Austrian Vignette Services & Selection Matrix
This page provides a comprehensive overview of all available Austrian vignette types, their validity periods, applicable vehicle categories, and purchase options. Use the selection matrix below to identify the most appropriate vignette for your specific situation.
10-Day Vignette
The 10-day vignette is designed for short-term visitors and travellers passing through Austria. It is valid for exactly 10 consecutive calendar days, starting from the date selected at the time of purchase. The digital version can be activated up to 18 days in advance.
This option is particularly popular with Belgian drivers making a single trip to Austria for skiing, hiking, or cultural tourism. If your journey involves multiple entries into Austria within a short period, verify whether the 10-day period covers all your planned motorway usage.
→ View 10-Day Pricing2-Month Vignette
The 2-month vignette provides coverage for two full calendar months from the selected start date. It is suitable for extended holidays, business travel, or drivers who make multiple trips to Austria within a two-month window.
For Belgian drivers who frequently travel to Austria — for example, for work in Vienna or regular visits to family — the 2-month vignette often represents the most economical choice for medium-frequency travel.
→ View 2-Month PricingAnnual Vignette
The annual vignette is the best-value option for frequent travellers to Austria. It is valid from 1 December of the year prior to the calendar year shown on the vignette, through to 31 January of the following year — giving approximately 14 months of coverage for the price of one year.
Motorcycle Vignette
Motorcycles require their own vignette, separate from car vignettes. The same time-period options (10-day, 2-month, annual) are available for motorcycles. The physical sticker is affixed to a specific location on the motorcycle frame or fairing as specified by ASFINAG guidelines.
Vignette Selection Matrix
Use this matrix to identify the most appropriate vignette type based on your travel scenario and frequency of Austrian motorway use.
| Travel Scenario | 10-Day | 2-Month | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single transit through Austria | ✓ Best choice | Possible | Overkill |
| One-week ski holiday | ✓ Best choice | Possible | Overkill |
| Two separate trips within 2 months | Need 2 vignettes | ✓ Best choice | Possible |
| Extended stay (1–2 months) | Need multiple | ✓ Best choice | Possible |
| 4+ trips per year | Expensive | Possible | ✓ Best choice |
| Regular commuter (weekly) | Very expensive | Partial coverage | ✓ Best choice |
| Motorcycle rider (occasional) | ✓ Best choice | Possible | Overkill |
| Motorcycle rider (frequent) | Multiple needed | Possible | ✓ Best choice |
| Transit + return same week | ✓ Best choice | Overkill | Overkill |
| Business travel (monthly) | Multiple needed | ✓ Best choice | Consider annual |
Vehicle Categories
The standard vignette applies to motor vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. This covers the vast majority of private cars, campervans, and motorcycles. Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes are subject to the GO-Box distance-based toll system and do not use the vignette.
| Vehicle Type | Vignette Required | System |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car (up to 3.5t) | Yes | Vignette |
| Motorcycle | Yes (separate) | Vignette |
| Car + trailer (combined up to 3.5t) | One vignette | Vignette |
| Campervan (up to 3.5t) | Yes | Vignette |
| Light commercial vehicle (up to 3.5t) | Yes | Vignette |
| Heavy goods vehicle (over 3.5t) | No | GO-Box |
| Bus (over 3.5t) | No | GO-Box |
| Emergency vehicles | Exempt | N/A |
Digital vs Physical Vignette
| Feature | Digital Vignette | Physical Sticker |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase location | Online, app | Petrol stations, border shops, Trafik |
| Advance purchase | Up to 1 year ahead | Limited advance availability |
| Activation | Chosen start date | Immediate upon affixing |
| Placement required | None (plate registered) | Inside windscreen, upper left |
| Risk of damage/loss | None | Cannot be replaced if lost |
| Enforcement method | Camera system | Camera + police inspection |
| Suitable for rental cars | Check rental terms | Yes, if permitted by rental company |
Exceptions and Exclusions
The following circumstances represent the boundaries and limitations of the standard vignette system. Drivers should review these carefully before planning their journey.
- Special toll roads: The Brenner (A13), Arlberg (A14), Karawanken (A11), and several other routes require additional section-based tolls regardless of vignette ownership.
- Vehicles over 3.5t: Not covered by the vignette system; must use the GO-Box.
- Invalid placement: A physical vignette not properly affixed to the windscreen is considered invalid.
- Tampered stickers: Any attempt to remove or transfer a physical sticker renders it invalid.
- Incorrect registration plate: A digital vignette purchased with an incorrect plate number is invalid for the actual vehicle.
- Expired vignette: Using an expired vignette is treated the same as having no vignette.
- Non-motorway roads: The vignette is not required for ordinary roads (Bundesstrassen, Landesstrassen).
- Exempt vehicles: Emergency services, military vehicles, and certain diplomatic vehicles are exempt.