Avoiding Austrian Tolls: Toll-Free or Just Vignette-Free?

Anyone driving through Austria quickly comes across terms like toll-free, vignette-free or without a sticker. Vignette-free stretches do exist in Austria, but here's the most important point up front: vignette-free does not automatically mean toll-free. On a section without a vignette requirement, you can still be charged route toll or special toll , for example at tunnels such as the Brenner or on alpine roads such as the Grossglockner. For vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm, distance-based toll via the GO-Box also applies. You only drive completely free of charge once no toll type applies to your vehicle class on your route.

In this guide, we sort out the official exceptions to the vignette requirement, show all vignette-free stretches in Austria, explain where tolls are still due regardless, and highlight typical journeys where cars up to 3.5 t tzGm do not need a digital vignette. This way you can plan your route legally and avoid costly mistakes.

What does vignette-free mean, and when is a journey truly toll-free?

In Austria there are three types of toll, which differ according to vehicle class and route type. The vignette and the GO toll apply network-wide on motorways and expressways. Route toll or special toll is only charged on certain sections and is in addition to these. Below, we explain the three toll types one by one.

Vignette: for vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm

For cars, motorcycles and motorhomes up to 3.5 t tzGm (technically permissible total mass as set by the manufacturer, field F.1 of Part I of the registration certificate), the vignette requirement generally applies on motorways and expressways. The vignette is a flat-rate toll for a fixed period. You pay a flat fee and may use the toll-liable motorway and expressway network during that time. With a valid vignette, you are covered on normal motorway and expressway sections. It is not sufficient on designated route toll or special toll stretches. There you need a separate route toll ticket.

Outside of motorways and expressways, you do not need a vignette. This applies to federal roads (B), state roads (L), municipal roads, and roads within towns. Anyone driving exclusively on such roads can do without a vignette.

In practice, however, the route taken by most travelers through Austria passes at least briefly over a motorway or expressway, for example when transiting, heading to a ski region, or toward the Brenner. In that case you need a valid vignette, unless your route uses exclusively the officially vignette-free motorway sections at the border.

With Europamaut, you purchase your digital 10-day vignette via the 10-day vignette flat rate for Austria. You sign up for a monthly flat rate and specify the start date of your vignette at the first purchase. The digital vignette is set up for your license plate within a few minutes and is valid for ten days. The toll for each booked 10-day vignette is included in the flat rate. If you need a vignette again later, simply set a new start date in your flat rate management.

How to save on multiple trips: Within an active flat-rate month, you can book as many 10-day vignettes for your license plate as you like, for example three times for three separate trips to Austria within the same month. We cover the toll fee for each of these vignettes. The monthly flat-rate fee works out cheaper than buying several 10-day vignettes individually at the regular price. This way you are flexibly covered if your route ends up crossing the motorway network after all, or if your travel plans change.

Distance-based toll (GO-Box): for vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm

If your vehicle's tzGm exceeds 3.5 t, the vignette requirement no longer applies. Instead, larger motorhomes, trucks and buses need a GO-Box for the distance-based toll on the GO-toll network (motorways, expressways and designated access roads). Billing is based on kilometers driven, depending on axles and emission class.

Important: The vignette-free border sections on the Westautobahn (A 1), Inntalautobahn (A 12), Rheintal/Walgau motorway (A 14) and Linz motorway (A 26), which cars can use without a vignette, are not toll-free for vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm. There, distance-based toll is charged on the GO-toll network, even though no vignette would be needed.

The GO-Box must remain switched on, even on sections where no fee is currently being charged. Anyone wanting to avoid the GO-toll network entirely must rely on federal roads outside the network. This is possible, but often significantly slower and more demanding in mountainous terrain. You can read more about the GO toll and vehicle classes in our guides on tolls in Austria and on vehicle classes.

Route toll/special toll: on certain sections, in addition

The terms special toll and route toll (previously also called video toll) are often used interchangeably, but mean the same thing. Unlike the network-wide vignette and the GO toll, this type of toll only applies on defined route sections. This refers to tunnels, passes, alpine roads and designated motorway sections. A flat fee is charged there, in addition to the vignette or in addition to the distance-based toll, depending on the vehicle class.

On some motorway sections (e.g. Brenner, Tauern), the route toll replaces the vignette for that section itself. However, this does not mean you don't need a vignette at all. Even if the section itself is subject to a special toll and therefore not subject to the vignette requirement, the access roads to the special toll stretch are usually subject to the vignette requirement. For the tunnel section you need a route toll ticket, but on the approach you often only get onto the toll-liable network with a valid vignette.

Of course, special toll stretches also exist independently of specific tunnels on adjoining motorways. One example is Austria's scenic roads, such as the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. You can therefore find detailed information on route toll/special toll and the best-known special toll stretches in our guide on route toll/special toll.

For vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm, the route toll is usually billed via the GO-Box, in addition to the toll fees arising from the distance-based toll. So anyone driving toward the Tauern pays per-kilometer toll on the approach and route toll in the tunnel.

In all cases: vignette-free does not mean toll-free

When do you really drive completely free of charge? For cars up to 3.5 t tzGm, mainly on federal roads, state roads and municipal roads that do not touch a special toll stretch. For vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm, mainly on roads outside the GO-toll network, not on the vignette-free border motorways.

If you want to be sure which vehicle class your vehicle belongs to, you'll find the detailed distinctions in our guide on vehicle classes.

Can federal roads in Austria be used without a vignette?

The statement "federal roads are vignette-free" only applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm (cars, motorcycles, light motorhomes). Across the entire Austrian federal road network (category B roads), you do not need a vignette in this vehicle class. Anyone deliberately avoiding motorways and expressways can drive a car from the German border all the way to Carinthia or Tyrol without buying a vignette, as long as your route doesn't touch a route toll or special toll stretch.

The price for this is usually time: country roads pass through towns and over mountains, and are less predictable than motorways in case of traffic jams or roadworks. In winter, snow, ice and closures are added to the mix. For those unfamiliar with the area, the safety record is generally better on well-developed motorways, because snow clearing, signage and emergency call boxes are more closely spaced.

Vignette-free does not mean toll-free. If you drive through a special toll stretch along the way, route toll applies there, regardless of whether no vignette was needed for the rest of the journey.

For vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm, the vignette exemption on federal roads plays a minor role anyway. What matters is whether the route lies within the GO-toll network or touches a special toll stretch. With cars up to 3.5 t tzGm, federal roads are often the simplest toll-free alternative to the motorway network. With heavy vehicles, a completely fee-free passage is significantly less likely.

If you only occasionally need a short motorway section beyond the vignette-free border stretches, the 10-day vignette flat rate for Austria is often worthwhile rather than hours-long detours via country roads.

Which motorway sections in Austria are vignette-free?

Since December 15, 2019, four fixed, clearly defined sections of the motorway and expressway network have had exceptions from the vignette requirement for vehicles up to 3.5 t tzGm (technically permissible total mass as set by the manufacturer, field F.1 of Part I of the registration certificate). The legal basis is the Federal Roads Toll Act (Bundesstraßen-Mautgesetz).

Important for context: These sections are vignette-free for cars and motorcycles up to 3.5 t tzGm, and in practice also toll-free for many travelers, because no route toll or special toll applies on the short border stretch. For vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm, this does not save you any toll. On these same sections, the GO-Box with distance-based toll is usually due, for example on the A 14 through the Pfänder Tunnel.

A 1 Westautobahn: Walserberg to Salzburg-Nord (without vignette)

From the Walserberg border crossing (connection to the German A 8 from the Munich direction) to the Salzburg-Nord interchange, cars and motorcycles up to 3.5 t tzGm do not need a vignette. This is the classic route for anyone heading to Salzburg or the Salzkammergut without wanting to book the entire Austrian motorway network.

Important: From Salzburg-Nord onward, the vignette requirement applies again if you continue on the A 1 towards Linz, Vienna, or the southeast. Anyone visiting only Salzburg city or its surroundings and driving back via the same section often gets by without a vignette. Don't plan to continue on a motorway or expressway outside this section without buying a vignette.

A 12 Inntal motorway: Kiefersfelden to Kufstein-Süd (without vignette)

Between the state border at Kiefersfelden (German A 93) and the Kufstein-Süd interchange, the A 12 is vignette-free. Many German travelers use this short section to drive toward Kitzbühel, Wilder Kaiser, or the Zillertal without immediately needing to buy a vignette.

From Kufstein-Süd onward, the vignette requirement on the A 12 applies again for continuing toward Wörgl or Innsbruck. Anyone wanting to reach Kitzbühel, Wilder Kaiser, or the Zillertal without a vignette drives as far as Kufstein-Süd and then switches to federal roads, for example the B 178. Anyone driving from Germany toward Italy and wanting to use only the Brenner does not continue on the A 12 toward Innsbruck, but instead takes the separate A 13 Brenner motorway. There, route toll applies instead of a vignette.

A 14 Rheintal/Walgau motorway: Hörbranz to Hohenems (without vignette)

From the Hörbranz border (connection to the German A 96 / Lindau) to the Hohenems interchange, cars and motorcycles up to 3.5 t tzGm may drive without a vignette. This section also includes the Pfänder Tunnel near Bregenz. The vignette-free length is around 23 kilometers and is generally also toll-free for this vehicle class. Heavy vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm pay distance-based toll here via GO-Box.

Particularly important: The vignette exemption ends at the latest at Hohenems. Anyone continuing on the A 14 toward Switzerland or southern Vorarlberg and passing the Altach interchange needs a valid vignette. Between Hohenems and Altach there is automatic vignette monitoring. Navigation systems sometimes route traffic heading to Switzerland onto the motorway only from Altach onward. Without a vignette, a substitute toll is at risk.

Coming from the south, the A 14 from Hohenems towards the border is likewise considered vignette-free. You can reach towns directly along this section, such as Bregenz, Dornbirn or Hohenems, without a vignette.

A 26 Linz motorway (temporarily without vignette)

The A 26 Linz motorway in the Linz area is still under construction and is temporarily vignette-free. This applies as long as the motorway is not connected to the vignette-liable A 7 Mühlkreis motorway. According to ASFINAG's planning, the complete completion of the A 26 is only scheduled for around 2035. Until then, cars and motorcycles up to 3.5 t tzGm can use the sections already completed without a vignette. The A 7 itself is subject to the normal vignette requirement.

Important regarding access: not every tunnel subject to route toll can be reached without a vignette. The access routes often run via longer sections of the same motorway or expressway that are subject to the vignette requirement. For example, anyone wanting to use the Tauern Tunnel on the A 10 without a vignette may only drive the section from Flachau to Rennweg. If you come from the north and join the A 10 earlier, you need a valid vignette.

Typical journeys without a vignette: practical examples

• Munich to Salzburg without a vignette (city/surrounding area only): Via Walserberg on the A 1 to Salzburg-Nord, then exit. No vignette needed as long as you don't continue on the A 1 toward the east.

• Rosenheim/Kufstein without a vignette (Kiefersfelden): Via Kiefersfelden on the A 12 to Kufstein-Süd, then on the B 178 toward Kitzbühel or St. Johann. No vignette, as long as you don't continue on the A 12 to Wörgl.

• Lindau to Bregenz without a vignette: Via Hörbranz and the Pfänder Tunnel on the A 14 to Bregenz or Hohenems. No vignette needed for cars up to 3.5 t tzGm.

• Lindau into Switzerland without an Austrian vignette: Drive on the A 14 to Hohenems/Diepoldsau and leave the motorway there, before the toll-liable section toward Altach begins. Don't blindly follow the sat nav.

• Brenner without a vignette (with route toll): A 13 from Innsbruck to Italy with a route toll ticket. Vignette-free, but not toll-free. Anyone coming from the north needs either a vignette on the A 12/A 13 approach or a detour via federal roads.

Is it worth bypassing the Austrian toll?

Using federal roads instead of the motorway is generally permitted, as long as no special traffic restrictions apply. In Tyrol, alternative routes for transit traffic are sometimes closed during peak times or released only for residents, in order to relieve towns. Anyone deliberately avoiding motorways to save on tolls should check current traffic information from the provincial authorities and ASFINAG.

Purely financially, bypassing is often less worthwhile than it seems: more kilometers, higher fuel consumption and lost time eat up part of the savings. On top of that, there are safety risks on winding mountain roads, especially in wet conditions, snow, or darkness.

Anyone using vignette-liable roads without a valid vignette risks the substitute toll and further sanctions. The digital vignette must be valid before entering the toll-liable network.

Tolls and trip planning: what you should keep in mind

Check the tzGm (field F.1) in your vehicle registration document, not the zGG (field F.2, which can be lower, for example after a weight reduction). Since December 2023, the tzGm has been decisive. Vehicles that were registered before December 1, 2023 and were below 3.5 t zGG at that time can, under certain conditions, still benefit from transitional rules until January 31, 2029. In our guide on vehicle classes you can see whether your vehicle is up to or over 3.5 t tzGm and therefore whether a vignette is required or distance-based toll must be paid.

Set the start date of your vignette so that it matches your entry onto the first vignette-liable motorway or expressway. With our route planner, you can see before departure which toll products your planned route requires. Important: the vignette must be active before you drive on the vignette-liable stretch. So book your 10-day vignette flat rate in good time now. If you have any questions, you can reach us anytime by email.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!

With this overview you can recognize which stretches are vignette-free, where route toll, special toll, or GO toll still applies, and why vignette-free does not mean toll-free. You'll find explanations of the toll system in our guide on tolls in Austria, on the switch to tzGm, and on vehicle classes. We wish you a good journey through Austria and worry-free planning of your route!