This page covers the official policies governing the Austrian motorway vignette system, including exemptions, enforcement procedures, and what to do in exceptional circumstances.
Vehicles Exempt from the Vignette
The following vehicle categories are exempt from the vignette requirement on Austrian motorways:
- Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight (GO-Box required instead)
- Emergency vehicles: police, fire brigade, ambulance
- Military vehicles on official duty
- Vehicles with special permits issued by Austrian authorities
- Bicycles, mopeds, and vehicles with engine displacement under 50cc
Enforcement and Penalties
Austrian motorway vignette compliance is enforced by automatic camera systems (ASFINAG) and police patrols.
- On-the-spot fine: up to €240 for driving without a valid vignette
- Formal penalty notice: up to €3,000
- Foreign-registered vehicles are subject to the same penalties as Austrian vehicles
- Police may require immediate purchase of a vignette at the roadside
- Persistent non-compliance may result in vehicle immobilisation
Damaged or Invalid Vignettes
A sticker vignette may be considered invalid if:
- It is affixed to a removable film, tinted film, or sticker on the windscreen (must be on the glass directly)
- It is damaged, torn, or partially removed
- It is not affixed to the inside of the windscreen in the correct position
- It belongs to a different vehicle
- The hologram or security features are damaged or missing
Digital Vignette Policies
The digital vignette is linked to the vehicle's number plate and subject to the following policies:
- Cannot be transferred to another vehicle or number plate
- No refund once activated
- Valid from the day before the selected start date
- Can be purchased up to 18 days in advance
- Multiple digital vignettes for the same plate will result in the latest purchase being valid
Special Toll Route Policies
The following routes require separate toll tickets in addition to the vignette:
- Brenner Motorway (A13): Innsbruck to Italian border
- Arlberg Road Tunnel: Vorarlberg to Tyrol
- Tauern Motorway (A10): Salzburg to Carinthia
- Pyhrn Motorway (A9): Styria section
- Karawanken Tunnel: Austria–Slovenia border
- Felbertauern Tunnel: East Tyrol route