vignettes
A reliable source of information is the ADAC – when it comes to countries in Europe and the European Economic Area. According to the ADAC, vignettes are widespread in Europe: in Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, drivers do not pay for a certain number of kilometers, but for permission to use the roads within a certain period of time drive. The prices can vary between 3 euros for a week and up to 135 euros for a whole year. In most cases, however, the ADAC recommends short-term vignettes for tourists, as these are more worthwhile when extrapolated. Attention: Some countries use e-vignettes, others still use the print version. Before you travel, find out how to attach your vignette and which payment method you need to use.
Incidentally, nobody should shy away from the cost of a vignette: Failure to comply with the vignette obligation can result in a fine of several hundred euros (according to the ADAC, in Slovenia it is 800 euros) – this also applies to other toll variants. According to the ADAC, Italy, for example, can demand fines and additional payments up to ten years after violating the toll obligation.
Tolls on motorways, bridges, passes and tunnels
In most cases you can purchase your vignette at a toll station near the border. You pay for sections of road at toll booths on motorways or before bridges, passes and tunnels.
According to ADAC, the Austrian automobile, motorcycle and touring club (OEAMTC) and the car rental company SIXT, there are countries such as France, China, South Africa or the USA in which only certain roads such as the motorways or mountain passes are subject to a fee . The special toll for a journey through the Mont Blanc Tunnel between France and Italy is therefore a whopping 45 euros. Attention: Even in countries where you need a vignette, there may be additional costs for bridges or tunnels, for example.
According to the ADAC, it is important to always take the receipt with you at toll stations and never reverse without permission from the staff so as not to provoke a dangerous situation. Reversing is prohibited and, like disregarding the toll obligation, can lead to high fines.
Find the cheapest itinerary
At many toll stations there are different counters for different vehicles: They are sorted either by weight, as in Belarus, or by wheelbase, as in Turkey (vehicles with a wheelbase of more than 3.20 meters are subject to a higher toll in Turkey, in Belarus, motorcyclists do not pay Toll).
Depending on the route, you can avoid high toll costs in countries without a vignette if you adjust the route accordingly. This is possible via further detailed internet research, which can quickly become time-consuming for long stretches. There are also apps that plan the cheapest travel route or show where you have to pay tolls and how much.
Ultimately, you have to find out anew before each trip as soon as the toll regulations or your travel conditions change: because violating the guidelines will be prosecuted and can be quite expensive, as in Slovenia, for example.
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