Sticking the vignette onto the windshield had recently become increasingly unpopular among motorists in Austria. Many had already switched to the digital version. Starting in December of next year, this will become mandatory for everyone: the physical vignette sticker for using the highways will be abolished next year.
Purchasing Vignettes at Gas Stations, Toll Stations, and Kiosks
As of December 1, 2026, according to the National Council’s decision, only the digital option will remain. “No sticking, no postage costs, no risk of forgery,” and it will save between three and five million euros in expenses, explained Joachim Schnabel, the transport spokesperson for the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), justifying the move. The vignette can be purchased not only online but also at kiosks, gas stations, and toll stations, as reported by parliament.
The process at the counter will be as follows: state the license plate number, which is entered into the system after a data check, make the payment, and receive a receipt—done. Exactly as is already possible now. The toll fee can be paid for one day, ten days, two months, or a full year. The prices for 2026 will range from €9.60 to €106.80.
The “Sticker” Goes Digital
This concludes a 30-year history: introduced in 1997, the “sticker” was supplemented by a digital option in 2017. Now Austria is taking the next step and thus aligning with countries like Slovenia and the Czech Republic, whose toll systems are exclusively digital.
In 2024, the state highway operator Asfinag reported receiving about €600 million in vignette fees, supplemented by €230 million from tolls for specific sections and €1.6 billion from truck tolls. In 2024, €1.5 billion was allocated for the renewal and modernization of Austrian roads and highways.
Source: dpa.
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