A foreign holiday is a great adventure, but it can also be stressful for the driver. The proof is the vignettes that are practiced in the large number of countries visited by Poles. Which countries exactly are these, how much do the vignettes cost and what happens if they go missing?
Two systems
In an era of rising prices of air tickets and services in the domestic tourism market, taking a vacation outside of Poland by car may seem like an attractive alternative. Many people go abroad on holidays without knowing the inside rules of the roads in other countries. One of the things to know before hitting the road is tolling on motorways or expressways. We don’t pay a penny to travel by road in Germany, Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia.. This is not the case in other countries.
Payment for using roads with higher parameters should be made in one of two systems. First Fee for each completed chapter – Like Poland. Such systems work Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal among others. However, they are a common solution Vignettes. In this system, we pay for access to the motorway or expressway network for a certain period of time.
In the past, vignettes, i.e. confirmation of payment in the form of small stickers, To be placed on the windshield of the vehicle. Today, Vignette is mostly electronic. Data about the vehicle for which the vignette was purchased is entered into a central database along with information about its validity start and end dates. Cameras placed on the roads allow the computer to read the registration plates of vehicles traveling on the highways, and a matching algorithm compares this data to a database of acquired vignettes. So don’t count on luck. The lack of a vignette will almost certainly be noticed. What rules apply in each country?
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Austria
Available vignettes and their prices:
- 10 days: €9.90
- Bimonthly: 29 euros
- Annual: €96.40
Passenger vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes are subject to an electronic or traditional vignette affixed to the windscreen. Here’s the catch. A traditional vignette is valid immediately, but purchasing an electronic vignette requires advance planning. The latter will be Valid only after 18 days from online purchase. This is because Austrian law provides for a time to withdraw from a distance transaction. A vignette is imposed by its absence 120 euro fine. Additionally, you need to purchase the appropriate vignette.
Bulgaria
Available vignettes and their prices:
- Weekend: 9 BGN (PLN 20.40)
- Weekly: 13 BGN (PLN 29.40)
- Monthly: 23 BGN (52 PLN)
- Quarterly: 48 BGN (PLN 108.60)
- Annual: 87 BGN (PLN 196.89)
An electronic vignette is required in Bulgaria. Fees can be paid online or on site, at designated points and also at post office. However, you should be aware that some sections of Bulgarian roads are subject to additional tolls. The fine for not having a vignette is BGN 300 (approx. PLN 678.60)..
Republic of Che
Available vignettes and their prices:
- 10 day: 310 crowns (PLN 58)
- 30-day: 440 crowns (PLN 82.30)
- Annual: 1500 crowns (PLN 280.50)
Our southern neighbors use an electronic vignette, which can be paid online (at edalnice.cz). Vignettes are necessary not only on motorways but also on expressways. In the Czech Republic Hybrid vehicles that are zero-emission and emit no more than 50 g CO2/km are exempted from the toll.. In practice, therefore, it’s all about plug-in hybrids. In order to take advantage of the exemption for a car registered outside the Czech Republic, an electronic application must be filled in advance on the above website (section: Declaration of toll exemption). In the absence of money 20 thousand fine. crowns, i.e. PLN 3,740.
Romania
Available vignettes and their prices:
- 7 day: 3 euros
- 30 day: 7 euros
- 90 day: 13 euros
- 12 months: 28 euros
Electronic vignettes are required. Toll roads are managed by the government. Additional tolls are charged for certain road sections.
Slovakia
Available vignettes and their prices:
- 10 days: 12 euros
- 30 day: 17 euros
- Annual: 60 euros
The electronic vignette is valid on motorways and expressways. Can be purchased online (eznamka.sk website).
Slovenia
Available vignettes and their prices:
- Weekly: 16 euros
- Monthly: 32 euros
- Annual: €117.50
There are tolls to use highways and expressways. Prices depend not only on the weight of the vehicle, but also on its dimensions. If the height of the bonnet above the front axle is more than 1.3m, the vignettes will be twice as high as above. The fine for using toll roads without a vignette is 300 euros.
Switzerland
In this small alpine country, they fit Traditional vignettes are pasted on glass. It is best to buy a vignette on the spot – at a gas station or post office. This is also possible via the Internet, but you must decide this step in advance, because the vignette will be sent by mail. There is only one type of vignette – annual. There is a price CHF 40, or PLN 181. A vignette should be affixed to the windshield. Some tunnels and crossings are subject to additional charges. The fine for not having a vignette is CHF 200, which is slightly more than PLN 900.
Hungary
Available vignettes and their prices:
- Day 10: 5500 ft (PLN 66)
- Monthly: 8900 feet (PLN 107)
- Year: Ft 49,190 (PLN 592)
Electronic vignettes are required. Purchases can be made online or at points located at borders or petrol stations.
All countries using the vignettes system have already switched to the electronic system. Our payment related data is stored in our database, but to be sure, it is always a good idea to keep proof of payment with you. This way, we will avoid problems during testing.
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