Planning

Road trip through 5 countries: which vignettes do you actually need

7 min

Planning a Central European road trip is exciting — but figuring out which countries require a vignette, which use open toll booths, and which have free motorways can quickly become a headache. This guide breaks it all down for a classic five-country loop: Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia.

Austria — Vignette Required

Austria requires a vignette for all motorways and expressways (Autobahnen and Schnellstraßen). The digital vignette is linked to your license plate and is available as a 1-day (€9.90), 10-day (€12.40), 2-month (€36.20), or annual pass (€96.40). Motorcycles pay roughly half. If you are just passing through on the A1/A10 corridor, a 10-day vignette is usually enough. There are also special toll sections (e.g. Arlberg tunnel, Brenner motorway) that require an extra fee on top of the vignette.

Czechia — Vignette Required

Czechia switched from stickers to e-vignettes in 2021. You need one for all motorways marked with a blue sign. Prices for vehicles up to 3.5 t: 1-day (CZK 210), 10-day (CZK 290), monthly (CZK 460), yearly (CZK 2,440). Trailers under 3.5 t do NOT need a separate vignette. Motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement entirely — a rare exception in the region.

Slovakia — Vignette Required

Slovakia uses an e-vignette system tied to your plate. Vehicles up to 3.5 t: 1-day (€5.40), 10-day (€10.80), monthly (€15.60), yearly (€60). Trailers and motorcycles are exempt from the vignette but must use toll booths on certain sections. Note: the 1-day vignette is valid only from midnight to midnight on the chosen date — plan accordingly.

Hungary — Vignette Required

Hungary operates an e-vignette system for motorways marked M1–M9. County-level vignettes (only valid within one county) start at HUF 5,450 for 10 days, while a national 10-day pass costs HUF 6,400. Annual pass: HUF 57,260. Trailers need a separate vignette. Motorcycles pay a reduced rate. Hungary is unique in offering county-specific vignettes — a great money-saver if your route is localised.

Slovenia — Vignette Required

Slovenia requires an e-vignette for all motorways and expressways. Prices for vehicles up to 3.5 t: 1-week (€16), 1-month (€32), yearly (€117.50). Motorcycles pay half. Trailers need their own vignette. Slovenia is compact, so even a 1-week pass covers most trips. However, the Karawanks tunnel (border with Austria) requires a separate toll payment.

Quick Summary Table

Country	Vignette?	Trailer?	Best pick for a road trip
Austria	Yes	No (≤3.5 t)	10‑day (€12.40)
Czechia	Yes	No	10‑day (CZK 290)
Slovakia	Yes	No	10‑day (€10.80)
Hungary	Yes	Yes	10‑day national (HUF 6,400)
Slovenia	Yes	Yes	1‑week (€16)

A Sample 10‑Day Itinerary

Munich → Salzburg → Vienna (Austria: 10-day vignette, €12.40) → Brno → Prague (Czechia: 10-day vignette, CZK 290) → Bratislava (Slovakia: 10-day vignette, €10.80) → Budapest (Hungary: 10-day vignette, HUF 6,400) → Graz (back in Austria — same vignette still valid) → Ljubljana (Slovenia: 1-week, €16)

Total vignette cost for the trip: approximately €55 per car. Compare that to fines of €120–€800 per country for driving without one, and the math speaks for itself.