On This Page
How to Get Your Austrian Vignette — Step-by-Step Process
This page walks you through the complete process of obtaining and using an Austrian vignette, from deciding which type you need to handling enforcement scenarios. Follow each step carefully to avoid common mistakes.
Step-by-Step Process
Determine Your Vehicle Category
Confirm your vehicle's maximum permissible mass (MPM). Vehicles up to 3.5t use the standard vignette. Motorcycles use the motorcycle vignette. Vehicles over 3.5t use the GO-Box system. Check your vehicle registration document (Zulassungsschein) for the MPM value.
Choose Your Validity Period
Select 10-Day, 2-Month, or Annual based on your travel plans. Use the Assessment Factors table to compare options. For a single holiday trip, the 10-Day is usually most cost-effective. For multiple visits per year, consider the Annual.
Select Your Purchase Channel
Choose between digital (ASFINAG website/app) or physical sticker (petrol stations, Trafik shops, ÖAMTC/ARBÖ offices). Digital is recommended for convenience and to avoid placement errors. Physical stickers are available 24/7 at most Austrian petrol stations.
Purchase the Vignette
For digital: visit asfinag.at or open the ASFINAG app, enter your licence plate, select validity period, and pay by card. You will receive a confirmation email. For physical: present your vehicle registration at the counter, pay, and receive the sticker.
Affix the Physical Sticker (if applicable)
Peel the sticker carefully. Affix it to the inside of the windscreen in the lower-right corner (driver's perspective). Press firmly. Do not place on removable film, tinted glass, or any surface that may be removed later. The sticker is self-destructing if removed.
Verify Your Digital Vignette
For digital vignettes, verify your registration at asfinag.at/maut-co/vignette/check by entering your licence plate. Ensure the start date, validity period, and plate number are correct. Corrections can be made within a short window after purchase.
Check Special Toll Requirements
Before your journey, identify any special toll routes on your planned route. Refer to our Special Tolls table and the Special Toll Prices page. Carry cash or card for toll booths on special routes.
Drive and Comply
Ensure your vignette is valid before entering any motorway. Enforcement cameras operate continuously. If stopped by police, present your vehicle registration and, for physical stickers, point to the sticker on the windscreen. For digital, your plate is automatically verified.
Handle Enforcement (if applicable)
If fined for a missing or invalid vignette, you have two options: pay the discounted on-the-spot fine (€120) or contest the fine within 4 weeks. See our Complaints section for the appeals process.
Renew or Replace
Annual vignettes can be purchased from 1 November for the following year. If your physical sticker is damaged or your windscreen is replaced, contact ASFINAG with proof of purchase for a replacement sticker. Digital vignettes can be transferred to a new plate if you change vehicles.
Preparation Checklist
- Confirm vehicle MPM from registration document
- Decide on validity period (10-Day / 2-Month / Annual)
- Check if your route includes any special toll sections
- Choose purchase channel (digital or physical)
- For digital: have your licence plate number ready
- For digital: have a valid payment card ready
- For physical: locate nearest purchase point (petrol station, Trafik, ÖAMTC)
- Clean the windscreen area before affixing physical sticker
- Do not place sticker on removable film or tinted glass
- Verify digital vignette at asfinag.at after purchase
- Save purchase confirmation email for digital vignette
- Check special toll routes and carry payment method for toll booths
- Note the start date for 10-Day vignettes (can be set up to 18 days in advance)
- For motorcycles: ensure you have the correct motorcycle vignette, not the car version
Limits & Exceptions
- Emergency vehicles: Police, fire, ambulance, and military vehicles are exempt from the vignette requirement.
- Vehicles over 3.5t: Not covered by the vignette; must use GO-Box.
- Diplomatic vehicles: Vehicles with CD plates are exempt.
- Vehicles with disabilities: Certain vehicles registered for disabled persons may be exempt; check with ASFINAG.
- Agricultural vehicles: Tractors and agricultural machinery are exempt.
- Non-motorway roads: The vignette is not required on ordinary roads (Bundesstraßen, Landesstraßen).
- Replacement sticker: Only one replacement per vignette period is permitted; requires original purchase receipt.
- Refunds: Vignettes are non-refundable once purchased, regardless of circumstances.
For a full list of exemptions, see the Policies page and the FAQ.
Complaints & Appeals
If you believe you have been incorrectly fined or wish to dispute an enforcement action, follow this process:
- Gather evidence: Collect your vignette purchase confirmation, photos of the sticker placement, and any correspondence from ASFINAG or police.
- Contact ASFINAG: Submit a written complaint to ASFINAG within 4 weeks of the fine. Include your vehicle registration, the date and location of the alleged offence, and your evidence.
- ASFINAG review: ASFINAG will review your complaint within 30 days and respond in writing.
- Administrative appeal: If unsatisfied with ASFINAG's response, you may appeal to the relevant district administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde).
- Legal recourse: As a last resort, you may seek legal advice and pursue the matter through the Austrian administrative courts.
What to include in your complaint: full name, address, vehicle registration number, date and location of the alleged offence, description of the issue, copies of all relevant documents, and your preferred contact method.
For contact details, see our Contacts page or the FAQ.