How to buy a motorway vignette in Europe

Several European countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary, charge for motorways with a vignette instead of toll booths. Miss one and you can be fined at the first camera or check. Many vignettes are now digital and linked to your number plate, which makes buying easy, as long as you buy from the right place and type the plate correctly.

A simple checklist for drivers, then vignette apps, with a section for vignette apps rising by visits on the Censuus ranking. Rules, prices and validity options change, so check each country’s official toll website before you travel.

Vignette apps rising by visits and sponsorship on Censuus

A younger app from an independent developer:

Ranked by visit traffic and sponsorship on Censuus, not editorial opinion. The list changes as new apps appear and gain traffic.

Map your route by country

List every country you will drive through, even briefly. Some charge by vignette, others by toll booths or distance, and some have no motorway charge for cars. Check each country’s official toll website for the current rules and options.

Buy from official or authorised sellers

Official toll operators sell digital vignettes online, and authorised apps and partners resell them. Be careful with lookalike websites that charge well above the official price. Check the seller before paying.

Get the details right

For digital vignettes, the number plate and country code must match exactly; a typo can make the vignette invalid. Choose the validity period and start date carefully, and note any rules on when a newly bought vignette becomes valid.

Keep proof and plan the rest

Save the confirmation on your phone, and keep a sticker vignette correctly attached where stickers are still used. For the rest of the trip, see how to plan a trip itinerary and compare tools in vignette apps.

Compared from each developer’s own store description.
Step	What you do	Why
1. Check your route	which countries need a vignette	no surprise fines
2. Buy before the border	online or in an app	valid from the first motorway
3. Use official sellers	or authorised partners	avoid overpriced copy sites
4. Type the plate exactly	country and number	the camera checks the plate
5. Keep proof	confirmation saved on your phone	easy to show if asked

Frequently asked questions

Which European countries need a motorway vignette?

Several, including Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. Check each country’s official toll website for current rules before you travel.

Where should I buy a vignette?

From the official toll operator or an authorised seller. Avoid lookalike websites that charge more than the official price.

What happens if I enter my number plate wrong?

A digital vignette is linked to the plate, so a mistake can make it invalid. Check the official rules on how to correct it.