Toll fares can take quite a chunk of the travel budget. A return trip by car to the South of France from the Netherlands quickly amounts to around € 120 in tolls (without a caravan), but toll roads are relatively quiet and generally in good condition, so speedy travel is almost guaranteed. However, fuel along the toll roads and motorways is considerably more expensive than elsewhere. So check our webpage with tips for cheaper car refueling in Europe near the motorway.

If you prefer to avoid toll roads, set this option in your navigation system or do not follow the signs Péage (France; follow par RN), Pedaggio (Italy) or Peaje (Spain). Keep in mind that many toll-free roads in France and Italy that serve as an alternative to the toll road are plagued by heavy truck traffic and are extremely busy. Relaxed driving or making good progress is hardly an option. Some motorways in France (map with toll-free autoroutes in gray), Spain (autovias) and southern Italy are toll free. These are also indicated on the Michelin maps.

Paying toll in Italy is the fastest with a credit card. Choose the blue lanes with Carte/Viacard. In Italy, many (but not all!) toll stations now also have the Maestro logo, so that payment by debit card is possible there. You only have to insert the bank card into the slot and don’t have to enter your pin code.

For toll rates, see the official site of the Portuguese toll company Brisa. On this company's toll roads you can pay with a credit card or cash. On other toll roads (including the important A22 in the Algarve) you can often only pay electronically (indicated by the sign on the right), via a very complicated system. For more information, see the Portugal page of the ANWB.

In Switzerland a vignette is required for the motorways. Such a vignette for the Swiss motorways (pdf Nationalstrassen) costs 40 CHF or € 38.50, payable for each motorcycle, car, caravan or trailer (!). The vignette for 2020 is valid from December 1, 2019 to January 31, 2021 and is available at automobile clubs in Europe, at the Swiss border and in Switzerland at gas stations and post offices. Fine for violation: 200 CHF and the cost of a vignette. The fine for a fraudulously attached vignette is even higher.

Tip:

Buy the Swiss vignette at a gas station in Southern Germany. This costs around € 1 more but can save waiting time at the border, although the line for cars with vignette is often longer at the Weil am Rhein / Basel border crossing (A5). If you pay the vignette at the Swiss border with a € 50 note, you will receive 10 CHF change. It is most advantageous to pay the vignette at the border with a debit card or credit card in Swiss Francs. The price is then approximately € 38, depending on the daily rate.

Swiss tunnels

You do not have to pay a separate toll for car tunnels in Switzerland, except for the Grand St. Bernard tunnel on the border with Italy (30 CHF or € 28, with caravan or camper CHF 46 or € 43, motorcycle € 16 or 17 CHF; there are also 20% cheaper return tickets that are valid for 1 month). The Gotthard tunnel is the most important connection between Switzerland and Italy. Because the tunnel is (and remains) only two lanes, there is almost always a traffic jam. Access is regulated with traffic lights. The Swiss radio DRS1 regularly reports how long the delay is; two hours is not unusual in high season. An alternative at times of busy traffic is to take the pass route or to drive through the San Bernardo tunnel.

Austria has tolls for driving on the motorways (A-roads) and various other roads (S-roads). An Autobahnvignet is mandatory and is available at automobile clubs and further on at the border and at gas stations in and around Austria. There is a weekly vignette (10 consecutive days) of € 9.40, a 2-month vignette of € 27.40 and an annual vignette of € 91.10 (valid from December 2019 to January 2021). No extra charge for a trailer or caravan, motorbikes pay € 5.40, € 13.70 and € 36.20.
You can also purchase the Austrian autobahn sticker in a digital version via the internet, then it will be linked to your license plate and you don't have to put a vignette on your windshield. Note: the digital vignette is only activated after 18 days, so order it at least three weeks before you travel. The adhesive sticker will continue to exist. The penalty for a missing vignette is at least € 120 ("Ersatzmaut"), but can also be much higher if you cannot pay on the spot, from € 300 to € 3000. In addition to the vignette, Austria also has tolls for a number of tunnels and mountain routes. For example, the Brenner Autobahn costs € 9.50 for a passenger car, the Karawankentunnel € 7.40, the Tauern motorway with the Tauern tunnel and Katschberg tunnel € 12 (each way and the tourist-interesting Großglocknerstraße € 36,50 (for a whole day, motorcycle € 26,50). A motorway vignette is not required for these special routes.

In the Czech Republic, most motorways require a vignette, which is available at the border and at large gas stations. For passenger cars (including a trailer) the rate for 7 days is: CKZ 310 (approximately € 12.40), for 1 month CKZ 440 (approximately € 17.60) and for 1 year CKZ 1500 (approximately € 60). The annual stickers for 2020 are valid until January 31, 2021. Motorbikes are exempt from the toll obligation.

In Slovenia, a vignette is compulsory for motorways up to 3.5 tonnes. This has replaced the toll. For heavier cars, the toll will continue for the time being. There are vignettes for a week (€ 15 for cars with or without trailers, € 7.50 for motorbikes), a month (€ 30) and a calendar year (€ 110 / motorbikes € 55) for sale. Note: cars up to 3.5 tonnes with a height above the front axle of more than 1.30 meters (PDF list) pay a double rate, so € 30 for a week and € 60 for a month.
The vignettes are for sale at toll stations, supermarkets and gas stations in Slovenia and at gas stations in neighboring countries (border region). The vignette is not valid in the Karawankentunnel (Austria-Slovenia border). For this tunnel you pay an additional € 7.20 with or without a caravan.

Toll station in Slovenia

Pay attention: Many tourists drive only a short distance on the Slovenian highway from Trieste to Koper in Istria, on their way to Croatia. A vignette is also needed there, and intensive checks are carried out. If you want to avoid this highway, drive via the Italian village Muggia along the coastal road to Koper, or follow the slightly faster shortcut along Plavje (pay attention, see video!). Whoever is stopped on the highway in Slovenia without a vignette, pays a minimum fine of € 300.