Driving in Austria from the UK: vignette and rules
Austria needs a digital vignette for motorways and expressways: 9.60 EUR for 1 day up to 106.80 EUR for a year (2026). Six tunnel and pass sections, including Brenner, Tauern and Karawanken, charge an extra toll. Carry a warning triangle, hi-vis vest and first-aid kit, and fit winter tyres in wintry conditions from 1 November to 15 April.
Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in EUR unless shown otherwise
- Toll system
- Vignette
- Vignette
- RequiredDigital Vignette (Digitale Vignette)
- Low-emission zones
- None listedSee the section below
- Currency
- EUR
On this page
Do I need a vignette in Austria?
Cars up to 3.5 t pay for motorways and expressways with a time-based vignette, linked to the number plate. On top of the vignette, six sections run by ASFINAG charge a separate section toll at a toll station: A 9 Gleinalm and Bosruck tunnels, A 10 Tauern and Katschberg tunnels, A 11 Karawanken tunnel, A 13 Brenner motorway and S 16 Arlberg tunnel. No vignette is needed on the sections between those toll stations.
Digital Vignette (Digitale Vignette)
Required. Applies to: All motorways and expressways for cars, motorcycles and motorhomes up to 3.5 t, except the section-toll stretches and a few exempt border sections (A 1 Walserberg to Salzburg Nord, A 12 Kufstein to Kufstein-Sud, A 14 Horbranz to Hohenems).
Vignette prices for 2026
Vignette prices for 2027
1 year (bought on or after 1 January 2027)
108.90 EUR[4]
Vehicle: Car (vehicle up to 3.5 t)
| Valid for | Vehicle | Official price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (bought on or after 1 January 2027) | Car (vehicle up to 3.5 t) | 108.90 EUR[4] |
Only the 2027 annual vignette price (108.90 EUR from 1 January 2027) is published by ASFINAG. The 1-day, 10-day and 2-month prices for 2027 are not published yet (checked 11 Nov 2026); ASFINAG says the increase is 2 percent.
This is the official seller. EuroTolls does not sell vignettes and earns nothing from this link.
Vignette rules
- The Digital Vignette is linked to the vehicle's number plate; there is nothing to stick on the windscreen. Make sure it is valid before you join the motorway.[1]
- 1-day and 10-day vignettes bought online can be valid immediately. For 2-month and annual vignettes bought online by a consumer, the earliest start date is 18 days after purchase. Bought from a sales partner, toll station or vending machine, any vignette is valid immediately with no 18-day wait.[1]
- Annual vignettes for the new year go on sale online on 9 November. A 2027 annual vignette bought online by 13 November 2026 is valid from 1 December 2026.[3]
- Driving without a valid vignette leads to a replacement toll (Ersatzmaut) demand. ASFINAG checks with staff and automatic vignette control systems.[5]
- Check that a vignette or section toll is registered for your plate with the ASFINAG validity check.[1]
Warnings from the official operator
- ASFINAG warns of fake SMS, phishing emails and fake shops claiming an unpaid vignette or fine. Buy only in the official ASFINAG Toll Shop at shop.asfinag.at or from authorised sales partners.[3]
Who runs the roads
How to pay
- Vignette: buy a Digital Vignette online in the ASFINAG Toll Shop or app (enter plate number and country of registration; pay by credit card, Amazon Pay, eps or PayPal) or in person from sales partners, toll stations and vending machines.[1]
- Section toll: buy a single route ticket at the toll station (vending machine or counter), from sales outlets, or as a Digital section toll online in advance, which lets the barrier open automatically by reading your number plate. A Digital section toll FLEX option charges you after each passage.[2]
Extra tolls on top of the vignette
A 9 Pyhrn motorway, Gleinalm tunnel (single route ticket, 2026)
12.00 EUR[2]
Vehicle: Car up to 3.5 t
A 9 Pyhrn motorway, Bosruck tunnel (single route ticket, 2026)
7.00 EUR[2]
Vehicle: Car up to 3.5 t
A 10 Tauern motorway, Tauern and Katschberg tunnels, total distance (single route ticket, 2026); 7.50 EUR for one tunnel section only
15.00 EUR[2]
Vehicle: Car up to 3.5 t
A 11 Karawanken motorway, Karawanken tunnel (single route ticket, 2026)
9.00 EUR[2]
Vehicle: Car up to 3.5 t
A 13 Brenner motorway, total distance (single route ticket, 2026); shorter sections from 1.00 EUR
12.50 EUR[2]
Vehicle: Car up to 3.5 t
S 16 Arlberg expressway, Arlberg tunnel (single route ticket, 2026)
13.00 EUR[2]
Vehicle: Car up to 3.5 t
| Toll | Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A 9 Pyhrn motorway, Gleinalm tunnel (single route ticket, 2026) | Car up to 3.5 t | 12.00 EUR[2] |
| A 9 Pyhrn motorway, Bosruck tunnel (single route ticket, 2026) | Car up to 3.5 t | 7.00 EUR[2] |
| A 10 Tauern motorway, Tauern and Katschberg tunnels, total distance (single route ticket, 2026); 7.50 EUR for one tunnel section only | Car up to 3.5 t | 15.00 EUR[2] |
| A 11 Karawanken motorway, Karawanken tunnel (single route ticket, 2026) | Car up to 3.5 t | 9.00 EUR[2] |
| A 13 Brenner motorway, total distance (single route ticket, 2026); shorter sections from 1.00 EUR | Car up to 3.5 t | 12.50 EUR[2] |
| S 16 Arlberg expressway, Arlberg tunnel (single route ticket, 2026) | Car up to 3.5 t | 13.00 EUR[2] |
Changes coming
- From the 2027 vignette year the vignette is digital only. No adhesive (sticker) vignettes are sold from 1 December 2026, and from 1 February 2027 only the Digital Vignette is valid on Austrian motorways and expressways. The four products (1 day, 10 days, 2 months, 1 year) stay the same.[3]
- Vignette prices rise by 2 percent from 1 January 2027: the annual vignette will cost 108.90 EUR. A 2027 Digital Vignette bought by 31 December 2026 still costs the current 106.80 EUR.[4]
Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.
Low-emission zones and stickers
No city low-emission zone or emissions sticker for visiting cars was found on the official Austrian pages checked.
What must I carry in Austria?
- Warning triangle and a reflective high-visibility garment (jacket, overalls or similar to EN 471 or EN ISO 20471) in every car. Put the hi-vis on before you get out after a breakdown or accident; not carrying or wearing it is an offence.[7]
- A first-aid kit, protected against dust and dirt in a robust container. The driver is responsible for carrying it.[8]
- Winter rule: from 1 November to 15 April, cars up to 3.5 t may be driven in wintry conditions (snow, slush or ice on the road) only with winter tyres on all wheels, or with snow chains on at least two driven wheels when the road is covered in snow or ice. Winter tyres must be marked M+S, M.S., M&S or carry the snowflake symbol.[9]
- A valid vignette for motorways and expressways, plus a section toll ticket for the six tolled tunnel and pass sections.[1]
Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.
Speed limits and alcohol
- Built-up areas
- 50 km/h[6]
- Outside built-up areas
- 100 km/h[6]
- Motorways
- 130 km/h[6]
- Drink-drive limit
- Below 0.5 g/l (mg/ml) for standard drivers; 0.1 g/l for drivers with less than 3 years' experience and professional drivers. From 0.8 g/l the licence is withdrawn.[6]
Towing: 100 km/h on motorways for a trailer under 750 kg; 80 km/h on motorways and 70 km/h on other roads for a trailer over 750 kg (100 and 80 if the combined weight is not more than 3.5 t).
Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.
What UK drivers need
- You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Austria if you are 18 or over. With an old paper licence you may need to update it to a photocard.[10]
- You must carry insurance and vehicle ownership documents.[10]
- You do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in the EU with a UK photocard licence.[11]
- Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Cover or remove any old GB sticker.[12]
- Take your log book (V5C) and insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.[13]
- You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.[14]
For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.
Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.
Official links
Sources
Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.
- 1.Digital Vignette (rates until 31 December 2026) (opens in a new tab)
ASFINAG (state motorway company), asfinag.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 2.Section toll, rates 2026 (valid from 1.1.2026) (opens in a new tab)
ASFINAG (state motorway company), asfinag.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 3.Press release: Osterreich steigt ab 2027 vollstandig auf die Digitale Vignette um (9 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)
ASFINAG (state motorway company), asfinag.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 4.Press release: Reduzierte Preisanpassung der Vignette (25 October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
ASFINAG (state motorway company), asfinag.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 5.Press release: ASFINAG erinnert an Vignettentausch am 1.2.2026 (opens in a new tab)
ASFINAG (state motorway company), asfinag.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 6.Road rules and safety - Austria (opens in a new tab)
European Commission, Your Europe (content supplied by Austrian authorities, last checked by them 29/10/2024), europa.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 7.Obligatory safety equipment: warning equipment and high-visibility clothing (opens in a new tab)
oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian Federal Government; content by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure), oesterreich.gv.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 8.Obligatory safety equipment: first-aid kit (opens in a new tab)
oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian Federal Government; content by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure), oesterreich.gv.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 9.Compulsory use of winter tyres (opens in a new tab)
oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian Federal Government; content by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure), oesterreich.gv.at. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 10.Austria travel advice: Safety and security (updated 11 August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK (FCDO), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 11.Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 12.Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK (DVLA), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 13.Driving abroad (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.
- 14.Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.