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Driving in Hungary from the UK: vignette and rules

Hungary uses a digital e-vignette (e-matrica) for motorways and expressways, linked to your number plate: buy it before you join a toll road. For a car (D1) a 10-day vignette costs 6,900 HUF in 2026 and 6,990 HUF from 2027; driving without one costs a 27,790 HUF surcharge. Zero alcohol limit; carry a warning triangle.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in HUF unless shown otherwise

Toll system
Vignette
Vignette
RequiredE-vignette (e-matrica)
Low-emission zones
None listedSee the section below
Currency
HUF
On this page

Do I need a vignette in Hungary?

Cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and vans up to 3.5 t need an e-vignette (electronic road use authorisation linked to the registration number and country code) on toll motorways and expressways. There is no sticker or toll booth: checks are made against the number plate, at roadside inspections or electronically. Vehicles over 3.5 t pay a separate e-toll instead.

E-vignette (e-matrica)

Required. Applies to: Toll motorways and expressways (national e-vignette), or the toll expressways of one county (annual regional e-vignette)

Vignette prices for 2026

  • Daily

    5 550 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D1: passenger car up to 3.5 t and up to 7 seats (M1 or M1G on the registration document)

  • Weekly (10 days)

    6 900 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D1 car

  • Monthly

    11 170 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D1 car

  • Annual, national

    61 760 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D1 car

  • Annual, regional (one county)

    7 190 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D1 car

  • Annual, M1 regional (Pest, Fejer, Komarom-Esztergom and Gyor-Moson-Sopron counties)

    15 000 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D1 car

  • Weekly (10 days)

    10 040 HUF[1]

    Vehicle: D2: vans (N1 or N1G) and vehicles with 8 or more seats

Vignette prices for 2027

  • Daily

    5,630 HUF[2]

    Vehicle: D1 car, from 1 January 2027

  • Weekly (10 days)

    6,990 HUF[2]

    Vehicle: D1 car, from 1 January 2027

  • Monthly

    11,320 HUF[2]

    Vehicle: D1 car, from 1 January 2027

  • Annual, national

    62,560 HUF[2]

    Vehicle: D1 car, from 1 January 2027

  • Annual, regional (one county)

    7,280 HUF[2]

    Vehicle: D1 car, from 1 January 2027

  • Annual, M1 regional

    15,000 HUF[2]

    Vehicle: D1 car, unchanged in 2027

Published by the Hungarian Public Roads Toll Division on 8 November 2026: prices rise 1.3% from 1 January 2027, in line with August 2026 inflation.

Buy from the official shop: Official e-vignette web shop (ematrica.nemzetiutdij.hu) (opens in a new tab)

This is the official seller. EuroTolls does not sell vignettes and earns nothing from this link.

Vignette rules

  • Buy the e-vignette before you enter a toll section. Validity starts at the time of purchase unless you choose a start date. If you enter the toll network by mistake in good faith, you have 60 minutes from entry to buy one.[1]
  • Validity: daily runs on the day of purchase; weekly (10-day) is the start day plus 9 further days; monthly runs to the same date in the following month; annual runs until midnight on 31 January of the following year.[1]
  • Check the registration number, country code (UK), vehicle category and validity period on the confirmation. Enter the number plate without spaces. Keep the confirmation for 3 years after the vignette expires.[1]
  • Fine for no valid e-vignette (from 1 January 2026): base surcharge 27,790 HUF if paid within 60 days, rising to 95,730 HUF after 60 days. A vignette for too low a category costs a differential surcharge of 15,530 HUF (49,190 HUF after 60 days). From 1 January 2027 the base surcharge is 28,150 HUF.[3]
  • Common reasons for a surcharge despite having a vignette: wrong vehicle category, wrong number plate or country code, validity expired or not yet started, or using another county's roads on a county vignette.[3]
  • A car towing a trailer: a D1 car's trailer is covered within D1 (D1 includes trailers towed by D1 cars); trailers towed by D2 vehicles need a separate category U vignette.[1]

Warnings from the official operator

  • The toll operator warns that some online platforms only 'order' e-vignettes and resell them above the official forint price, sometimes with a monthly membership fee or the wrong validity dates. Buy from the official web shop or an authorised reseller.[4]

Who runs the roads

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Low-emission zones and stickers

No low-emission zone affecting visiting cars was found on the official pages checked (see “Not confirmed yet” below).

What must I carry in Hungary?

  • Warning triangle (compulsory safety equipment for cars).[5]
  • Use dipped headlights on roads outside built-up areas, even in daytime.[5]

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Speed limits and alcohol

Built-up areas
50 km/h[5]
Outside built-up areas
90 km/h[5]
Motorways
130 km/h[5]
Drink-drive limit
0.0 g/l for all drivers (zero tolerance)[5]

130 km/h on motorways and 110 km/h on expressways. Cars towing a trailer: 70 km/h on non-urban roads and 80 km/h on motorways.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What UK drivers need

  • You can drive in Hungary on a UK photocard licence without an IDP. With an old paper licence, update it or get the correct IDP (1968). An Isle of Man licence needs an IDP.[7]
  • You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, including Hungary, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.[8]
  • Take your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.[9]
  • Display a UK sticker unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag.[10]
  • FCDO: it is illegal to drink any alcohol and then drive in Hungary. If you use major highways without an e-vignette bought in advance, you will get a fine.[6]

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.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.

  1. 1.
    E-vignette rates (valid from 01.01.2026, VAT included) (opens in a new tab)

    Hungarian Public Roads Nonprofit PLC, Toll Division (nemzetiutdij.hu), nemzetiutdij.hu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  2. 2.
    The 2027 e-vignette prices are now available (8 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Hungarian Public Roads Nonprofit PLC, Toll Division, nemzetiutdij.hu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  3. 3.
    Surcharge, differential surcharge (opens in a new tab)

    Hungarian Public Roads Nonprofit PLC, Toll Division, nemzetiutdij.hu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  4. 4.
    Attention! Please purchase your e-vignette only from an authorised retailer (22 September 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Hungarian Public Roads Nonprofit PLC, Toll Division, nemzetiutdij.hu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  5. 5.
    Road rules and safety - Hungary (opens in a new tab)

    European Commission, Your Europe (content supplied by Hungarian authorities, last checked by them 18/09/2024), europa.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  6. 6.
    Hungary travel advice: Safety and security (road travel) (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (FCDO), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  7. 7.
    Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  8. 8.
    Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  9. 9.
    Driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  10. 10.
    Displaying number plates: flags, symbols and identifiers (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (DVLA), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.