If you're touring Europe by motorhome, there's one detail you can't overlook: vignettes. Several countries require you to buy a vignette (a permit or sticker) to use their motorways and expressways, and driving without one can lead to fines, sometimes hefty ones. Knowing about them and buying them in time saves you a lot of hassle. Here's the guide. (Always check the current rules for each country before travelling.)
What a vignette is
A vignette is a way of paying for motorway use that differs from a distance-based toll: instead of paying by the kilometre, you pay a fixed fee for a period (days, weeks, months or a year) that lets you use that country's road network. It can be physical (a sticker on the windscreen) or, increasingly, digital (linked to your number plate).
Countries that typically require a vignette
Several countries in central and eastern Europe use the vignette system, including Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and others. Each has its own system, prices and periods. Also note: for heavy vehicles or those above a certain weight (some motorhomes), there may be different systems or special rates. [Note: check the current list of countries requiring a vignette, prices and weight-based conditions for your trip.]
How to buy one
- Before entering the country or as soon as you cross the border: at petrol stations, border offices, online or through official apps.
- Check the period you need (don't buy an annual one if you're only passing through for a few days).
- If it's digital, make sure it's properly linked to your number plate; keep the confirmation.
- If it's physical, stick it where the rules require (usually a specific area of the windscreen).
- Watch out for unofficial websites that charge extra fees or are fraudulent; use official channels.
And the tolls
Note: a vignette and a toll aren't the same thing, and some countries combine both (a vignette for the general network plus a toll on certain tunnels or bridges; see tolls in Europe). Check each country on your route carefully.
In summary
Several European countries require a vignette to use their motorways, with fines if you don't have one; buy it in advance through official channels and for the period you need. The step to take today: before your trip around Europe, check which countries on your route require a vignette (Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, etc.) and their weight-based conditions, and get them officially as you enter; overlooking this is a guaranteed fine.