads | highways |
| payment at the toll station | bar credit card bank card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| cost | 4,60 € – 18,70 € |
| special toll (z.B. On tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
toll in portugal
Portugal charges for freeways and expressways tolls. While most of these can be paid in cash or with a credit card, there are some toll roads on one purely electronic payment aligned. you can recognize them by a blue sign with the inscription "electronic toll only".
for electronic payment you can choose between the following options. About easy great link the license plate with your credit card at an appropriate service station. Accruing tolls are then automatically debited from the credit card. At toll service buy a kind of electronic vignette for 20 euros, which allows you to drive as much as you want for three days. The other two options, toll card and via verde visitor, worthwhile for longer stays.
| Toll roads | highways highways |
| payment at the toll station | cash credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| cost | 1,15 € – 22,15 € |
| special toll (z.B. at tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
Toll in serbia
In serbia, there is a freeways and expressways a toll. Of which except the E 75 through the center of belgrade. at all toll stations you can pay cash, mostly also with common credit and bank cards or an electronic transponder.
Attention: the toll stations are video-monitored and save your license plate for speed control. So if you get off at the next toll station faster than average, you’ll have to pay a speeding fine calculate.
tolls in spain
The spanish freeway network is one of the most expensive in europe and will pay operated by different shareholders. Certain freeways are subject to tolls, while expressways are free of charge. mainly the city highways are toll free, z.B. Around barcelona and valencia. The amount of the tolls depend on times of day, weeks and holidays.
| toll routes | privately operated highways |
| payment at the toll station | bar credit card |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | ca. 10 € per 100 kilometers |
| special toll (z.B. To tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
toll in turkey
In turkey the freeways and the bosporus tunnel and the bosphorus bridges in the direction of asia toll. cash and card payment is not possible. Instead there are two electronic toll systems to choose from: either a prepaid card or. A prepaid sticker for tourists or a transponder for locals.
| Toll roads | freeways |
| payment at the toll station | no cash or card payment possible |
| electronic toll | yes |
| costs | 0,40 € – 3 € |
| special toll (z.B. An tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
countries with vignette in europe
In some european countries, toll stickers are compulsory on. often falls for certain routes like tunnels, bridges, ferries or city centers additionally a special toll at.
Vignette for bulgaria
In bulgaria the vignette since the 1. January 2019 only digital available. For tunnels, ferries and bridges a toll of special toll at. Who drives without vignette and is caught, pays 150 euro fine.
| routes subject to vignette | national roads |
| cost of vignette | weekend: 5 € 7 days: 8 € 1 month: 15 € 3 months: 54 € 1 year: 50 € |
| digital vignette | yes, only |
| special toll (z.B. To tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
| fine for violation | 150 € |
vignette for austria
In austria on all freeways and expressways compulsory vignette. From this as of december 2019, five stretches of freeway are exempt from this fine, to relieve the traffic on the secondary routes:
- A1 from walserberg to salzburg north
- A12 from kufstein border to kufstein south
- A14 from horbranz to hohenems
- A26 linzer autobahn (currently still under construction)
- A7 muhlkreis autobahn between hafenstrasse and urfahr
For Brenner freeway between innsbruck and the italian border, instead of the compulsory vignette, there is a special toll. This can be paid in cash, by credit card or via digital toll and costs about 10 euro for a single trip. vignette for austria is also issued by asnifag (autobahnen- und schnellstraben-finanzierungs-aktiengesellschaft) digital offered.
| Routes subject to vignette | freeways (except for exceptions) highways |
| costs for vignette | 10 days: 9,40 € 2 months: 27,40 € 1 year: 91,10 € |
| digital vignette | yes, also |
| special toll (z.B. At tunnels, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
| fine for violation | 120 € – 240 € |
vignette for romania
The purely electronic vignette for romania is available at border crossings, gas stations and online and free for the first day.
| Routes subject to vignette | freeways national road expressway |
| cost of vignette | 7 days: 3 € 1 month: 7 € 3 months: 13 € 1 year: 28 € |
| digital vignette | yes, only |
| special toll (z.B. To tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
| fine for violation | 80 € |
vignette for switzerland
For switzerland only annual vignettes for a price of 39 euro available. These apply to 14 months. In addition there are route-dependent special tolls for tunnels and car transports.
| routes subject to vignette | freeways national roads |
| costs for vignette | annual vignette: 39 € |
| digital vignette | no (probably from 2022) |
| special toll (z.B. At tunnels, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
| fine for violation | 175 € plus. Vignette costs |
Vignette for slovakia
Also in slovakia the freeway and on highways a vignette obligation. The vignette is exclusively in digital form available.
| Routes subject to vignette | freeways fast roads |
| costs for vignette | 10 days: 10 € 1 month: 14 € 1 year: 50 € |
| digital vignette | yes, only |
| special toll (z.B. At tunnels, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
| fine for violation | from 80 € |
Vignette for slovenia
Anyone who violates the obligation to display a toll sticker on highways and expressways in slovenia can look forward to hefty fines up to 800 euro get ready. One special toll will be charged in karawanken tunnel in the amount of 7,40 euro due.
| Routes subject to vignette | freeways expressway |
| costs for vignette | 7 days: 15 € 1 month: 30 € 1 year: 110 € |
| digital vignette | no |
| special toll (z.B. To tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
yes |
| fine for violation | 300 € – 800 € |
vignette for czech republic
On almost all freeways and expressways in the czech republic the vignette is compulsory. It is important that in addition to the vignette on the windshield also the carrier foil of the vignette shown at a checkpoint must be. Toll-free routes are marked accordingly.
| Routes subject to vignette | freeways expressways |
| cost of vignette | 10 days: 12 € 1 month: 17 € 1 year: 57 € |
| digital vignette | no (expected from 2021) |
| special toll (z.B. At tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
| fine for violation | from 195 € |
vignette for hungary
The hungarian vignette is digital only available and can be purchased at border crossings, gas stations, at the hungarian automobile club MAK and online. Anyone who has driven onto a toll road without a vignette has 60 minutes time to buy a vignette without penalty.
| Routes subject to vignette | freeways expressways marked with "M |
| cost of vignette | 10 days: 10,80 € 1 month: 14,75 € 1 year: 132,64 € |
| digital vignette | yes, only |
| special toll (z.B. To tunnel, bridges, ferries) |
k.A. |
| fine for violation | after 60 minutes: 50 € |
conclusion: watch out – other country, other rules
With so many different toll regulations, it is not easy to find the right one. vignette to keep track of. Therefore, please inform yourself in good time before departure about the regulations of the country you wish to enter. remember that digital vignettes ordered online are only valid after 18 days.
Tip: you are in possession of a fuel card? Partly you can also pay the tolls on this way.