Border Crossings Between Hungary and Austria

The border between Hungary and Austria connects two EU Member States and plays an important role in cross-border traffic. There are several crossings along the border, which are particularly relevant for travellers as well as for regional freight and commuter traffic.

Well-known border crossings between Austria and Hungary

There are numerous road crossings between Austria and Hungary. The best known include:

• Klingenbach (AT) / Sopron (HUN)
• Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN) motorway crossing

Both crossings are around 45 to 50 minutes from Austria’s capital, Vienna.

Other road crossings can be found, among others, in:

• Pamhagen
• Schachendorf
• numerous other country-road crossings, which generally play only a minor role for international traffic.

Due to border checks, toll inspections and roadworks, waiting times at the crossings may occur and can range from around five minutes to more than an hour. The risk of congestion depends largely on traffic volume. Especially during peak travel periods, the motorway crossing is often heavily congested.

Austria

The following section provides an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there are specific toll sections.

Austria: vignette requirement (or not?)

Using Austria’s motorway and expressway network is subject to charges in the form of a vignette requirement. Accordingly, vehicles up to 3.5 t require a (digital) vignette. Further information is available here.

In addition, there are vignette-free motorway sections as well as options for avoiding the vignette requirement. Information on whether bypassing toll roads may be worthwhile can be found here.

Distance-based toll in Austria

Please note that for vehicles over 3.5 t tzGm, the vignette requirement does not apply; instead, a distance-based toll must be paid. This mileage-based toll is calculated using a GO-Box, which must be installed in the vehicle for data collection.

Special toll routes

In addition to the vignette requirement and the distance-based toll, Austria has certain special toll routes that you should take into account during your trip. Additional fees apply when using these routes.

• Arlberg Tunnel (S16): Payment on site in cash, by credit card, or Maestro card
• Felbertauern Tunnel: Payment on site in cash or by credit card
• Gleinalm Tunnel, Bosruck Tunnel/Pyhrn Motorway: Payment on site in cash, by credit card, or Maestro card
• Karawanks Tunnel: Payment on site in cash, by credit card, or Maestro card. As a key link between Austria and Slovenia, the Karawanks Tunnel is also part of the route into Slovenia and is therefore subject to a special toll there as well. When travelling from Slovenia to Austria, the toll must be paid at the Hrušica toll station. When entering from Austria, the rules stated above apply and are explained in more detail here.

Further information on the various tunnels and certain mountain passes can be found here.

Hungary

In this section, you will learn whether Hungary has a vignette requirement and toll roads.

Hungary: vignette requirement (or not?)

In Hungary, toll charges must be paid for using motorways, which support the maintenance of roads, tunnels and bridges. In Hungary, all motor vehicles require a digital vignette (the E-Matrica) as proof that the toll has been paid. In addition to motorways, Hungarian expressways marked with an “M” are also subject to tolls. You can conveniently purchase the digital vignette online from us. Anyone who enters a Hungarian motorway without a vignette has a maximum of 60 minutes to buy one before penalty fees apply. It is therefore advisable to avoid this effort before setting off.

Important: When registering your licence plate for the Hungarian vignette, umlauts cannot be used. For example, GÖ (for Göttingen) becomes GO.

Distance-based toll

A distance-based toll must be paid if your vehicle exceeds 3.5 t GVW (motorhomes excluded). This means that buses, motorhomes over 3.5 t GVW and trucks must pay an electronic distance-based toll, which is automatically billed via the HU-GO system using a transmitter unit.

Motorhomes over 3.5 t GVW also have the option of using a camper toll box.

Your journey starts now!

Order your vignette for Austria and your vignette for Hungary conveniently online. Also discover Austria’s beautiful hiking areas or visit the impressive cities of both countries. We wish you an enjoyable trip!