In Austria, all motor vehicles up to 3,500 kg must purchase and correctly display an Austrian vignette 2023 to be allowed to drive on Austrian motorways (there are some exceptions). This rule applies to residents and tourists alike. If you are travelling by car to your winter sports destination and are passing through Austria, don't forget to buy a vignette. In 2023, the vignettes are available as stickers but also digitally linked to your registration number. You can read more about Austrian vignettes in this blog.
Anyone who wants to use Austria's motorways (and also some expressways) by car, motorbike, caravan, motorhome or truck must pay a toll. You do not pay this toll at toll booths, as in France, but by purchasing a sticker or a digital vignette. The vignette has been obligatory since 1997 for residents are tourists alike and applies to all motor vehicles up to 3,500 kilos. Heavier vehicles also need to pay tolls, but they do this via the GO toll system. For certain roads and tunnels, you need to pay an extra toll. Different rules apply for these so-called 'Sondermautstrecken', and you have to pay an extra amount at a toll gate. Such examples are the Arlberg Tunnel, the Brenner Autobahn and the Tauern Autobahn.
In Austria, you can buy a vignette for 10 days, 2 months or a whole year. Prices are different for cars and motorbikes. When buying a vignette, think carefully about how many days you will stay in Austria and indicate this clearly. A special device will then be used to punch the sticker, marking the day and the month of your arrival (see the picture above). Handy to know: the annual vignette is not valid for 12 but 14 months: from 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2024. Check the 2023 prices for vignettes below.
10 days
2 months
1 year
€ 9,90
€ 29,-
€ 96,40
10 days
2 months
1 year
€ 5,80
€ 14,50
€ 38,20
Austrian vignettes can be bought at several locations. Digitally, you can purchase them via the website of the Austrian road authority ASFINAG. Physically you can buy them at any petrol station in Germany or the Austrian border. When purchasing a digital vignette, keep in mind that there is a 14 days withdrawal period. Thanks to this law, the digital vignette can be first valid 18 days after its purchase. However, you can also buy a digital vignette at certain sale points and petrol stations. In this case, the law of cooling-off doesn't apply, and the digital vignette is valid immediately.
Since 2018, Austrian vignettes are also available digitally, and not only as stickers. Choosing the latter is handy as you avoid the hassle of removing the sticker after your holiday. The digital vignette is linked to your car registration number. If you opt for a digital vignette, keep in mind the 14 days withdrawal period mentioned above. Vignettes purchased online are first valid 18 days after their purchase. Will you rather choose the sticker vignette? Then don't forget to stick it on before the border, or you risk a hefty fine!
Since 15 December 2019, a number of motorway sections have been exempt from tolls. To drive on these stretches of motorway, you no longer need a vignette. The vignette exemptions apply to the following motorway sections:
For a week's holiday in Austria, a 10-day vignette will suffice. The price of €9.90 is not too bad, but if you are not willing to spend it, you can choose a ski resort that you can reach without a vignette. For example, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental or Zell am See - Kaprun.
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
