Motorways in Hungary are a network of well-developed expressways. There are about 1,280 kilometers of them in this country and they enable quick travel to virtually every corner of it. Both north and south as well as east and west. However, the fact is also that the motorways in Hungary are mainly concentrated around the capital city of Budapest. And it is from there that they radiate across the country, reaching border crossings with neighboring countries.
It is also worth knowing that not all sections of motorways in Hungary fully meet all the necessary conditions to be called. Fortunately, these are rather very short bits of high-speed roads in this country. In addition, it is known that the expansion of the local highways is planned so that the entire network evenly covers the whole of Hungary.
Highways in Hungary
As we have already mentioned, the motorway network in Hungary has a rather specific layout if we look at the map. It focuses primarily around the capital. However, there are plans not only to build another 200 kilometers of fast routes, but also to extend the existing ones with the missing additional lanes. Of course, where it is now necessary.
Highways in Hungary are marked with a capital M followed by a number. The Budapest bypass has been marked as M0. The longest highways in Hungary are M1, M3, M5, M6 and M7. It is also worth adding that some expressways are still under construction here or only in closer or further distant plans.
In Hungary, we have the following highways:
– M0, the Budapest Bypass is still not fully built
– M1, leads from the Hungarian capital to the Austrian border
– M2, connects Budapest with the Slovak border, some are still under construction
– M3 leads from the Hungarian capital to the Ukrainian border, but some still have to be built
– M4, plans to run from Budapest to the Romanian border
– M5 leads from the Hungarian capital to the Serbian border
– M6, connects Budapest with the Croatian border, but not yet fully completed
– The M7 leads from the Hungarian capital to the Croatian border, which connects to the A4 motorway in Croatia
– M8, runs from Szentgotthárd to Füzesabona and is not fully completed
– M9, leads from Sopron to Szeged and also needs to be completed
– M10, connects the Hungarian capital with the Slovak border and is under construction
– M11 runs from the border with Slovakia to Hatvan, not fully completed
– M15, runs from the M1 motorway to the border with Slovakia
– M19, runs from the M1 motorway to Győr
– M25, connects the M3 motorway to Eger and is under construction
– The M30 runs from the M3 motorway to the Slovak border and is not yet built in parts
– M31, runs from the M0 to Gödöllő
– The M34 runs from the M3 motorway to the Ukrainian border and construction is still ongoing
– M35, connects the M3 to the M4, but is not yet fully built
– M43 runs from the M5 motorway to the border in Romania
– M44, will eventually run from the M5 motorway to the Romanian border when construction is complete
– M49 runs from the M3 motorway to the Romanian border but is not fully completed
– M51, connects the M5 motorway with Dunaharaszti
– The M60 runs from the M6 motorway to the Croatian border, but is still under construction
– M70, runs from the M7 motorway to the border with Slovenia
– M85, runs from the M1 motorway to the Austrian border, some still need construction
– M86, connects the M1 with Szombathely, but not fully completed
– M87, leads from Szombathely to the Austrian border, but still needs an extension
Staying on the topic of highways in Hungary – it is also worth knowing their free sections, for which we do not have to pay anything, and these are the following sections:
• M0 motorway:
– section from the national road No. 1 to the M5 motorway
– section from the M4 expressway to the M3 motorway
– Megyeri bridge (fragment between national roads no.2 and 11)
• the M8 motorway
• the M31 motorway
• part of the motorway around Pécs, on the M60 motorway – from road 58 to road 5826
• the M25 expressway, from the national road no. 252 to the road no. 2502
• M4 expressway, section from Vecsés to the road leading to the Budapest airport
• the M44 expressway
• M4 expressway, section between Üllő and Cegléd
• a section of the M9 expressway on the Kaposvár bypass section
• fragment of the M9 expressway, which relates to national roads no. 6 and 51
Vignettes in Hungary
You have to pay for the use of highways in Hungary. The entire system, as in other neighboring countries, is based on vignettes. However, one thing needs to be noted at the beginning – the purchase of vignettes is not obligatory here. If we use side routes or free highways, we can travel in Hungary for free.
On the other hand, there is no need to cheat driving on comfortable highways, it is not only much faster, but also smoother and more enjoyable. Therefore, it is definitely worth considering buying vignettes in Hungary. The more that their prices, compared to the previous year, did not increase at all.
Also check out the sights and attractions of Budapest.
Where can I buy a vignette in Hungary?
Until recently, vignettes in Hungary were sold in the traditional form of stickers that had to be placed on the windshield of a car. However, following the times, they were abandoned some time ago in favor of the electronic form.
The easiest way to buy a vignette is, of course, a website such as this one or that one. It is enough to fill in all the required data (usually it is only the number of the car registration certificate) to receive a confirmation of payment by e-mail. It’s worth either printing them out or just keeping them in case of inspection.
Another way to buy a vignette in Hungary are points of sale, the list of which is available here, or traditionally gas stations located at highway entrances. It is important to have a payment confirmation within an hour for our driving on highways in Hungary. After purchasing a vignette at a point of sale or at a gas station, it is necessary to keep the coupon that we receive from the seller, which is our documentation of the payment made.
Types of vignettes in Hungary
In Hungary, the purchase of vignettes applies to each type of vehicle that will travel on the local highways. This applies to motorcycles, cars and trucks, with or without trailers, as well as buses and motorhomes.
We can choose vignettes, divided according to the categories of the vehicle we drive:
- D1M is for motorcycles, mopeds and scooters
- D1 applies to motorcycles and passenger cars up to 3.5 tons (up to a maximum of 7 people) and possibly with a trailer (if it can fit in)
- D2 applies to vehicles with a total weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes, including those with more than seven seats
- B2 is a separate category for buses
- U is, in turn, a category for towed trailers, the total weight of which, including the car, exceeds 3.5 tons
The second division of vignettes in Hungary concerns the time we want to use local highways. In this case, we can choose from the following vignettes:
- 1-day valid for exactly 24 hours. However, only trucks and buses can buy them
- 7 days, which are best valid for 10 days! (e.g. from 1 to 10 May)
- 30 days, which are valid for 30 consecutive days
- annual, valid until January 31 of the following year
There is one more option in this division. It is an annual vignette, but valid for a given area. In the case of Hungary, it is a county. By purchasing such a vignette, we can drive around the selected area throughout the year (until January 31 of the following year). Their advantage is, of course, the lower cost compared to the annual vignettes that cover motorways throughout the country.
They can be purchased for the following counties:
– Bács-Kiskun,
– Baranya,
– Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén,
– Csongrád,
– Fejér,
– Győr-Mo-son-Sopron,
– Hajdú-Bihar,
– Heves,
– Komárom-Esztergom,
– Pest,
– Somogy,
– Szabolcs – Szatmár-Bereg,
– Tolna,
– Vas,
– Veszprém,
– Zala
Vignette prices in Hungary
Vignette prices in Hungary have not been increasing so far. However, it is worth checking before departure whether they have sometimes become more expensive. It is best to do it here. It is also important to remember to keep the control receipt (coupon) or e-mail confirming the purchase of vignettes for two years , counting from the last day of validity of the purchased vignette. At least this is what the road services in Hungary recommend, because it may so happen that the issued ticket may reach us after returning home.
See also the Hajduszoboszlo aquapark.
Vignette prices in Hungary divided into specific categories:
- D1M
a 7-day vignette costs 1470 HUF
a 30-day vignette costs 2,500 HUF - D1
a 7-day vignette costs 3500 HUF
A 30-day vignette costs 4,780 HUF
an annual vignette for a selected county costs 5,000 HUF
The annual vignette for the whole country costs 42,980 HUF - D2
a 7-day vignette costs 7,000 HUF
a 30-day vignette costs HUF 9,560
an annual vignette for a selected county costs HUF 10,000
The annual vignette for the whole country costs 42,980 HUF - B2
a 7-day vignette costs HUF 15500
A 30-day vignette costs HUF 21,975
an annual vignette for a selected county costs HUF 20,000
an annual vignette for the whole country costs HUF 199975 - AT
a 7-day vignette costs 3500 HUF
A 30-day vignette costs 4,780 HUF
an annual vignette for a selected county costs 5,000 HUF
The annual vignette for the whole country costs 42,980 HUF
Fines for no vignettes in Hungary
We are liable to fines for driving without a paid vignette. It is checked electronically, so nobody will avoid a ticket if they do not have a vignette purchased. For this purpose, cameras are installed along the entire length of all Hungarian highways, as well as inspectors randomly stopping vehicles for inspection. In addition, there are cars used to control tolls on the motorways in Hungary. Therefore, it is better to buy a vignette in advance, because the amount of the ticket is predetermined and the bill may come to us even after arriving home (as we have already mentioned).
For the lack of a vignette, vehicles in the D1M category will pay HUF 7,500, with D1 and D2 – HUF 14,875, and with B2 – HUF 66,925. However, if these fines are not paid within 60 days from their issue, then these rates will increase even four or five times !!
What else is worth knowing about driving on roads and highways in Hungary?
When it comes to the mandatory equipment of every car that drives Hungarian roads, it must first of all have a warning triangle and a first aid kit in stock. Reflective vests or a fire extinguisher are recommended but not mandatory. It is known that seat belts must be fastened for all passengers. If we want to talk on the phone while driving a car, it is only through the hands-free device. As with us in Hungary, there is a zero alcohol rule if you are driving a car. This means that we must have zero blood alcohol in the exhaled air. On the other hand, the issue of the lights on only applies to undeveloped areas during the day and in the evenings, at night and, of course, in the event of difficult weather conditions, in all areas.
See also how to get to Lake Balaton.
Speed limits on the roads in Hungary:
– we drive up to 50 km / h in built-up areas
– outside the built-up area, we can drive up to 90 km / h
– if we are pulling a trailer, we can only accelerate to 70 km / h outside the built-up area
– on express roads, we can reach speeds of up to 110 km / h
– while on highways, gas can be pressed to 130 km / h
– however, with a trailer only up to 80 km / h
Important telephone numbers in Hungary
– 112 emergency number
– 188 or 361 roadside assistance