Austria is very often a transit country due to its location. For this reason, it is worth knowing a little more about Austrian highways and expressways.
In general, the road network in Austria is very well developed and you can drive here comfortably. However, to move on highways and expressways you need to buy a vignette. Not only that, even this purchase does not mean that you will not be forced to pay extra fees. In Austria, you have to pay extra for passing through some tunnels and sections.
Highways in Austria
The total number of motorway networks in Austria is over 1,700 kilometers, while express roads are less than 500 kilometers. The longest sections are the A2 highway – Sud Autobahn (377 km) and the A1 highway – West Autobahn (292 km).
They connect western and eastern territories as well as north and south.
Motorways in Austria are marked with the letter A and a number, interestingly some of them have a name associated with the direction or region through which they lead. Expressways are marked with the letter S and number.
Vignettes in Austria
Although the purchase of vignettes in Austria is not mandatory, it will be difficult for you to cross this country bypassing toll roads.
This is not impossible but difficult to do.
Therefore, for your comfort and trouble-free travel through Austria, it is worth buying a vignette.
Types of vignettes due to their duration:
- 10 days – valid for exactly ten calendar days
2.2 month – valid for exactly two months, e.g. from May 13 to July 13
- annual – valid for exactly 12 months. The exception is the purchase on December 1, e.g. 2018, when the vignette will be valid until January 2020.
Another division of vignettes is the one according to the type of vehicle and so we distinguish vignettes:
- for motorcycles
- for cars up to 3.5 tonnes (also with a trailer)
How much do vignettes cost in Austria? Let’s see!
Vignette prices in Austria
Motorcycle:
- 10 days cost 5.30 euro
- 2 months cost 13.40 euro
- a year costs 35.50 euro
Car up to 3.5 tons:
- 10 days cost 9.20 euro
- 2 months cost 26.80 euro
- a year costs 89.20 euros
In Austria, a different toll system applies to motorways and expressways for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. For this you need a special device attached to the windshield – Go Box, through which fees are charged.
The equipment is available at points of sale along major roads in Austria or at border crossing points. The tolls themselves are charged on the basis of the number of kilometers driven and the number of axles of a given vehicle.
You already know how much does a vignette in Austria cost, now let’s check where to buy it.
Where to buy a vignette in Austria?
Vignettes in Austria will be bought in one of 6,000 points of sale – https://www.asfinag.at/toll/sales-outlets/#PointOfSaleMap.
Among other things, at gas stations, kiosks and at border crossings.
It is worth looking for the highway symbol (white on a red background) on the doors or in the windows of shops.
Another option introduced in 2018 is the purchase of vignettes over the internet. Without leaving home, without gluing on the glass, you can easily buy the right to drive on toll motorways and expressways in Austria.
Can vignettes for Austria be bought online? Sure!
Just go to https://shop.asfinag.at/en/ and choose the vignette you are interested in. It is directly linked to your car registration number and allows you to bypass intermediaries who sell Austrian vignettes abroad, of course for a correspondingly higher price (commission).
You just have to remember that the vignette purchased online becomes valid only 18 days after the purchase.
Therefore, you need to think about buying it a little faster, even before your planned trip. The purchase is very easy, go to the site, choose the type of vignette, enter the car’s registration number and our e-mail address, determine the type of payment (card, PayPal, online transfer), pay and wait for the confirmation of purchase via email.
Where and how to put a traditional vignette in Austria?
However, if you decide to buy a traditional vignette, which has the form of stickers, you will need to properly place it on your windscreen – in the upper left corner or under the rearview mirror, so that the vignette is clearly visible.
A vignette that is not glued in is void, just like re-glued One!
As for the motorcycle, the vignette must be placed either on the fork or on the fuel tank. It is also worth keeping the bottom section, which may be useful during inspections.
However, when it comes to filling the vignette, it is usually done by the seller immediately after purchase. However, when you buy it for later, you need to punch it properly. You only need to select the appropriate day (from 1 to 31) and the month (from 1 to 11 or Dez16, i.e. December).
What is the risk of no vignette in Austria?
Lack of vignette in Austria is a fine of 120 euro for a car and 65 euro for a motorcycle. If you do not accept the fee, you are facing a court penalty and up to 3000 thousand euro. The inspection is not only carried out by the police, but also by controllers from ASFINAG, which is responsible for motorways and expressways in Austria. In addition, some roads have video monitoring, which also controls road tolls.
So, even if no one stops you along the way, you can still expect a ticket without vignettes, which will await you back home.
See how vignettes look in Austria, how much do they cost, where to buy them and where to stick them:
Extra toll sections of the motorways in Austria
Unfortunately, sometimes buying a vignette is not enough and you will have to pay extra for some tunnels or other road sections. You can enter them through the gates where you pay the fee.
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- A9 – Bosrucktunnel (5 euro), Gleinalmtunnel (8.50 euro)
- A10 – Katschbergtunnel / Tauerntunnel (11 euro)
- A11 – Carawankentunnel (7 euro)
- A13 – Hangbrücken Schönberg-Matrei (9.50 euro)
- S16 – Arlbergtunnel (9.50 euro)
What else is worth knowing about motorways and expressways in Austria?
For information about traffic jams or road works, ask ASFINAG (Autobahnen– und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft), they are also worth checking for current vignette prices and local radio stations.
What are the speed limits on highways in Austria?
The speed limit on motorways in Austria is 130 km/h for passenger cars and motorbikes. If you are traveling with a trailer, it will be only 100 km/h. There is also a bottom-up speed limit, as vehicles must travel at least 60 km/h to be able to enter the highway.
The Austrian police are known for their detailed inspections and for the poor technical condition of your vehicle and deficiencies in equipment you can be punished not only by high fines, but also by taking license plates and confiscation of the car itself.
You have to drive with the seat belts fastened and the lights on all year round. You cannot talk on the phone while driving, except in a speakerphone. We must have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle and reflective vest. And from November 1 to April 15, all vehicles must have winter tires on. When it comes to alcohol consumption, in Austria the permissible blood content is 0.1 per mil.
For more information, please visit this address where you can learn more about motorways and expressways in Austria.
In the event of an accident, when someone is injured, you need to call not only the ambulance, but also the police. However, in the case of bumps alone, this is not necessary.
- roadside assistance telephones: ÖAMTC 120, ARBÖ 123
- emergency telephones: fire brigade 122, police 133, ambulance 144
- phone to the toll road operator: 0800 400 12 400 (Austria and Germany) and +43 1 955 12 66 (other countries)
Map of the motorways network in Austria
See on the road map how the individual motorways and express roads in Austria are distributed:
What are your impressions and opinions about traveling on motorways and expressways in Austria?