The difference between the vignette and the toll, also known as "route-based toll" or "section-based toll," is not well known to many. Often, the terms are used interchangeably. The difference lies in how and for what the fees are collected.
Vignette: The vignette is proof of payment for traveling on highways and expressways that require a vignette. You can purchase the vignette as a sticker and attach it to the inside of the windshield, or buy it digitally, linking the vignette to the license plate easily.
Toll: The (route-based) toll is a fee that must be paid for the use of specific transport infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, tunnels, or highways. These fees help finance the construction of these transport infrastructures.
In eight European countries, you must buy a vignette to drive on highways and expressways. Buying a vignette is mandatory, and failure to pay results in a fine. The countries that require a vignette are Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Hungary.
The vignette is valid for a specific period, regardless of the number of kilometers traveled. You can purchase the vignette in advance, and it serves as proof of payment, which you attach to the inside of the windshield. It allows you to use the highway and expressway network of the respective country for the pre-defined period.
For the vignette, you can choose between a sticker, known as a "sticker vignette," or a digital vignette. Normally, there is an 18-day waiting period before the vignette becomes valid. If you opt for a digital vignette from us, this waiting period is waived. Additionally, we offer a cancellation protection, giving you access to some benefits.
The term toll or road usage fee refers to a route-based fee for using highways and expressways. This means that the toll is an additional fee to the vignette, which must be paid for specific sections of the route. These include roads, bridges, tunnels, and highways. The toll is calculated based on the kilometers you have driven. In addition to the kilometers traveled, the infrastructure costs and the costs for environmental impact are also considered. You can already pay this amount with us before your trip.
The toll rate varies from country to country. You can easily pay the toll costs at the toll station when entering or exiting the road, depending on the country. However, it's more relaxed and easier to do it digitally with us.
The revenues from the tolls are used to further develop the road network in the respective country. Therefore, you will also have to pay fines if you fail to comply with the route-based toll obligation.
This means that with a vignette, you can already cover the majority of a country in advance, and you only need to pay an extra route-based toll for specific roads or structures.
Now that you understand the difference between a vignette and a toll, you can proceed to check:
