Border crossing: Austria-Slovakia

The border between Austria and Slovakia stretches over 106.7 km. There are several road border crossings, a ferry crossing, and a motorway crossing between Slovakia and Austria.

Entry requirements and border controls

Within the EU, border controls have been largely abolished. In many cases, travelers cross the Austrian-Slovak border therefore without inspection. However, exceptions may be ordered for international sporting events such as a football World Cup, major political events, or for reasons of internal security. In these cases, border controls are temporarily carried out. For EU citizens, carrying an ID card or passport is sufficient.

Well-known border crossings

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

• Motorway crossing Kittsee (AT) – Jarovce (SVK) – toll required. The other border crossings can be used without a vignette. However, the motorway crossing at Kittsee is the fastest and offers a direct connection between the scenic capital cities of Vienna and Bratislava.

• Hohenau (AT)

• Moravský Sv. Ján – Berg (AT)

• Bratislava-Petržalka (SVK)

The border crossing between Angern an der March (AT) and Záhorská Ves (SVK) is crossed using a ferry. Motorcycles, cars, trucks, trailers, and passengers are transported across the Danube tributary, the Morava. The short crossing is generally significantly cheaper than the toll fees for motorways. However, in order to make good progress on motorways and expressways in both countries, a digital vignette is still required.

Austria

The following section gives you an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there is a distance-based toll.

Austria: vignette requirement (or not?)

Fees in the form of a vignette requirement apply for the use of the Austrian motorway and expressway network. Accordingly, vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight require a (digital) vignette. You can find more information on tolls in Austria in our guide. You can conveniently purchase your digital vignette from home with us.

In addition, there are also vignette-free motorway sections as well as ways to avoid the vignette requirement. You can read more about whether bypassing the toll makes sense in our article on bypassing tolls.

Distance-based toll in Austria

Please note that for vehicles over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the vignette requirement no longer applies, and instead a distance-based toll must be paid. This mileage-dependent toll is billed 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, there are certain special toll routes in Austria that you should take into account on your journey. Using these incurs additional fees, independent of the digital vignette or the distance-based toll. You can find more information on the special toll and a list of all relevant special toll routes in our article on special toll routes in Austria.

Slovakia

The following section gives you an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there is a distance-based toll.

Slovakia: vignette requirement (or not?)

Slovakia also operates an electronic toll system on its motorways and expressways.

• Electronic toll boxes (on-board units): In Slovakia, the use of electronic toll boxes is also possible. This allows toll fees to be automatically recorded when passing toll stations. The fees vary depending on the section of the motorway or expressway used and are determined and deducted via the toll box.

• Vignette: As an alternative to the toll box, you will soon also be able to purchase the vignette digitally through our website. Within the selected period, you can then use Slovakia's motorways as often as you like. In any case, it is important to arrange one of the two toll procedures before starting your journey in order to avoid fines.

Distance-based toll

A distance-based toll must be paid if your vehicle exceeds 3.5 t gross vehicle weight (motorhomes excepted). This means that since January 2024, buses and trucks have had to pay a distance-dependent electronic toll. This means the distance-based toll replaces the vignette; a vignette is no longer required in this case. The distance-based toll applies in Slovakia on expressways, motorways, and some selected sections of Class 1 and Class 2 roads. By the way: for motorhomes, no distance-based toll needs to be paid regardless of weight, meaning that even if your motorhome weighs over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, you only need to purchase a vignette.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We wish you a good trip and are happy to help with any questions about toll regulations. Feel free to use our route planner to perfectly plan your trip and have suitable toll products displayed to you. Contact us with any further questions about your trip or our digital vignette via our email.