Question 1

Do I need to carry proof of purchase of an electronic vignette when driving on European motorways?

Accepted Answer

In most countries that use electronic motorway vignettes, you do not need to carry a printed proof of purchase during your journey. The validity of the vignette is usually verified electronically based on the vehicle registration number. Nevertheless, we recommend keeping the proof of purchase at least in electronic form until the vignette expires, as it may help resolve any potential issues in certain situations.

Question 2

Do I risk a fine for driving without a valid electronic motorway vignette?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Driving on chargeable roads without a valid electronic motorway vignette may result in a fine, which can range from several tens to several hundreds of euros depending on the country. A penalty may be imposed not only if the vignette was not purchased, but also as a result of incorrectly entered details during the purchase process. Checks are usually carried out automatically by camera systems that verify the validity of the vignette based on the vehicle registration number. A fine does not have to be imposed only during a roadside inspection. In some cases, it may also be enforced after the journey has ended. Before travelling, we therefore recommend verifying that your electronic motorway vignette is already active and registered for the correct vehicle.

Question 3

Can an electronic motorway vignette be cancelled or refunded?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, it is not possible to return or cancel an electronic motorway vignette because it is a time fee purchased in digital form. If you believe that exceptional circumstances apply to your case, we recommend contacting the official issuer of the electronic motorway vignette directly and providing a detailed explanation of what happened and why you believe your request should be accepted. The customer must submit the request directly to the motorway vignette issuer. If the official issuer approves your request and refunds the value of the time fee, please inform us. Once we receive the refunded amount from the official issuer, we will return the corresponding amount to you without undue delay.

Question 4

Which European countries use electronic motorway vignettes?

Accepted Answer

Electronic motorway vignettes are used only in certain European countries. For example, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Switzerland, Moldova and Bulgaria use electronic vignette systems linked to the vehicle registration number. Other countries, such as France, Italy, Croatia, Spain and Greece, operate distance-based motorway charging systems where the amount paid depends on the distance travelled. In some countries, such as Germany, passenger vehicles may use motorways without the need to purchase a motorway vignette.

Question 5

Is there a single electronic motorway vignette valid throughout the European Union?

Accepted Answer

No, there is currently no single electronic motorway vignette valid for all European Union countries. Each country sets its own rules for the use of motorways and expressways, including payment methods, periods of validity and vehicle categories. When travelling through several European countries, it is therefore usually necessary to comply with the requirements of each country individually.

Question 6

When will my electronic motorway vignette become valid?

Accepted Answer

Your electronic motorway vignette becomes valid from the date and time specified in the confirmation of its activation. After completing your order, you will first receive a payment confirmation. However, this confirmation alone does not mean that the motorway vignette is already active. You will be informed about the successful registration and the start of validity of your electronic motorway vignette in a separate email confirming the activation of the vignette. If you select a future start date during the purchase process, the vignette will become active only from the selected date and time.

Question 7

How can I verify that my electronic motorway vignette is valid?

Accepted Answer

After the successful registration of your electronic motorway vignette, we will send you an email confirming its activation, including information about its validity. Please note that the payment confirmation alone does not mean that your electronic motorway vignette is already valid. The decisive confirmation is the email confirming the activation of the vignette. You can also verify the validity of your vignette using online tools that individual countries usually make available on their official websites. Verification generally requires entering the vehicle registration number and the country of registration.

Question 8

How is an electronic motorway vignette checked?

Accepted Answer

The validity of an electronic motorway vignette is usually verified based on the vehicle registration number. Checks are carried out automatically using camera systems or by the competent enforcement authorities in the respective country. The vehicle registration number is compared with a database of valid vignettes. In most cases, it is therefore not necessary to place any physical vignette on the vehicle. When purchasing a vignette, we recommend carefully checking the accuracy of the entered vehicle registration number and the country of registration.

Question 9

I have not received my purchase confirmation. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

If you have not received your purchase confirmation, we recommend first checking your Spam, Promotions or Junk folders in your email inbox. Then, try searching for the confirmation using your email search function, for example by entering your vehicle registration number or the keyword "time fee". We also recommend checking your online banking to verify that the payment was successfully completed and that no unexpected payment error occurred. If you are still unsure, please contact our customer support team, who will help you investigate the situation.

Question 10

What should I do if I entered an incorrect vehicle registration number during the purchase?

Accepted Answer

If you discover after completing your order that you entered an incorrect vehicle registration number, we recommend checking the conditions for changing the details in the country for which the electronic motorway vignette was purchased as soon as possible. The rules for possible changes vary from country to country. In most cases, submitting a request requires the vignette activation confirmation or proof of payment. Corrections cannot be processed through our website; the customer must request the change directly from the official issuer of the electronic motorway vignette. Due to the different rules applied by individual countries, not every request for a change can be approved. Therefore, we recommend paying close attention to the vehicle registration number and all other entered details before submitting your order.

Question 11

Do I also need an electronic motorway vignette for a motorcycle, motorhome or trailer?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the rules of the specific country and the vehicle category. In most European countries, motorcycles are exempt from the requirement to purchase an electronic motorway vignette. Exceptions include Hungary and Slovenia, where motorcycles are also subject to motorway charges. Motorhomes require an electronic motorway vignette in most European countries. Their maximum authorised mass or other technical parameters may be decisive. The rules for trailers and caravans vary between countries. For example, Slovakia and Hungary may require a separate electronic motorway vignette, while trailers and caravans in Romania do not require their own vignette. Before travelling, we therefore recommend always checking the requirements applicable to the specific country and vehicle category.

Swiss Confederation

Swiss annual motorway vignette

Who needs the Swiss vignette?

Where do you need the Swiss vignette?

Before you set off for Switzerland

Driving in Switzerland: worth knowing

Speed limits in Switzerland: