Austria is one of Europe most important transit countries, connecting Germany to Italy, Switzerland to Hungary, and serving as a gateway to Eastern Europe. Whether you are skiing in the Alps, exploring Vienna, or simply passing through on your European road trip, you will need an Austrian highway vignette—the Digitale Vignette. This guide covers everything you need to know, including the critical 18-day activation rule that catches many travelers off guard.
🇦🇹 What Is the Austrian Highway Vignette (Digitale Vignette)?
Austria operates a time-based toll system for passenger vehicles on its extensive motorway network. The system, known as Vignette (or Digitale Vignette for the electronic version), grants unlimited access to designated toll roads for a specified period.
The system is managed by ASFINAG (Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft), the state-owned company responsible for Austrian highways. Austria offers both physical sticker vignettes and digital vignettes—an important distinction because they have different activation rules.
The Austrian motorway network spans approximately 2,200 kilometers of Autobahnen (A roads) and Schnellstraßen (S roads), making it one of the densest highway networks in Europe relative to country size.
⚠️ CRITICAL: The 18-Day Activation Rule
This is the most important thing to know about Austrian digital vignettes: When purchased online, the Digitale Vignette only becomes valid 18 days after purchase. This is due to Austrian consumer protection law, which allows buyers to cancel online purchases within 14 days.
What this means for you:
- If you buy online today, your vignette activates in 18 days
- You cannot use Austrian motorways during those 18 days with that vignette
- Plan ahead and purchase at least 3 weeks before your trip
- Alternative: Buy a physical sticker at a petrol station for immediate validity
📋 Austrian Vignette Validity Options and Pricing 2026
Austria offers three validity periods for passenger vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes):
10-Day Vignette (10-Tages-Vignette)
Best for: Short holidays, weekend trips, single transit journeys
The 10-day option is perfect for tourists visiting Vienna, transiting to Italy via the Brenner Pass, or enjoying a ski week in the Alps. It provides exactly 10 consecutive days of unlimited motorway access.
Price 2026: EUR 9.90
Pro tip: This is one of the most affordable vignettes in Europe, making Austria relatively economical for short visits.
2-Month Vignette (2-Monats-Vignette)
Best for: Extended holidays, seasonal workers, multiple trips within two months
The 2-month option provides two consecutive months of access. Ideal for ski season visitors making multiple trips or summer holidaymakers exploring the Alpine region extensively.
Price 2026: EUR 29.00
Break-even calculation: If you need more than 30 days of coverage, the 2-month vignette offers better value than three 10-day passes.
Annual Vignette (Jahres-Vignette)
Best for: Residents, frequent travelers, cross-border commuters
The annual vignette is valid from December 1 of the previous year through January 31 of the following year—a total of 14 months. This extended validity ensures continuous coverage during the year transition.
Price 2026: EUR 96.40
Value analysis: If you make more than 4 two-month trips or 10 short trips per year, the annual vignette saves money.
🛣️ Which Roads Require a Vignette in Austria?
Roads Requiring a Vignette
- Autobahnen (Motorways) – designated with “A” (e.g., A1, A2, A10, A13)
- Schnellstraßen (Expressways) – designated with “S” (e.g., S1, S33, S36)
Key Austrian Motorways
- A1 (Westautobahn): Vienna – Linz – Salzburg (main east-west route)
- A2 (Südautobahn): Vienna – Graz – Klagenfurt – Italian border
- A4 (Ostautobahn): Vienna – Hungarian border (toward Budapest)
- A9 (Pyhrnautobahn): Linz – Graz (central corridor)
- A10 (Tauernautobahn): Salzburg – Villach (Alpine crossing, has additional tolls)
- A12 (Inntalautobahn): Innsbruck – German border (toward Munich)
- A13 (Brennerautobahn): Innsbruck – Italian border (has additional tolls)
- A14 (Rheintalautobahn): Bregenz – Swiss border
⚠️ Special Toll Routes (Vignette + Extra Toll)
Some Austrian routes require both a vignette AND additional tolls. These are typically Alpine tunnels and special sections:
- Brenner (A13): Additional toll for Brenner Pass section
- Tauern (A10): Tauern Tunnel toll
- Pyhrn (A9): Gleinalm and Bosruck tunnel tolls
- Karawanken (A11): Tunnel toll to Slovenia
- Arlberg (S16): Arlberg Tunnel toll
These additional tolls can be paid at toll stations or via the ASFINAG digital toll box.
Toll-Free Roads
- Bundesstraßen (Federal roads) – B-numbered roads
- Landesstraßen (State roads) – L-numbered roads
- Urban streets – Roads within cities and towns
- Some short motorway sections – Marked as “MAUTFREI” or “Toll free”
💻 How to Buy an Austrian Vignette
You have two main options for purchasing an Austrian vignette, each with different activation rules:
Option 1: Digital Vignette (Online Purchase)
Activation: 18 days after purchase
- Visit VignetteGo.com or the official ASFINAG website
- Select Austria and your validity period (10-day, 2-month, annual)
- Enter your vehicle registration country and exact license plate
- Complete payment (credit card, debit card, PayPal)
- Receive confirmation email with PDF receipt
- Wait 18 days for activation
Advantages: No sticker needed, linked to license plate, can purchase from anywhere
Disadvantage: 18-day waiting period
Option 2: Physical Vignette Sticker
Activation: Immediately valid
Available at:
- Petrol stations in Austria (and some in neighboring countries)
- ÖAMTC and ARBÖ offices (Austrian automobile clubs)
- Border crossing points
- Tobacco shops (Trafik) in Austria
- Some supermarkets
Advantage: Immediate validity—perfect for last-minute trips
Disadvantage: Must be physically purchased, requires proper application to windshield
⚠️ Fines and Enforcement in Austria
Austria has one of the strictest enforcement systems in Europe. ASFINAG uses fixed and mobile ANPR cameras, plus police checks, to verify vignette validity.
Fine Structure
- On-the-spot fine (Ersatzmaut): EUR 120 (if caught and paid immediately)
- Administrative fine if not paid immediately: EUR 240 and up
- Maximum fine for serious violations: Up to EUR 3,000
- Additional penalties: Possible for tampering or fraud
For foreign-registered vehicles, Austria can pursue unpaid fines through EU cross-border enforcement. Collection agencies may contact you months later.
Common Mistakes Leading to Fines
- Driving during the 18-day waiting period – Digital vignette not yet active
- Wrong license plate entry – Character errors invalidate the vignette
- Improperly applied sticker – Must be on inside of windshield, fully visible
- Expired vignette – No grace period after expiration
- Using toll roads during purchase day – Online vignettes are not valid same-day
🗺️ Popular Routes Through Austria
Munich to Italy (via Brenner Pass)
One of Europe busiest transit routes. Takes about 4-5 hours Munich to Verona. Requires Austrian vignette PLUS Brenner toll. No German vignette needed (Germany is toll-free for cars).
Vienna to Salzburg (A1)
Approximately 295 kilometers and 3 hours. Entirely within Austria, covered by the standard vignette with no additional tolls.
Vienna to Munich (via A1/A8)
About 430 kilometers and 4 hours. Austrian vignette needed until the German border at Salzburg. Germany is toll-free for cars.
Vienna to Prague (via A5/Czech D1)
Approximately 290 kilometers and 3.5 hours. Requires both Austrian and Czech vignettes. Purchase both at VignetteGo.
Vienna to Budapest (via A4/Hungarian M1)
About 240 kilometers and 2.5 hours. Requires both Austrian and Hungarian vignettes.
Salzburg to Venice (via A10/Italian A23)
Approximately 400 kilometers and 4.5 hours. Requires Austrian vignette plus Tauern Tunnel toll. Italy uses distance-based tolling.
💡 Pro Tips for Driving in Austria
Essential Planning Tips
- Buy digital vignette at least 3 weeks early – 18-day rule is strictly enforced
- Or buy physical sticker at the border – For immediate validity
- Check for special tolls – Brenner, Tauern, and other routes have extra charges
- Plan neighboring country vignettes – Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia all require them
- Save all confirmations – PDF on phone and cloud backup
Austrian Driving Rules
- Speed limits: 130 km/h motorways, 100 km/h rural roads, 50 km/h urban
- Headlights: Recommended but not mandatory during daytime
- Winter tires: Mandatory November 1 – April 15 in winter conditions
- Required equipment: Warning triangle, first aid kit, reflective vest
- Alcohol limit: 0.05% BAC (stricter for new drivers)
🔄 Austria vs. Neighboring Countries
| Country | System | Shortest Option | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Digitale Vignette | 10 days | EUR 9.90 | 18 days (online) |
| Germany | No vignette | N/A | Free | N/A |
| Switzerland | E-Vignette | Annual only | CHF 45 | Immediate |
| Czech Republic | E-známka | 10 days | ~EUR 12 | Immediate |
| Hungary | E-matrica | 10 days | ~EUR 15 | Immediate |
| Slovenia | E-vinjeta | 7 days | ~EUR 16 | Immediate |
| Italy | Distance tolls | N/A | Per km | N/A |
Note: Austria is the only country with the 18-day online activation delay. All other countries offer immediate validity for digital purchases.
For complete information on all European vignettes, see our comprehensive guide: Highway E-Vignettes Europe.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 18-day rule for Austrian digital vignettes?
Austrian digital vignettes purchased online activate 18 days after purchase. This is due to Austrian consumer protection law allowing 14-day cancellation rights. If you need immediate access, purchase a physical sticker at a petrol station or border point instead.
How much does an Austrian highway vignette cost in 2026?
Austrian Digitale Vignette prices for 2026: 10-day vignette EUR 9.90, 2-month vignette EUR 29.00, and annual vignette EUR 96.40 for passenger vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Motorcycles have lower rates.
Where can I buy an Austrian e-vignette?
Purchase Austrian digital vignettes at VignetteGo.com, the official ASFINAG website, ÖAMTC/ARBÖ offices, or petrol stations in Austria. Remember: online purchases require 18-day advance planning.
What is the fine for driving without a vignette in Austria?
Fines for driving without a valid vignette in Austria range from EUR 120 (on-the-spot payment) to EUR 3,000 for serious violations. Austria actively pursues unpaid fines across EU borders.
Do I need a vignette for the Brenner Pass?
Yes, you need both a vignette AND a separate Brenner toll. The Brenner motorway (A13) is covered by the vignette, but the Brenner-specific section has an additional toll payable at toll stations.
Can I avoid the 18-day wait by buying at a petrol station?
Yes! Physical vignette stickers purchased at Austrian petrol stations, border shops, ÖAMTC offices, or tobacco shops are valid immediately. Only digital online purchases have the 18-day delay.
Is the Austrian vignette valid on all motorways?
The vignette covers most Austrian motorways and expressways. However, some routes require additional separate tolls: Brenner, Tauern, Pyhrn, Karawanken, and Arlberg sections have extra charges beyond the vignette.
📝 Summary and Recommendations
- Austrian vignette required on all Autobahnen (A) and Schnellstraßen (S)
- 18-DAY RULE: Digital vignettes activate 18 days after online purchase
- Three validity options: 10-day (EUR 9.90), 2-month (EUR 29), annual (EUR 96.40)
- Special tolls: Brenner, Tauern, and other Alpine routes have extra charges
- Strict enforcement: Fines up to EUR 3,000—not worth the risk
- Plan ahead: Buy online 3+ weeks early OR get physical sticker at border
Safe travels on Austrian roads! 🇦🇹
Related: European Vignettes Overview | Czech Republic Guide | Slovakia Guide | Switzerland Guide
Last updated: January 2026. Prices and regulations subject to change.
