- Countries where vignettes are applied
- European toll roads
- Countries with no toll
When going on a trip by car, it is important to prepare very carefully: work out the route clearly, find out where and how to cross the border and what is needed for this, calculate the cost of fuel and fare. The latter may seem strange to Russian tourists, given that they use their own transport, but many roads in Europe are toll roads (it all depends on the country).
Countries where vignettes are applied
A vignette is a sticker that gives the right to travel on the roads of a certain country for a specific time (several days, weeks, months). In some states, there is a ranking by terms, and in some vignettes are sold only for a certain time, in the case of a shorter stay, a person overpays, and if he needs to stay longer in the country, then he will have to buy additional stickers.
Part of the vignette is attached to the windshield of the car, and part remains in the hands of the owner of the vehicle in order to present it, if necessary (license plates must be indicated on it).
European countries where vignettes are used:
- Austria: The fare collection system in this state is considered the most perfect, since it allows you to pay for travel for different periods, which is very convenient and economical for tourists: 10 days - 5, 10 euros, 2 months - 12, 90 euros, a year - 85, 70 euros (prices are for 2016). It is not difficult to buy vignettes, since they are sold at almost every gas station near the border. The penalty for not having a sticker is 120 euros.
- Switzerland: Here the vignette is purchased for a rather long period of time - 14 months (at the moment the period is from December 1, 2015 to January 31, 2017). Such a clear definition of dates leads to unnecessary waste of people, for example, if the journey is carried out from January 1, 2017 to January 15, 2017, then you will have to buy two stickers, although the period of stay in the country is only a month and a half. A vignette costs 40 francs - approximately 83 euros. The fine for unpaid travel is 200 francs - 163 euros.
- Czech Republic: Here the sale is carried out by periods: 10 days - 310 kroons (13 euros), a month - 440 kroons (18 euros), a year - 1500 kroons (63 euros). The annual vignette is valid one month before and one month after the end of the current year (from December 1, 2015 to January 31, 2017). The fine for traveling without a sticker is 5000 kroons (210 euros), but the court can fine up to 500,000 kroons (20,968 euros).
- Slovakia: Here the vignette can be purchased electronically (the receipt will be sent to a special mobile application, although it can be printed). For 10 days the price is 10 euros, for a month - 14 euros, for a year - 50 euros. The fine is from 100 to 500 euros.
- Slovenia: 7 days - 15 euros, a month - 30 euros, a year - 110 euros. The penalty for absence is between 300 and 800 euros.
- Bulgaria: The cost of stay for a week is 15 lev, for thirty days - 30 lev, for a year - 97 lev.
- Hungary: 10 days - forint, month - 4780 forint, year - 42980 forint.
- Romania: a week - 13, 35 lei (3 euros), a month - 31, 16 lei (7 euros), three months - 57, 86 lei (13 euros), a year - 124, 62 lei (28 euros).
- Moldova: a week - 4 euros, 15 days - 8 euros, a month - 14 euros, three months - 30 euros, half a year - 50 euros. The fine for non-payment of travel is from 125 to 2501 euros. Unlike other countries, in Moldova, the vignette looks like a regular sheet, and not a sticker, which indicates that the fare has been paid.
European toll roads
There are countries that provide for tolls on certain road sections. Depending on their length, as well as the route of movement, the cost will be calculated. These countries include: Russia; Belarus; Italy; Poland; France; Serbia; Croatia; Macedonia; Norway; Sweden; Denmark; Netherlands; Spain; Portugal; Ireland; United Kingdom; Greece; Turkey.
Payment is made at special checkpoints through the cashier or using special machines.
Countries with no toll
There are states in Europe that do not charge tolls on their territory. These include: Belgium; Germany; Andorra; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Cyprus; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania (there is a fee for trucks weighing more than 3.5 tons); Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malta; Monaco; Ukraine.
As you can see, you can pick up countries that are free in terms of travel, or you can pamper yourself with more luxurious roads, because where a toll is charged for traveling on them, the highways have a high level of quality. If a person does not have money, and it is necessary to cross a certain country, you can pave your way on free roads, because the fee is mainly withdrawn for driving on highways and autobahns.
