Austrian motorway vignette and section toll 2026: prices and rules

Motorways and expressways in Austria generally require a vignette, while separate tolls apply on some Alpine sections. 2026 is the final year in which you can still buy a windscreen sticker: from the 2027 vignette year, only the digital vignette will be available.

In brief:

• The 2026 annual vignette is valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027. It costs 106.80 euros for a car and 42.70 euros for a motorcycle.
• From the 2027 vignette year, only the Digitale Vignette will be available.
• When bought online by a private individual, a digital annual or 2-month vignette becomes valid only 18 days after purchase.
• Some expensive Alpine sections require a section toll (Streckenmaut) instead of a vignette.
• Driving without a valid vignette can result in a replacement toll (Ersatzmaut). If this is not paid, a fine of between 300 and 3,000 euros may follow.

Who needs an Austrian vignette?

The vignette requirement (Vignettenpflicht) applies to everyone driving in Austria, regardless of whether the vehicle has Austrian or foreign registration plates. Vehicles with a technically permissible maximum mass (technisch zulässige Gesamtmasse) of no more than 3.5 tonnes may use motorways and expressways only with a vignette.

This includes cars, motorcycles, light motorhomes and vans. Sidecar motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles only need the motorcycle vignette for single-track vehicles.

There is a transitional rule for vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes whose permissible maximum mass was recorded as no more than 3.5 tonnes before 1 December 2023. These vehicles remain subject to the vignette requirement until 31 January 2029.

How much does the vignette cost in 2026?

The 2026 prices have applied since 1 December 2025 and are the same for digital and sticker vignettes.

• Annual: 106.80 euros for cars, motorhomes and vans up to 3.5 tonnes; 42.70 euros for motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles.
• 2 months: 32.00 euros for cars, motorhomes and vans up to 3.5 tonnes; 12.80 euros for motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles.
• 10 days: 12.80 euros for cars, motorhomes and vans up to 3.5 tonnes; 5.10 euros for motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles.
• 1 day, digital only: 9.60 euros for cars, motorhomes and vans up to 3.5 tonnes; 3.80 euros for motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles.

The annual vignette covers one calendar year but can be used from 1 December of the previous year until 31 January of the following year. The 2026 sticker vignette is fire red (Feuerrot).

For short-term digital vignettes—the 1-day, 10-day and 2-month options—you can select a future start date within the vignette year. The latest possible start date is 30 November of the current vignette year, because new prices apply from 1 December.

People with disabilities receive a free digital annual vignette automatically for a car registered in their name if all conditions are met. One condition is exemption from motor-related insurance tax (motorbezogene Versicherungssteuer).

Digital or sticker vignette?

In 2026, you can still choose between the two types. The sticker vignette (Klebevignette) is linked to the vehicle, while the digital vignette is linked to the registration plate.

Advantages of the digital version include:

• It can be used for up to three vehicles subject to the vignette requirement, so a second vignette is not needed for a changeable registration plate (Wechselkennzeichen).
• If the windscreen is broken, you do not need to buy a new vignette.

You cannot change an already purchased sticker vignette into a digital one, or a digital one into a sticker. You can switch only for the next vignette year. Since only digital vignettes will be available from the 2027 vignette year, this choice will end after 2026.

Where can you buy a vignette?

Sticker vignette

Sticker vignettes are available at ASFINAG toll points and sales partners, including tobacconists, ÖAMTC, ARBÖ and ADAC offices.

Digital vignette

You can buy a digital vignette online from the ASFINAG Mautshop, in the ASFINAG app and through authorised online partners. It is also available in person at ASFINAG toll points, ticket machines, ARBÖ, ÖAMTC and ADAC offices, and selected petrol stations and tobacconists.

Automatic renewal (Abo-Service) can be activated for the digital annual vignette. When buying online, you must provide the registration plate, the country of registration, an email address and payment details.

The 18-day rule for online purchases

If you buy a digital annual or 2-month vignette online as a private individual through the Mautshop or app, it becomes valid no earlier than 18 days after purchase. This is because consumers have a right of withdrawal for distance contracts.

The 1-day and 10-day vignettes can be bought online with immediate validity. When buying at a sales point, any vignette can be selected with immediate validity.

Check the registration plate carefully. If the digital vignette is registered to the wrong plate and you then enter a motorway, this is an administrative offence.

What happens if the registration plate changes?

After its validity begins, a digital annual vignette can be transferred once to another registration plate without giving a reason, for a cost contribution of 18 euros, provided that the registered owner (Zulassungsbesitzer) does not change. Before the validity begins, the registration plate can be changed free of charge.

With supporting documents, a transfer is always possible in certain cases, such as a new registration plate following a change of residence, theft, total loss, a personalised registration plate, or a green-letter registration plate for an electric car.

The 18 euros are refunded in cases of theft, total loss, replacement of an illegible registration plate and a green registration plate. The transfer must take place before the vehicle first uses a motorway with the new registration plate.

What is a section toll?

Some particularly expensive motorway and expressway sections crossing the Alps require vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes to pay a section toll (Streckenmaut) instead of a vignette.

There are also sections that are exempt from the vignette requirement. Check the list of affected sections and the current prices before travelling.

What happens if you do not have a valid vignette?

The toll has been paid correctly only if the sticker was properly attached to the windscreen before entering the motorway, or if the digital vignette was registered to the vehicle's registration plate. Buying it afterwards does not count, nor does simply carrying an unused sticker in the vehicle.

An invalid or incorrectly attached vignette results in a replacement toll (Ersatzmaut). Paying it can prevent administrative penalty proceedings, in which a fine of between 300 and 3,000 euros may be imposed.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the 2026 annual vignette valid?

It is valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027.

Can I still buy a sticker vignette for 2027?

No. From the 2027 vignette year, only digital vignettes will be available.

Why is my online annual vignette valid only after 18 days?

Private individuals who buy online have a right of withdrawal. If you need immediate validity, buy the vignette at a sales point.

Where can I ask questions?

The ASFINAG Service Center can be called free of charge from Austria and Germany on 0800 400 12 400.

Practical steps before driving

1. Check whether your vehicle is subject to the vignette requirement and whether your route includes a section toll.
2. Choose the correct vignette type and confirm the 2026 price for your vehicle.
3. If buying digitally, enter the registration plate and country of registration carefully.
4. Allow 18 days for an online digital annual or 2-month vignette bought as a private individual, unless you buy at a sales point.
5. For a sticker vignette, attach it properly to the windscreen before entering the motorway.
6. If the registration plate changes, complete any required transfer before using a motorway with the new plate.
7. Keep the vignette valid before entering the motorway; a later purchase will not correct the offence.

This information is based on sources available online and is not legal advice. Use it at your own risk and seek professional advice if necessary.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at