How to Purchase and Use Your Austrian Vignette
Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure you purchase the correct vignette and use it properly. Each step includes important details and common pitfalls to avoid.
Step-by-Step Process
- Determine Your Vehicle Category
Check your vehicle's maximum authorised mass (MAM). Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes use the standard vignette. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must use the GO-Box electronic toll system instead. Motorcycles use a separate, smaller vignette. - Choose the Right Validity Period
Consider how long you will be in Austria and how many trips you plan. For a single short transit: 10-day vignette. For a holiday of 2–8 weeks: 2-month vignette. For frequent travellers: annual vignette. Use our pricing comparison to determine the best value. - Select Purchase Method
Decide between a physical sticker (available at petrol stations and ÖAMTC offices) or a digital vignette (available online from ASFINAG). The digital option is recommended for advance planning as it can be purchased up to 3 months before the start date. - Make the Purchase
For digital: visit the ASFINAG online shop, enter your licence plate number exactly as it appears on your registration document, select the validity period and start date, and complete payment. You will receive a confirmation email. For physical: purchase at any authorised retailer and keep the receipt. - Verify Your Purchase
For digital vignettes: check the ASFINAG online portal to confirm your licence plate is registered correctly. For physical stickers: inspect the sticker for any damage before leaving the shop. Report any issues immediately. - Affix the Physical Sticker (if applicable)
Apply the sticker to the inside of the windscreen in the upper area. The sticker must be fully visible from outside the vehicle. Do not place it on tinted areas. Press firmly to ensure adhesion. Once applied, the sticker cannot be removed without being destroyed. - Check for Special Toll Sections on Your Route
Review your planned route for any special toll sections (Sondermautstrecken) that require additional payment. See our special tolls guide for a complete list. - Travel and Keep Documentation
Keep your purchase receipt or confirmation email accessible during your journey. While enforcement is primarily automated, police may request proof of purchase during roadside checks. - Renew Before Expiry
If your vignette expires during your stay, you must purchase a new one before re-entering the motorway. There is no grace period after expiry.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing vignette after entering motorway | Fine up to €3,000 | Purchase before entering any motorway |
| Wrong licence plate on digital vignette | Vignette invalid, fine possible | Double-check plate before confirming purchase |
| Sticker placed on outside of windscreen | Vignette invalid | Always apply to inside surface |
| Sticker placed on tinted area | May be considered invalid | Apply to clear, untinted glass area |
| Removing sticker from one car to another | Vignette void, fine possible | Purchase a new vignette for each vehicle |
| Forgetting special toll sections | Additional fines at toll booths | Plan route and carry cash/card for tolls |
| Assuming rental car has vignette | Fine if not present | Always confirm with rental company |
| Using previous year's annual vignette | Fine if expired | Check validity dates before travel |
Enforcement and Checks
ASFINAG operates an extensive network of automatic enforcement cameras that read licence plates and cross-reference them against the digital vignette database. Physical sticker compliance is checked by police patrols and at border crossings.
Enforcement is continuous and applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no "low-enforcement" periods. Fines are issued to the registered vehicle owner, even if the driver at the time was different.