fbpx
Wikipedia

Vignette (road tax)

August 24, 2023

For other uses, see Vignette (disambiguation).

Vignette is a form of road pricing imposed on vehicles, usually in addition to the compulsory road tax, based on a period of time the vehicle may use the road, instead of road tolls that are based on distance travelled. Vignettes are currently used in several European countries. The term originated in France in the 1950s, although vignettes there were not linked to motorway use and no longer exist; it is now used throughout Central Europe, as well as in Italy (vignetta).

Vignettes are used in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. In most of these countries a small, coloured sticker is affixed to a vehicle windscreen, but in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and since 2021 in Slovenia these have been superseded by electronic vignettes. In Moldova, vignettes are required for the use of any road, while in Bulgaria and Romania they are required for the use of any road outside urban areas. In the other countries, vignettes are required only for the use of motorways and expressways.

Prices for an annual vignette for passenger cars range from €30 to €150, depending on country. In all countries except Switzerland, short-period vignettes are sold for visiting or transiting vehicles. In Switzerland, visiting foreign motorists must buy an annual vignette to use the country's motorways. Vignettes can usually be obtained at border crossings, gas stations and other outlets. Improperly used or lost vignettes are usually not refunded.[1]

Vignette stickers are usually constructed in such a way that detaching and re-attaching them is impossible without destruction, ensuring that they cannot be used on more than one vehicle. Road traffic is often monitored by roadside cameras, and vignettes are verified by state officials, such as border guards and national police. Hefty cash fines are often charged to travelers using public roads without a valid and properly affixed vignette. Additional tolls are usually levied for passing through certain motorway tunnels and bridges.[2] In Austria a tunnel or bridge subject to a special toll (de:Sondermautstrecke) is in theory free of the vignette obligation, but in practice this is usually a moot point as access to many of them is via motorway only.

Vignette obligation by country

European Union

The Eurovignette Directive introduced in the European Union in 1993 governs road tolls for trucks of minimum 12 metric tonnes.[3][4] An international agreement, based on Article 8 of the Eurovignette Directive, signed in 1994 by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands established a common system of vignettes within the Eurovignette framework.[5] Sweden signed a protocol to accede to the agreement in 1997,[6] while Germany denounced the agreement in 2017.[7]

Austria

 
Austrian vignette, valid for 10 days, starting on 4 April 2011.

Since 1997, vignettes are required for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes, driving on motorways and expressways (prefixed with letters A and S) under federal administration. Vignettes are overseen by the police and toll-sheriff employees of the federal motorway administration. A €240 fine with an additional obligatory payment of a substitute toll are charged to travelers without a valid vignette, and unpaid fines lead to penalties between €300 and €3,000. Furthermore, the vehicle may be confiscated from foreigners to guarantee payment of the penalty.

Additional tolls are charged for certain motorway sections where tollgates and video tolling systems are installed. Several sections require drivers to buy electronic toll cards. Vignettes for vehicles of over 3.5 tonnes were replaced with electronic distance-based highway-toll GO-Boxes on 1 January 2004.[2] Since 2019, electronic vignettes have been made available in addition to the traditional stickers.

Bulgaria

 
A vignette machine in Bulgaria

Vignettes are required for all (except motorcycles) vehicles driving on all public roads, with the exception of streets in cities, towns and villages. Vignettes are usually valid from the time they are purchased, while some types can be marked to start from a future date. They can be obtained in Bulgaria at most gas stations, at border crossings, or online using a credit card.[8] Cash fines from €150 to €1,500 are charged to drivers without a valid vignette.[9] The vignette sticker was replaced by e-vignette on 1 January 2019, and an e-toll system is to be introduced in August 2019 for vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes.[10]

Czech Republic

 
Vignette affixed on a car's windshield on the R-46 expressway in the Czech Republic.

Vignettes are required for the use of motorways and expressways by all vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes. Cash fines for not displaying a valid vignette affixed on a car's windshield range from €80 to €200. Vignettes for heavier vehicles were replaced with electronic toll collection in 2007. By 1 January 2021, the vignette stickers were replaced by digital vignettes.[11]

Germany

Motorways and expressways are a toll-free road network for all lighter vehicles. The Eurovignette system for trucks was abolished in August 2003. A distance-based toll charge was introduced from 1 January 2005 for vehicles of over 12 tonnes, operated by the Toll Collect company.

As of 1 March 2007, all drivers are required to purchase an emission sticker when passing through low-emission zones in several cities and municipalities. Certain "green zones" have completely disallowed entrance to vehicles with higher particle emissions ("yellow" and "red" groups). Travellers passing through these areas without the sticker are charged with a €100 fine.[12]

Hungary

 
Motorway sign in Hungary. Electronic vignettes are checked by roadside cameras.

Vignettes are required for all vehicles on motorways and expressways. Physical toll stickers were replaced with electronic vignettes and video tolling on 1 January 2008, the only physical item the purchaser receives is a control coupon. Motorway usage entitlement is verified by roadside cameras based on license plate numbers, and drivers of vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between €50 and €200.[13]

Moldova

Vignettes are obligatory for personal motor vehicles registered abroad, driving on public roads, and are available for purchase at border customs posts and offices. Foreign drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between €125 and €375. Heavier vehicles use existing tax rates, with commercial vehicle drivers paying a single-entry tax and a distance-based charge.[14]

Montenegro

Ecological-tax vignettes were abolished on 31 December 2011. Driving on public roads is generally toll-free, with the exception of passing through certain tunnels and bridges.[15]

Romania

 
Electronic Vignette Romania 2017

With the exception of motorcycles, vignettes are required for all vehicles driving on all national roads and motorways. Physical vignettes have been replaced with electronic ones since 1 October 2010.[16] They can be obtained at most gas stations, border crossings, or online using a credit card. Drivers without a valid vignette are fined with €100 or more. The fines are dispensed by automatic systems that scan the numberplate of the car when it exits a city.[2]

Slovakia

Vignettes are obligatory for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes, driving on Slovak motorways. Drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between €100 and €500. Vignettes for heavier vehicles were replaced with distance-based electronic toll collection using the remote-operated toll-box in force since 2010. Special arrangements are to be sought by the motorbike riders. [2]

From 1 January 2016 Slovak vignettes are purchased and checked electronically via eZnamka.sk without a sticker.

Slovenia

Vignettes are required for all vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes, driving on Slovenian motorways as of 1 July 2008. Drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between €300 and €800. On 1.4.2018, Slovenia implemented an electronic tolling of vehicles whose maximum permissible weight exceeds 3.5 tonnes.[1]

From 1 December 2021 Slovenian vignettes are purchased and checked electronically via evinjeta.dars.si without a sticker.

Switzerland

All travelers using motorways and expressways are required to purchase an annual vignette. Vignettes can be obtained in and outside of Switzerland in bordering countries at gas stations and labeled points. Use of motorway networks without a valid vignette is an offense against the Public Highways Act, and is punishable with cash fines of CHF 200, in addition to the obligatory purchase of an annual vignette.[1] Heavier vehicles use a distance-based tax rate on all types of roads, called the performance-related heavy vehicle charge [de; fr].

Switzerland only offers a vignette valid for a year (from December of the preceding year to the January of the following year) at CHF 40 (€35.75). Because of this, its vignette is the most expensive in Europe for transiting and visiting passenger cars. Other countries offer short-term vignettes that make a transit or visit less expensive than in Switzerland.[17][18][1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "[:de]Online Vignetten kaufen für Europa - Tolltickets | Tolltickets[:en]Toll & Vignette for Europe buy online | tolltickets GmbH[:fr]Tolltickets | Paquets de péage | Péage via Alexa[:]". TOLLTICKETS. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Motorway tolls in Europe 2021 - dalnicni-znamky.com". www.dalnicni-znamky.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Charging of heavy goods vehicles: Eurovignette Directive". Eur-Lex. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Council Directive 93/89/EEC of 25 October 1993 on the application by Member States of taxes on certain vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road and tolls and charges for the use of certain infrastructures". Official Journal of the European Union. 12 November 1993. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Agreement on the levying of charges for the use of certain roads by heavy goods vehicles". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Protocol concerning the accession of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Agreement on the levying of charges for the use of certain roads by heavy goods vehicles". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  7. ^ "CC 101 Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999, Art. 4 National languages" (official site). Berne, Switzerland: The federal Council. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  8. ^ "БГТОЛ". web.bgtoll.bg. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Vignettes in Bulgaria - Tax law in bulgaria". www.bulgaria-tax-law.bg. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Тол-системата тръгва на 16 август 2019 г." (in Bulgarian). capital.bg. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Czech Motorways > Stickers (< 3.5 t)". www.motorway.cz. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  12. ^ "The German Emissions Sticker: everything you need to know". www.germanemissionssticker.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  13. ^ Hungary e-vignette
  14. ^ News on road tax in Moldova Archived February 19, 2013, at archive.today
  15. ^ Europe travel advice
  16. ^ "Electronic vignette in Romania starting with 1st October 2010 - UNTRR". National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  17. ^ Raaflaub, Christian (11 October 2013). "Motorway tax price hike causes controversy". Swissinfo.ch. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018. It was introduced in 1985 at a cost of CHF30 and this was increased to CHF40 in 1995, a level where it has remained ever since. (...) Other countries which have a motorway tax sticker allow people to buy a cheaper, short-term vignette if they only use their motorways for a short time.
  18. ^ Raaflaub, Christian. "Soll die Autobahn-Vignette teurer werden?". SWI swissinfo.ch (in German). Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018. Alle anderen Länder mit Vignettenpflicht bieten die Möglichkeit an, ihre Autobahnen für kurze Zeit zu einem tieferen Preis zu nutzen.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Road tax vignettes.
  • Vignette Identification

August 24, 2023
vignette, road, other, uses, vignette, disambiguation, vignette, form, road, pricing, imposed, vehicles, usually, addition, compulsory, road, based, period, time, vehicle, road, instead, road, tolls, that, based, distance, travelled, vignettes, currently, used. For other uses see Vignette disambiguation Vignette is a form of road pricing imposed on vehicles usually in addition to the compulsory road tax based on a period of time the vehicle may use the road instead of road tolls that are based on distance travelled Vignettes are currently used in several European countries The term originated in France in the 1950s although vignettes there were not linked to motorway use and no longer exist it is now used throughout Central Europe as well as in Italy vignetta Vignettes are used in Austria Bulgaria the Czech Republic Hungary Moldova Romania Slovakia Slovenia and Switzerland In most of these countries a small coloured sticker is affixed to a vehicle windscreen but in Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Romania Slovakia and since 2021 in Slovenia these have been superseded by electronic vignettes In Moldova vignettes are required for the use of any road while in Bulgaria and Romania they are required for the use of any road outside urban areas In the other countries vignettes are required only for the use of motorways and expressways Prices for an annual vignette for passenger cars range from 30 to 150 depending on country In all countries except Switzerland short period vignettes are sold for visiting or transiting vehicles In Switzerland visiting foreign motorists must buy an annual vignette to use the country s motorways Vignettes can usually be obtained at border crossings gas stations and other outlets Improperly used or lost vignettes are usually not refunded 1 Vignette stickers are usually constructed in such a way that detaching and re attaching them is impossible without destruction ensuring that they cannot be used on more than one vehicle Road traffic is often monitored by roadside cameras and vignettes are verified by state officials such as border guards and national police Hefty cash fines are often charged to travelers using public roads without a valid and properly affixed vignette Additional tolls are usually levied for passing through certain motorway tunnels and bridges 2 In Austria a tunnel or bridge subject to a special toll de Sondermautstrecke is in theory free of the vignette obligation but in practice this is usually a moot point as access to many of them is via motorway only Contents 1 Vignette obligation by country 1 1 European Union 1 2 Austria 1 3 Bulgaria 1 4 Czech Republic 1 5 Germany 1 6 Hungary 1 7 Moldova 1 8 Montenegro 1 9 Romania 1 10 Slovakia 1 11 Slovenia 1 12 Switzerland 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksVignette obligation by country EditEuropean Union Edit The Eurovignette Directive introduced in the European Union in 1993 governs road tolls for trucks of minimum 12 metric tonnes 3 4 An international agreement based on Article 8 of the Eurovignette Directive signed in 1994 by Belgium Denmark Germany Luxembourg and the Netherlands established a common system of vignettes within the Eurovignette framework 5 Sweden signed a protocol to accede to the agreement in 1997 6 while Germany denounced the agreement in 2017 7 Austria Edit Austrian vignette valid for 10 days starting on 4 April 2011 Since 1997 vignettes are required for all vehicles of up to 3 5 tonnes driving on motorways and expressways prefixed with letters A and S under federal administration Vignettes are overseen by the police and toll sheriff employees of the federal motorway administration A 240 fine with an additional obligatory payment of a substitute toll are charged to travelers without a valid vignette and unpaid fines lead to penalties between 300 and 3 000 Furthermore the vehicle may be confiscated from foreigners to guarantee payment of the penalty Additional tolls are charged for certain motorway sections where tollgates and video tolling systems are installed Several sections require drivers to buy electronic toll cards Vignettes for vehicles of over 3 5 tonnes were replaced with electronic distance based highway toll GO Boxes on 1 January 2004 2 Since 2019 electronic vignettes have been made available in addition to the traditional stickers Bulgaria Edit A vignette machine in BulgariaVignettes are required for all except motorcycles vehicles driving on all public roads with the exception of streets in cities towns and villages Vignettes are usually valid from the time they are purchased while some types can be marked to start from a future date They can be obtained in Bulgaria at most gas stations at border crossings or online using a credit card 8 Cash fines from 150 to 1 500 are charged to drivers without a valid vignette 9 The vignette sticker was replaced by e vignette on 1 January 2019 and an e toll system is to be introduced in August 2019 for vehicles heavier than 3 5 tonnes 10 Czech Republic Edit Vignette affixed on a car s windshield on the R 46 expressway in the Czech Republic Vignettes are required for the use of motorways and expressways by all vehicles of up to 3 5 tonnes Cash fines for not displaying a valid vignette affixed on a car s windshield range from 80 to 200 Vignettes for heavier vehicles were replaced with electronic toll collection in 2007 By 1 January 2021 the vignette stickers were replaced by digital vignettes 11 Germany Edit Motorways and expressways are a toll free road network for all lighter vehicles The Eurovignette system for trucks was abolished in August 2003 A distance based toll charge was introduced from 1 January 2005 for vehicles of over 12 tonnes operated by the Toll Collect company As of 1 March 2007 all drivers are required to purchase an emission sticker when passing through low emission zones in several cities and municipalities Certain green zones have completely disallowed entrance to vehicles with higher particle emissions yellow and red groups Travellers passing through these areas without the sticker are charged with a 100 fine 12 Hungary Edit Motorway sign in Hungary Electronic vignettes are checked by roadside cameras Vignettes are required for all vehicles on motorways and expressways Physical toll stickers were replaced with electronic vignettes and video tolling on 1 January 2008 the only physical item the purchaser receives is a control coupon Motorway usage entitlement is verified by roadside cameras based on license plate numbers and drivers of vehicles up to 3 5 tonnes without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between 50 and 200 13 Moldova Edit Vignettes are obligatory for personal motor vehicles registered abroad driving on public roads and are available for purchase at border customs posts and offices Foreign drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between 125 and 375 Heavier vehicles use existing tax rates with commercial vehicle drivers paying a single entry tax and a distance based charge 14 Montenegro Edit Ecological tax vignettes were abolished on 31 December 2011 Driving on public roads is generally toll free with the exception of passing through certain tunnels and bridges 15 Romania Edit Electronic Vignette Romania 2017With the exception of motorcycles vignettes are required for all vehicles driving on all national roads and motorways Physical vignettes have been replaced with electronic ones since 1 October 2010 16 They can be obtained at most gas stations border crossings or online using a credit card Drivers without a valid vignette are fined with 100 or more The fines are dispensed by automatic systems that scan the numberplate of the car when it exits a city 2 Slovakia Edit Vignettes are obligatory for all vehicles of up to 3 5 tonnes driving on Slovak motorways Drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between 100 and 500 Vignettes for heavier vehicles were replaced with distance based electronic toll collection using the remote operated toll box in force since 2010 Special arrangements are to be sought by the motorbike riders 2 From 1 January 2016 Slovak vignettes are purchased and checked electronically via eZnamka sk without a sticker Slovenia Edit Vignettes are required for all vehicles of up to 3 5 tonnes driving on Slovenian motorways as of 1 July 2008 Drivers without a valid vignette are charged with cash fines between 300 and 800 On 1 4 2018 Slovenia implemented an electronic tolling of vehicles whose maximum permissible weight exceeds 3 5 tonnes 1 From 1 December 2021 Slovenian vignettes are purchased and checked electronically via evinjeta dars si without a sticker Switzerland Edit All travelers using motorways and expressways are required to purchase an annual vignette Vignettes can be obtained in and outside of Switzerland in bordering countries at gas stations and labeled points Use of motorway networks without a valid vignette is an offense against the Public Highways Act and is punishable with cash fines of CHF 200 in addition to the obligatory purchase of an annual vignette 1 Heavier vehicles use a distance based tax rate on all types of roads called the performance related heavy vehicle charge de fr Switzerland only offers a vignette valid for a year from December of the preceding year to the January of the following year at CHF 40 35 75 Because of this its vignette is the most expensive in Europe for transiting and visiting passenger cars Other countries offer short term vignettes that make a transit or visit less expensive than in Switzerland 17 18 1 See also EditRoad pricing Road tax Toll road Toll roads in Europe Transport economics Transport in EuropeReferences Edit a b c d de Online Vignetten kaufen fur Europa Tolltickets Tolltickets en Toll amp Vignette for Europe buy online tolltickets GmbH fr Tolltickets Paquets de peage Peage via Alexa TOLLTICKETS Retrieved 31 March 2023 a b c d Motorway tolls in Europe 2021 dalnicni znamky com www dalnicni znamky com Retrieved 31 March 2023 Charging of heavy goods vehicles Eurovignette Directive Eur Lex Retrieved 26 January 2019 Council Directive 93 89 EEC of 25 October 1993 on the application by Member States of taxes on certain vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road and tolls and charges for the use of certain infrastructures Official Journal of the European Union 12 November 1993 Retrieved 26 January 2019 Agreement on the levying of charges for the use of certain roads by heavy goods vehicles Government of the Netherlands Retrieved 16 January 2019 Protocol concerning the accession of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Agreement on the levying of charges for the use of certain roads by heavy goods vehicles Government of the Netherlands Retrieved 16 January 2019 CC 101 Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999 Art 4 National languages official site Berne Switzerland The federal Council 1 January 2018 Retrieved 5 December 2018 BGTOL web bgtoll bg Retrieved 31 March 2023 Vignettes in Bulgaria Tax law in bulgaria www bulgaria tax law bg Retrieved 30 August 2021 Tol sistemata trgva na 16 avgust 2019 g in Bulgarian capital bg Retrieved 16 July 2018 Czech Motorways gt Stickers lt 3 5 t www motorway cz Retrieved 31 March 2023 The German Emissions Sticker everything you need to know www germanemissionssticker com Retrieved 31 March 2023 Hungary e vignette News on road tax in Moldova Archived February 19 2013 at archive today Europe travel advice Electronic vignette in Romania starting with 1st October 2010 UNTRR National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania Retrieved 20 August 2015 Raaflaub Christian 11 October 2013 Motorway tax price hike causes controversy Swissinfo ch Archived from the original on 22 May 2018 Retrieved 20 May 2018 It was introduced in 1985 at a cost of CHF30 and this was increased to CHF40 in 1995 a level where it has remained ever since Other countries which have a motorway tax sticker allow people to buy a cheaper short term vignette if they only use their motorways for a short time Raaflaub Christian Soll die Autobahn Vignette teurer werden SWI swissinfo ch in German Archived from the original on 25 May 2018 Retrieved 27 May 2018 Alle anderen Lander mit Vignettenpflicht bieten die Moglichkeit an ihre Autobahnen fur kurze Zeit zu einem tieferen Preis zu nutzen External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Road tax vignettes Vignette Identification Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vignette road tax amp oldid 1147487142 European Union, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.