What they are, who they apply to and how to obtain them
Each country has its own system of charges for using toll roads. To make travelling easier, many European countries have introduced an effective vignette system.
A vignette is a type of road toll. It usually takes the form of an electronic permit and entitles the holder to use toll roads, mainly motorways. A vignette is a time-based toll that allows you to legally travel on selected routes for a specified period.
Thanks to the vignette system, drivers can travel seamlessly across the road network without having to pay individual tolls for specific sections of their journey.
The vignette system enables the monitoring and control of road traffic and improves the efficiency of road network management. The aim of introducing a vignette requirement is also to secure funding for the maintenance and expansion of road infrastructure. These charges help maintain high standards of road infrastructure, contributing to safer and more efficient transport.
Traditionally, a vignette is a sticker affixed to the inside of a vehicle’s windscreen. Increasingly, however, electronic toll collection systems are being used on toll roads. This solution eliminates the need to physically affix a sticker to the windscreen.
Purchasing vignettes for vehicles is fairly straightforward and widely accessible, thanks to a variety of options, ranging from digital solutions to traditional local sales outlets. E100 offers the option of purchasing vignettes quickly and conveniently, for example via the Customer Portal or by text message.
The introduction of the vignette system for heavy goods vehicles has not only brought about a new form of toll, but has also made it necessary for drivers and haulage companies to comply strictly with the relevant regulations. Travelling on a route where a vignette is required without a valid one constitutes a breach of the law and may result in fines and other penalties.
The main consequence of not having a valid vignette is a fine. The amount depends on the country in which the vehicle was travelling without a valid vignette. Fines can be substantial and may amount to several hundred euros.
The introduction of the vignette system for heavy goods vehicles has not only brought about a new form of toll, but has also made it necessary for drivers and haulage companies to comply strictly with the relevant regulations. Driving without a valid vignette on a route where one is required constitutes a breach of the law and may result in fines and other penalties.
On the roads of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, there is also an obligation to pay a road charge within a specified period before using toll roads. In Latvia, the charge applies to vehicles with a gross weight exceeding 3 tonnes and to vehicle combinations with a total weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes. In Lithuania, a vignette is required for minibuses with a total seating capacity of more than 9, including the driver’s seat, coaches, lorries regardless of weight, and special-purpose vehicles. In Estonia, however, the charge applies to lorries weighing over 3.5 tonnes.
You can purchase a vignette via text message. All you need to do is register for road tolls with E100 in advance.
To use Romania’s national road network, you must have an electronic vignette – the Rovinieta. The mandatory charge applies to all vehicles, regardless of weight.
The vignette can be purchased online via the Customer Portal or at petrol stations using an E100 fuel card.
In the UK, a charge applies to non-UK-registered heavy goods vehicles weighing 12 tonnes or more when they use main roads. The charge must be paid before entering the UK. Consequently, drivers travelling to the UK must obtain an HGV Levy. The price depends on the vehicle’s weight, emission standards and the levy’s validity period.
The HGV Levy can be paid using an E100 fuel card via the HGV Levy operator’s website and at terminals in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Belgium and France.
Simply fill in the contact form, and our representatives will provide you with an offer tailored to your business and register you for road tolls.
A vignette is required when using toll motorways or other routes covered by a road toll system in a given country. The exact rules and the requirement to hold a vignette vary from country to country.
The cost of vignettes depends on the country and the type of vignette, as well as the vehicle category and the vignette’s validity period.
Drivers using toll motorways or roads are required to purchase a vignette. Depending on the regulations of the country in question, this requirement may apply to various categories of vehicles, such as passenger cars, motorbikes, lorries or buses.
Yes, vignettes are a form of toll for using road infrastructure, and holding one is required to travel legally on specific routes.
In countries where a vignette system is in place, it is illegal to use toll motorways or roads without a valid vignette. It is important to comply with local regulations and always check what requirements apply in a given country.
If you have a vignette, you do not need to pay any additional charges for travelling on individual sections of the motorway. However, you must comply with the applicable terms and conditions and ensure that the vignette remains valid.
Vignettes are compulsory in, amongst others, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Luxembourg and Denmark. Regulations regarding vignettes are subject to change, so it is always advisable to check the latest information on the official websites of the relevant road authorities in each country.
The time frame within which you must purchase a vignette depends on the specific regulations of the country in question and the type of vignette. It is recommended that you check the specific regulations and procedures of the country concerned and purchase your vignette well in advance.
It is compulsory to have a vignette when using roads where one is required. Drivers who do not purchase a vignette may face consequences in the form of a fine or other penalty.
Yes, there are countries that offer one-day vignettes, allowing drivers to use toll motorways or roads for short periods.
Most countries accept electronic vignettes, but it is always worth checking the specific regulations of the country in question.
Thanks to the convenience and efficiency of digital services, the process of buying vignettes online is very straightforward. Depending on the type of vignette, drivers can purchase one via the E100 Customer Portal, by text message or on the operator’s website. The procedure usually involves selecting the type of vignette, the validity period and entering the vehicle’s details.
To find out more, please contact the Road Tolls Department on +48 585 002 200 (ext. 3), [email protected]
Vignettes are checked by road traffic authorities and/or cameras installed on motorways.
To purchase a vignette, you will usually need details such as the vehicle’s registration number, vehicle type, validity period and, in some cases, the personal details of the driver or vehicle owner.
Tolls in Germany are compulsory for heavy goods vehicles with a technically permissible maximum laden mass (TPMLM) of more than 3.5 tonnes. Toll Collect operates a satellite-based toll collection system in Germany. Consequently, a toll collection on-board unit is used for heavy goods vehicles. This is a convenient and automatic way of paying for road use. The E100 range includes several devices that allow you to travel on German motorways, such as the E-BOX, E-BOX T and Toll Collect Box.
To find out more, please contact the Road Tolls Department on +48 585 002 200 (ext. 3) or email [email protected]
