What exactly is a vignette sticker and vignette system?
A vignette sticker is a paper or self-adhesive sticker that is placed on the vehicle and serves as proof that a vignette fee has been paid for the use of certain roads (most often motorways and premium roads).Today, many countries have switched to electronic vignettes, but the traditional vignette sticker still exists, or has existed for a long time. A vignette system is a way of paying for road use, where a driver buys a vignette - paper or electronic - entitling them to use a particular road network for a fixed period of time.
How does the vignette system work?
Vignette is purchased for a certain period of time - for example, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.This vignette applies to the entire road network for which it is required (mostly motorways and premium roads).The fee paid for the vignette is used to finance road maintenance and construction.The control is carried out by checking electronic cameras (for e-vignettes) and checks by road authorities.
Which European countries have a vignette system for roads?
The vignette system is used in a number of European countries, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe.Here is an up-to-date and most frequently cited list of countries where a vignette is required for use on major roads or highways.Countries in Europe with a vignette system:
- Austria;
- Bulgaria;
- Hungary;
- Romania;
- Slovakia;
- Slovenia;
- Czech Republic;
- Switzerland (for all motor vehicles up to 3.5 t - annual vignette);
- Moldova.
In which European countries are there exceptions to the general conditions of the vignette system?
There are some exceptions to the general conditions of the vignette system.Here are the most interesting and specific "special cases" of vignette systems in Europe - situations where the rules are different from the standard vignettes for passenger cars.
For example, in Switzerland there is only an annual vignette.For all vehicles up to 3.5 tons.There is no daily, weekly or monthly vignette.It's practically a "one-time pass" for the whole year, regardless of how short you'll be and it applies to all highways.
In Luxembourg, passenger cars are exempt from vignettes.There, a vignette sticker is only required for trucks over 12 tons.They are part of the so-calledEuropean vignette, which is valid in a total of four European countries - these are Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.One vignette covers all these countries.