What Is A Vignette ?

A Vignette is a form of tax on vehicles, used in several non-English speaking European countries. The term is of French origin, and is now used throughout Central Europe.

Vignettes are used in Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, while other types of road toll are being imposed on drivers in several other European countries. The small, colored toll sticker is to be affixed on a vehicle, often personal of up to 3.5 tons maximum permissible gross weight (passenger car, motorcycle, travel trailer), passing through motorways and expressways, which indicates that the respective road tax has been paid. Vignettes are often valid for one year, and can usually be obtained at border crossings, gas stations and labeled points. They are usually constructed in such a way that detaching and reattaching them is impossible without destruction, ensuring that drivers can't use the same vignette on more than one vehicle. Improperly used, torn or lost vignettes are usually not refunded. Road traffic is often monitored by roadside cameras, and vignettes are verified by state officials, such as border guard and national police. Hefty cash fines are often charged to travelers using public roads without a valid and properly affixed vignette. Additional tolls are usually levied for passing through certain motorway tunnels and bridges.

Eurovignette is a road toll for trucks of minimum 12 tons. The system was adopted in 1999, and is now being used in Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Sweden.

Austria
As of 1997, vignettes are required for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tons passing through motorways and expressways (prefixed with letters A and S) under federal administration. Vignettes are overseen by police and toll sheriff employees of the federal motorway administration (ASFINAG), which acts as a corporation due to economic aspects. A substitute toll of €110 must be paid by travelers without a vignette, and a €240 fine is charged if a valid vignette is not affixed properly or has been tampered with. This substitute toll allows the use of type A and S motorway networks from the day of payment to the following day. If substitute toll is not paid, the traveler is subject to a complaint at the administration authority of the county, which may lead to a penalty fee between €300 and €3,000. Furthermore, personal valuables (including the vehicle) can be confiscated from foreigners to guarantee payment of the penalty.

In addition to the compulsory vignette, further tolls are charged for certain motorway sections where additional tollgates and video tolling systems are installed. Several sections require drivers to buy electronic toll cards, while another section (A-14) allows travelers to buy a substitute one-day Corridor-Vignette. Vignettes for vehicles of over 3.5 tons were replaced with a distance-based highway toll schedule via electronic Go-boxes on January 1st, 2004.

Bulgaria
Vignettes are required for all (including animal-powered) vehicles driving on all public roads, with exception of streets inside cities, towns and villages. Vignettes are usually valid from the time they are purchased, while some types can be marked to start from a future date. They can be obtained in Bulgaria at most gas stations, border crossings, or online using a credit card. Cash fines of €60 or more are charged to drivers without a valid vignette.

Czech Republic
Vignette affixed on a car's windshield on the R-46 expressway in the Czech Republic.Vignettes are required for use of motorways and expressways for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tons. Cash fines for not displaying a valid vignette affixed on a car's windshield range from €80 to €200. Vignettes for heavier vehicles were replaced with electronic toll collection in 2007.

France
The French vignette-based vehicle tax was introduced in 1956 to fund a minimum income scheme for citizens of age 65 and above. They were available in tabacs, and all vehicle owners were required to buy one at the end of each year. The price depended on the engine's horsepower, and in which department the car was registered. The vignette system soon led to controversy, leading to the tax not being ring-fenced for old people any longer.

Vignettes were abolished for motorcycles in June 1981, and for other vehicles in 2001. An electronic toll is being charged for all travelers using motorways and expressways, while additional fees have to be paid for certain tunnels and bridges.

Germany
Motorways and expressways are a toll-free road network for all lighter vehicles. The Eurovignette system for trucks was abolished in August 2003, after which a distance-based toll charge for vehicles of over 12 tons was established by the Toll Collect company on January 1st, 2005.

As of March 1st, 2007, all drivers are required to purchase an emission sticker when passing through the "environment zones" in several cities and municipalities. Certain "green zones" have completely disallowed entrance to vehicles with higher particle emissions ("yellow" and "red" groups). Travelers passing through these areas without the sticker are charged with a €40 fine and one point in the Traffic Offences Register.

Hungary
Electronic vignettes are controlled by roadside cameras.Vignettes are required for all travelers using motorways and expressways. Physical toll stickers were replaced with electronic vignettes and video tolling on January 1st, 2008, the only physical item the purchaser receives is a control coupon. Motorway usage entitlement is verified by roadside cameras based on license plate numbers, and drivers of vehicles up to 3.5 tons without a valid vignette are charged with a cash fine of €140, or €700 if the initial fine is not paid in 15 days.

Montenegro
Drivers of all motor vehicles are required to purchase an annual ecological-tax vignette, which can be obtained at border crossings. Additional tolls are being charged for passing through certain tunnels and bridges.

Romania
With exception of motorcycles, vignettes are required for all vehicles driving on all main roads and motorways. They can be obtained at most gas stations, border crossings, or online using a credit card. Drivers without a valid vignette are fined with €100 or more. As of 2011, Romania utilizes an electronic vignette system, like Hungary.

Slovakia
Vignettes are obligatory for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tons passing through Slovak motorways. A one year vignette for private motor vehicles costs 50 Euro. Motorcycles do not require a vignette. Vignettes for heavier vehicles were replaced with distance-based electronic toll collection in 2010. Drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between €100 and €500.

Slovenia
Vignettes are required for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tons passing through Slovenian motorways as of July 1st, 2008. Heavier vehicles use existing tollgates. Drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between €300 and €800.

Switzerland
Travelers using motorways and expressways are required to purchase an annual vignette that is valid from December 1st of the previous year to January 31st next year. Vignettes can be obtained in and outside of Switzerland in bordering countries at gas stations and labeled points. Use of motorway networks without a valid vignette is an offense against the Public Highways Act, and is punishable with a cash fine of €75 or more, along with the obligatory purchase of an annual vignette. For heavier vehicles, a distance-based tax-rate is calculated between departure and arrival point for all types of roads.

Other questions you might ask if planning to drive abroad:

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