Yes, you need a vignette to drive on Austria’s motorways or expressways.
All vehicles up to 3.5 tons must display a valid vignette when entering these roads.
However, you can avoid the vignette requirement by using local roads, though this significantly increases travel time.
Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, is accessible from multiple neighboring countries.
Most travelers driving from Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, or the Czech Republic will encounter Austrian motorways shortly after crossing the border, making a vignette essential for efficient travel.
Roads and Borders on the Way to Graz
The main routes to Graz typically involve Austria’s extensive motorway network.
From Germany, travelers usually take the A8 Salzburg Autobahn connecting to the A10 Tauern Autobahn, then the A9 Pyhrn Autobahn toward Graz.
From Slovenia, the most direct route uses the A2 Südautobahn.
The vignette requirement begins immediately upon entering Austrian motorways and expressways.
NOTE: Some border crossings have very short non-vignette sections, but these typically last only a few hundred meters before merging onto tolled roads.
Key motorway entry points requiring vignettes include:
- A1 Westautobahn (from Germany via Salzburg)
- A8/A10 connection near Salzburg
- A2 Südautobahn (from Slovenia via Arnoldstein)
- A4 Ostautobahn (from Hungary)
Local roads and secondary highways remain vignette-free throughout Austria.
However, these routes involve significantly longer travel times, frequent stops in villages, and challenging mountain terrain when approaching Graz.
Vignette Requirements in Austria
Yes, a vignette is required to drive to Graz if you use any motorway or expressway.
Austria’s vignette system applies to all vehicles up to 3.5 tons, including cars, motorcycles, and camper vans.
Available vignette types and validity periods:
- 1-day vignette
- 10-day vignette
- 2-month vignette
- Annual vignette
NOTE: Digital vignettes purchased online have an 18-day waiting period before becoming valid, except for 1-day and 10-day options which can be activated immediately through the official ASFINAG toll shop.
Certain border sections are temporarily exempt from vignette requirements:
- A1 Westautobahn between Walserberg border and Salzburg Nord junction
- A12 Inntalautobahn between Kufstein border and Kufstein-Süd junction
- A14 Rheintal/Walgau Autobahn between Hörbranz border and Hohenems junction
Purchase your vignette from official source:
- ASFINAG official website for Austrian vignettes
✅ If you drive on motorways or expressways to Graz, a vignette is required. This applies to virtually all efficient routes from neighboring countries.
⚠️ If you only use local or secondary roads, you may avoid it — but travel time increases significantly, often doubling your journey duration.