The Austrian Motorway Network
Austria's toll road network is operated by ASFINAG and covers approximately 2,200 kilometres of motorways (Autobahnen, prefix A) and expressways (Schnellstrassen, prefix S). All of these roads require a valid vignette for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
Roads That Require a Vignette
- All A-roads (Autobahnen): A1 through A23 and others
- All S-roads (Schnellstrassen): S1 through S37 and others
- Roads marked with the green motorway sign (white car on green background)
Roads That Do NOT Require a Vignette
- Federal roads (Bundesstrassen, prefix B)
- State roads (Landesstrassen)
- Municipal roads and city streets
- The Grossglockner High Alpine Road (separate toll)
- The Silvretta High Alpine Road (separate toll)
Local Nuances by Region
| Region | Key Road | Vignette Required | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna (Wien) | A23 Sudosttangente | Yes | Busy urban motorway |
| Lower Austria | A1 Westautobahn | Yes | Main route to Salzburg |
| Styria (Graz) | A2 Sudautobahn | Yes | Route to Slovenia/Italy |
| Tyrol (Innsbruck) | A13 Brenner | Yes + Section Toll | Additional Brenner toll applies |
| Salzburg | A10 Tauern | Yes + Section Toll | Tauern tunnel toll applies |
| Vorarlberg | A14 Rheintal | Yes | Near Swiss border |
| Carinthia (Klagenfurt) | A11 Karawanken | Yes + Tunnel Toll | Karawanken tunnel to Slovenia |
Border Crossings
If you enter Austria from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, or Czech Republic via a motorway, you must have a valid vignette before entering the Austrian motorway network. There are no toll booths at most borders — cameras verify compliance automatically.
Purchasing the vignette before your trip (online) is strongly recommended. Do not rely on purchasing at the border, as not all crossings have sales points.
Enforcement
ASFINAG operates an automated camera system that reads licence plates and cross-references them with the vignette database in real time. Fines for driving without a valid vignette start at €120 on-the-spot and can reach up to €3,000 in administrative proceedings. There is no grace period.
