Slovenia is a small country, often a transit one for tourists going on vacation and holidays to Croatia. For this reason, the network of Slovenian roads, and more specifically highways, is a topic that interests us.
Highways in Slovenia
In Slovenia, we have five highways with a total length of over 550 kilometers and six expressways with a total length of over 76 kilometers.
Other roads in this country are in good condition, with appropriate markings.
However, those in mountainous areas can be a bit narrow and very winding. You have to be very careful there. In general, it is not worth breaking any traffic rules, because Slovenia has high financial penalties, especially for speeding.
Current map of highways and motorways in Slovenia / Source: Wikipedia” width=”1000″ height=”652″ /> Current map of highways and motorways in Slovenia / Source: Wikipedia.Speed limits on highways in Slovenia
On motorways in Slovenia, the speed limit is 130 km/h, and on expressways only to 100 km/h. Slovenian toll roads are always separable and consist of two separate roads, two lanes each, plus of course the third emergency lane.
Expressways are distinguished from highways in Slovenia only by the fact that they do not have this third emergency lane. A great comfort when driving by tolls in Slovenia is also the fact that instead of traditional intersections, much better, collision-free road junctions were used here.
When it comes to names, in Slovenian the highway is avtoceste, hence their designation with the letter A. Whereas the express way in Slovene is hitre ceste, and is marked with the letter H.
Highways in Slovenia, their signs and which towns do they connect:
A1 – from the border with Austria (Sentilj v Slovenskih gorice), through Maribor, Celje, Ljubljane, Postojna, up to Koper to the village of Dekani
A2 – from the border with Austria (Karawanki Tunnel), through Kranj, Ljubljane, Novo Mesto, to the border with Croatia in the municipality of Obrezje
A3 – from the village of Divaca, up to the border with Italy (Fernetici)
A4 – from Slivnica, through Ptuj, to the Croatian border, more precisely to the village of Zagornje Gruskovje
A5 – from the village of Dragucova, through Murska Sobota, to the border with Hungary in Pince
Expressways in Slovenia, their signs and what places do they connect:
H2 – Pesnica – Maribor – Slivnica
H3 – is the northern beltway of the capital – Ljubljana
H4 – Razdrto – Ajdovscina – Nova Gorica – Vrtojba
H5 – Skofije – Dekani – Koper – Dragonja
H6 – Koper- Izola- Lucija
H7 – Dolga vas to the border with Hungary
A current and interactive map of highways in Slovenia along with road works, traffic jams and other information can be found on the official DARS d.d website. It is also worth using the information provided by the Traffic Information Center.
Let’s move now to the subject of vignettes in Slovenia.
Vignettes in Slovenia / Where to buy vignettes and what is their price?
Highways and expressways in Slovenia are paid. You need to purchase vignettes to navigate them, but they are not mandatory. You can just not take the toll roads, just follow local routes.
Where should you put a Slovenian vignette?
Vignettes in Slovenia have the form of a sticker, which after purchase must be glued to the left of the inside of the windscreen (the driver’s side).
So that it is clearly visible from the outside (dark places and side windows are out of question). When it comes to motorcycles, the place of sticking must absolutely be a permanent element of the machine, in this case the windshields also work best.
The bottom of the vignette must be kept for checking if necessary.
If you buy a vignette that you will be using at a later date, you must mark it yourself before applying – day and month from when it will apply. When we buy a vignette for the current day, the seller does it for us and nothing else needs to be marked. Just stick it to the right place.
There are four types of vignettes to choose from in Slovenia:
-annual vignettes (if purchased in December of the preceding year, it will be valid for 14 months, until January 31 of the following year than the chosen one – e.g. from December 2019 to January 2021)
-semi-annual vignettes that are only available for motorcycles
-monthly vignettes are valid from the day of purchase until exactly the same day of the following month, e.g. from April 10 to May 10
-weekly vignettes, which are valid from the day of purchase for the next 6 days (i.e. from June 10 to June 16)
The obligation to pay tolls in Slovenia covers all vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with or without a trailer, and of course motorcycles.
The purchase of a vignette is therefore divided according to the weight category of vehicles and so:
Category 1 is for motorcycles
Category 2A are cars with a permissible total weight of no more than 3.5 tons and vehicle height measured at the location of the front axle, which must be less than 1.3 meters
Category 2B are cars with a permissible total weight of no more than 3.5 tons but the height of the vehicle at the place of the front axle is higher or equal to 1.3 meters. The list of measured vehicles belonging to category 2B was provided by the Slovenian motorway management.
How much do vignettes cost in Slovenia?
Vignette prices in Slovenia
Vignette price in Slovenia
The prices of Slovenian vignettes do not depend on the number of kilometers traveled, but on the specific time in which we want to travel on toll roads in Slovenia.
Motorcycles
– 7.5 euro for weekly vignette,
– 30 euro semi-annual vignette
– 55 euro annual vignette
Category 2A vehicles
– weekly vignette 15 euro
– monthly vignette 30 euro
– annual vignette 110 euro
Category 2B vehicles
– weekly vignette 30 euro
– monthly vignette of 60 euro
– annual vignette 220 euro
It should also be remembered that the Karawanken tunnel (on the border between Slovenia and Austria) is additionally paid and currently the cost of travel is 7.20 euro for a vehicle up to 3500 kg.
Okay, but where to buy vignettes in Slovenia?
You will buy Slovenian vignettes in shops, kiosks and at gas stations. Also in the border regions of neighboring countries (shops, gas stations). Vignettes are also available at the post office, or in popular Spar or Mercator stores (list of sales points).
Payments at so-called gates are intended only for lorries and buses. You have to buy vignettes elsewhere.
However, do not worry because the checkpoints will not be earlier than after the first available place to sell vignettes, after crossing the Slovenian border. You can also buy these through an online store, but their prices will be increased by a commission (about 20%).
Here’s how driving highways in Slovenia looks like in a nutshell:
How to bypass the highway in Slovenia
Road tolls in Slovenia are not cheap. Of course, comparing prices to neighboring countries and taking into account that on average we travel only 60 kilometers through Slovenia to Croatia.
We usually go to Croatia for more than a week, so usually we pay the 30 euro for tolls in Slovenia (monthly vignette or 2x weekly for an average car).
By the way, since we mentioned Croatia, here you will certainly be interested in information about vignettes and highways in Croatia, which we prepared some time ago.
To avoid this, you can choose local roads, not always the best or safest (especially those in the mountains), but free.
An example is the route: from Leibnitz, through Bad Radkersburg, Ljutomer, Vuzmetinci and Kog, then through Jastrebci and Vitan, up to Sredisce ob Dravi.
On one hand, we will save 30 euro, but we will lose a little more time to ride this route. However, you will definitely be able to admire the landscapes and undoubted charms of Slovenia along the way.
Whoever likes, we leave the choice to you.
Border crossing Slovenia – Croatia
In addition to tolls in Slovenia, you also need to keep in mind traffic jams that form at the most popular Slovenia-Croatia border crossings.
You can find them not only in summer during the holiday season, but also for example during Golden Week. Then traffic jams can last for several kilometers. This is due to passport control, because Croatia still does not belong to the Schengen area, so each vehicle must be stopped and checked (even in the most limited form).
Therefore, to avoid traffic jams at the border crossing Slovenia – Croatia it is worth choosing a slightly smaller, less popular one. Finally, there are as many as 57 border crossings between Slovenia and Croatia. You can take the north and, for example, in Zgorniji Leskovec to cross to Croatia.
This border crossing is open 24 hours a day, there should not be crowds here, so everything is done quickly and efficiently.
You can also catch Croatian radio stations broadcasting information about traffic jams at border crossings, translated in several languages, or watch online traffic updates on motorways and expressways in Slovenia: https://www.promet.si/
Now additional information for people traveling on roads and highways in Slovenia.
Fuel price in Slovenia
Average fuel prices in Slovenia are at:
1.32 euro per liter of gasoline 95
1.45 euro per liter of gasoline 98
1.26 euro per liter of diesel
0.68 euro for LPG
However, remember that LPG is not so popular in Slovenia, so it is not sold at all stations.
What else is required on highways in Slovenia
In Slovenia, when driving a car, you must have reflective vests for both the driver and all passengers. You put them on when you leave the car in a vacant piece of land, on highways and expressways.
In addition, each vehicle must be equipped with a valid fire extinguisher, first aid kit, warning triangle and a set of spare bulbs. Like low beam headlights must be on 24/7 and the seat belts of all passengers and drivers fastened.
Useful phone numbers in Slovenia:
112 pan-European emergency number
113 police
(+) 386 1 530 53 53 or 1987 roadside assistance
Whereas the official site of roads and highways in Slovenia is mentioned several times https://www.dars.si/. This is the company responsible for the safety and service of toll roads in this country. It keeps track of traffic and monitors possible threats.
However, in the event of an accident and need for help (towing, etc.), be careful of private entrepreneurs whose services can be extremely expensive.
It is best to write a contract before performing the service, where it will be clearly written what total price we will pay for such assistance. There are stories online that you can pay 1000 euro for towing.
Opinions on highways in Slovenia
If you were to take the expressways or motorways in Slovenia, please let us know what your opinions are about them. Both from the side of security, gas stations, traffic jams, traffic volumes and facilities for drivers.
Each opinion will help you better prepare for Slovenian roads.