Toll roads in Europe are a very relevant and complex topic. But what does “road toll” actually mean and where does the term come from? The basic meaning of this term has not changed over the centuries: toll means a fee for using traffic routes (motorways, bridges, tunnels). Whereas it used to be simple tolls that were paid on the spot, today there is a growing market with numerous procedures and a real tolling industry. Therefore, many drivers are confused about the rules of the road.
The cost of toll roads in Europe
Fees can be quite high, so budget for travel expenses using our free toll calculator for any country in Europe. For example, a car trip from Rome to Paris costs over $200 each way, while a trip from Paris to Madrid costs almost $100. Toll roads in Europe are becoming significantly more expensive for vans and trucks so be sure to use our toll calculator for trucks and other large vehicles including Slovenia (around €15 for 7 days), Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic and other countries that also use the Require purchase of a vignette when driving on motorways. A Swiss vignette is valid for one year and costs (approx.) 40 francs,
What is necessary for driving on toll roads in Europe?
To drive on toll roads in Europe you need:
- Pay for the service.
- Driving licence.
- Familiarize yourself with the local traffic regulations.
You don’t have to put in much effort to drive on European toll roads. Most of these can be paid directly at the destination or online.
Is it possible not to pay for roads in Europe?
If you’re caught traveling without a vignette, fines will apply, so make sure you get one upon entering the country. You can buy them at gas stations at the border crossing. Even if you drive very little, the price of the vignette is much lower than the cost of the fine.
Any violation will result in a fine of $57.50 in addition to the applicable toll. For example, if you fail to pay the mandatory toll at Windy Ridge 241 Toll Road on a weekend, you must pay $61, a $57.5 penalty, and a $3.5 weekend toll.
If you do not respond to the first violation report, you will receive a second violation report with an additional $42.50 penalty. Failure to respond to the second notice may result in suspension of vehicle registration or driver’s license.
The difference between toll and free roads in Europe
Toll roads in Europe are intended to offer a higher quality of service than conventional motorways.
Their “restricted access” design features ensure faster movement and increased safety (no left turns, traffic lights, there is a central median guardrail to avoid head-on collisions, and other features). Toll roads in Europe differ in the quality of the surface and the absence of traffic jams. While tolls were originally intended to cover construction costs, today a large part of the levy is used to make the use more environmentally friendly.
Payment options for roads in Europe
Motorists have to pay tolls on Swiss and Austrian motorways. This is a prepaid sticker that you put on your car’s windshield. The vignette stamp is proof that you have paid the fare.
How to pay for toll roads in Europe:
- Relative section of motorway – costs depend on the distance travelled.
- Special toll in Europe – for driving through tunnels, bridges and other routes.
- Vignette – for a specified period (week, month, year and other time options).
Advantages of using the electronic toll collection system Eurovignette in Europe: easy online registration; Possibility of change 1 day before departure; return of an unused vignette; Display of transactions on the user’s account; automatic selection of the best validity period; quick check of number plate vignetting.
Map of toll roads in Europe
Toll roads in Europe are an issue where there are no uniform standards. Motorways are subject to tolls in most European countries. Some European motorways require the purchase of a toll ticket (vignette) or the rental of a toll payment device. Examples:
- In France, motorway tolls are paid by credit card or cash.
- Most Eastern European countries have opted for a vignette for payment. If you don’t have a passport and drive in these zones, you risk a fine of up to 80 euros. Find out before you go and buy a travel ticket online.
- In France, motorways with electronic tolls are marked with signs saying “Electronic calculation only”.
- In central London you must have a driver’s license to legally drive between the hours of 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday. In the event of an infringement, the fine can be up to £130.
- In Italy, the historic centers of large cities (Rome, Turin, Bologna, Milan, Florence, Pisa) have restricted traffic zones. You need a special permit issued by the town hall.
Most European cities charge a parking fee. Be sure to pay or you will receive much larger fines in the mail.
European countries where roads are free
Countries with free or partial toll collection:
- San Marino.
The road network in San Marino reaches 292 km and can be used toll-free. - Germany.
There are no tolls in Germany, even the impressive autobahns are free, so you can drive the German roads for free! - Ukraine.
Motorways in Ukraine are free. - Andorra.
In Andorra there are 198 km of roads, of which only 2.9 km Túnel d’Envalira costs 6.80 euros for a car. - Belgium.
In Belgium there are free motorways for cars, only the Liefkenshoek tunnel near Antwerp requires a toll (€6 for manual payment). - Sweden.
Tolls are charged for crossing the Motalabron, Øresundsbron, Sundsvallsbron and Svinesundsbron bridges. The fare is 5 SEK for Motala, 63 EUR for Øresund, 9 SEK for Sundsvall and 20 NOK for Svinesund. Öresundsbronn is an 8 km long bridge that, together with the 4 km long Drogda tunnel, connects Copenhagen with the Swedish city of Malmö. - Estonia.
Free for cars under 3.5 tons. - Finland.
Motorways in Finland do not incur any costs. - Iceland.
Toll only for passage through the 7.4 km long Vaðlaheiargöng Tunnel (ISK 1,500). - Denmark
The toll on the Strebeltsbroen Bridge for cars is 19 euros. 14 crowns for cars to cross the Crown Princess Mary’s Bro Bridge. Via the Öresundsbron Bridge – 63 euros. - Kosovo.
Motorways in Kosovo are free. - Cyprus.
All roads in Cyprus can be placed for free. - Liechtenstein.
All motorways in Liechtenstein are free. Liechtenstein has a road network with a total length of 630 km. - Lithuania.
Motorways for cars of class N1 (trucks up to 3.5 t) and for vehicles over 3.5 t are paid for by the road network. - Luxembourg.
Passage for cars weighing more than 12 tons. Payments via the electronic fare system Eurovignette. The total length of the road network in Luxembourg is 2,820 km. - Malta.
The road network in Malta is more than 3,000 km long and can be used toll-free. - Monaco.
The trip to Monaco is free. The total length of motorways in Monaco is 77 km. - Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, passage through the Westerschelde tunnel and the Kil tunnel is subject to a charge. The Westerschelde tunnel costs 5 euros and the Kil tunnel costs 2 euros. - Montenegro.
The fare through the Sozina tunnel is 2.5 euros for cars up to 3.5 tons. The planned toll for driving on the A1 motorway (Bar – Bolyare), part Smokovac – Mateševo, in the amount of up to 3.50 euros for a car weighing up to 3.5 tons.
Paying for roads in Europe for the time they are in use
Interesting fact! Roman ZTL zones are congestion charges designed to reduce car traffic in the historic part of the city. They are open Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Toll roads in Europe that charge a fee for the time they are used:
- Austria.
- Hungary.
- Moldova Slovenia.
- Switzerland.
- Czech Republic
- Romania.
- Slovakia
- Bulgaria.
A UTS route planner is available for commercial trucks, buses, car journeys and taxis, which optimizes the route in a matter of seconds. Enter your trip details to see the cheapest, fastest and other top routes of 2020 today. Save time, money and kilometers. European countries where the roads are paid according to the distance traveled
Toll roads in Europe that charge a fee for the distance travelled:
- Croatia.
- Spain.
- Russia.
- Serbia.
- Portugal.
- Poland.
- Belarus
- Ireland.
- Italy.
- Greece.
- Great Britain.
- France.
- Norway.
- North Macedonia.
Interesting fact! There is a charge for entering London and driving in some areas of the city centre.