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How to Purchase an Austrian Motorway Vignette
Purchasing an Austrian motorway vignette is straightforward once you understand the process. This guide walks you through every step, from preparation to verification, for both digital and sticker vignette formats.
Preparation Checklist
Before purchasing your vignette, ensure you have the following information and documents ready:
- Your vehicle's licence plate number (exact format as registered)
- The country of vehicle registration
- Your vehicle category (car, motorcycle, camper van under 3.5t)
- Your intended travel dates (to select the correct vignette duration)
- A valid payment method (credit/debit card for digital; cash or card for physical)
- Your email address (for digital vignette confirmation)
- Knowledge of which motorways you will use (to check for section tolls)
- A note of any section tolls you may need to pay separately
- Your vehicle registration document (Zulassungsschein) if purchasing at a physical outlet
- Confirmation that your vehicle is under 3.5t maximum permissible weight
- A list of your planned entry and exit points on Austrian motorways
- Contact details for ASFINAG customer service in case of issues
Step-by-Step Purchase Process
Check your vehicle registration document to confirm the maximum permissible weight. If it is 3.5 tonnes or less, you need a standard vignette. If it exceeds 3.5 tonnes, you need the GO-Maut system instead. Motorcycles require a separate motorcycle vignette at a lower price point.
Count the total number of days you will be using Austrian motorways. If it is 10 days or fewer, the 10-day vignette is most cost-effective. For 11–60 days, choose the 2-month option. For more than 60 days or multiple trips throughout the year, the annual vignette offers the best value. See our pricing comparison for a full breakdown.
Review your planned route against the list of section toll roads. If you will be using the Brenner Autobahn, Tauern Autobahn, Arlberg Tunnel, or other section toll roads, budget for these additional costs separately. The vignette alone is not sufficient for these sections.
For the most convenient experience, purchase digitally via the ASFINAG website or app. This allows you to select your start date in advance and receive immediate confirmation. Physical purchase points (petrol stations, ÖAMTC, ARBÖ, post offices) are available if you prefer to pay in person or need a sticker vignette.
This is the most critical step for digital vignettes. Enter your licence plate number exactly as it appears on your registration document, including the correct country prefix. Double-check every character before proceeding. Errors cannot be corrected after purchase and will result in an invalid vignette.
For digital vignettes, you can select a start date up to 18 days in advance. The vignette becomes valid from midnight (00:00 CET) on the selected date. If you are purchasing on the day of travel, select today's date, but note that the vignette may not be active immediately — there is a short processing delay of up to 30 minutes.
For digital purchases, accepted payment methods typically include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, and various national payment systems. Ensure your payment is confirmed before closing the browser or app. You will receive a confirmation email with your vignette details.
Save or print your purchase confirmation. While enforcement is automatic via licence plate recognition, having your confirmation available is advisable in case of any disputes or technical issues. Store the confirmation email in a place you can access without internet if needed.
Digital Vignette: Detailed Process
- Visit the official ASFINAG shop at shop.asfinag.at or download the ASFINAG app
- Select "Vignette" from the main menu
- Choose your vehicle type (car/motorcycle/other)
- Enter your licence plate number and select the registration country
- Select the vignette duration (10-day, 2-month, or annual)
- Choose your start date (today or up to 18 days in advance)
- Review all details carefully — especially the licence plate number
- Enter your email address for confirmation
- Select your payment method and complete payment
- Receive and save your confirmation email
Sticker Vignette: Affixing Instructions
If you have purchased a physical sticker vignette, it must be correctly affixed to your vehicle's windscreen. Incorrect placement can result in a fine equivalent to having no vignette.
- Clean the inside of your windscreen where the sticker will be placed
- Position the sticker in the upper left corner of the windscreen (from the driver's perspective), or as instructed on the vignette packaging
- Peel off the backing and press firmly onto the clean glass
- Do not place the sticker on a removable film or any surface other than the windscreen glass
- Sticker vignettes are non-transferable — they cannot be moved to another vehicle
- Keep the purchase receipt as proof of purchase
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Incorrect licence plate number | Vignette invalid; fine possible | Double-check plate before confirming purchase |
| Wrong vehicle category selected | Vignette invalid for your vehicle type | Verify vehicle weight and type before purchasing |
| Forgetting section tolls | Separate fine for each section toll violation | Check route against section toll list before travel |
| Purchasing too late (same day) | 30-minute processing delay may cause issues | Purchase at least 1 hour before motorway use |
| Sticker on removable film | Treated as no vignette | Affix directly to windscreen glass |
| Transferring sticker to another vehicle | Fine for both vehicles | Sticker vignettes are non-transferable |
| Assuming vignette covers all tolls | Section toll fines | Research specific route before travel |
| Not saving purchase confirmation | Difficulty resolving disputes | Save email confirmation; screenshot if needed |
Boundaries and Exceptions
- Digital vignettes cannot be cancelled or refunded after the start date has passed
- Sticker vignettes cannot be refunded once removed from their backing
- Vignettes purchased for one vehicle cannot be transferred to another vehicle
- The 10-day vignette validity period cannot be paused or extended
- Annual vignettes do not carry over to the next year — a new one must be purchased
- Digital vignettes purchased in advance become valid at midnight on the selected date, not at the time of purchase
- ASFINAG does not offer partial refunds for unused portions of 2-month or annual vignettes
- Foreign-registered vehicles are subject to the same vignette requirements as Austrian-registered vehicles